Guneysinir Community Park & Almond Co-op
Guneysinir, Turkey
Impact
The almond plantation cooperative that doubles as a community park provides not only a source of shade and water retention but a source of income once almonds can be harvested. Another added benefit is that it is becoming a place for families and visitors to enjoy together. The first harvest is expected in 2021, creating new jobs for the community. Additional profits will be invested into local women’s empowerment and children’s education programs. The park is maintained by a local family that was in need of regular employment. While the father maintains the land, the children host the travellers with snacks and showcase their handmade crafts to sell. This provides an opportunity for income and the chance to boost confidence through tourist interactions.
7 people directly impacted
4,000 community members benefiting
Our Involvement
STREETS International is an extensive hospitality-training program that works with at-risk youth in Vietnam. Donations to the STREETS program are used for tuition, safe housing, student medical insurance, and learning resources such as books and computers. G Adventures’ worked with STREETS to develop an exclusive Oodles of Noodles Tour. This tour acts as a curriculum module for the youth to practice their English language and presentation skills — two key qualities that are a necessity for success in the hospitality industry. Students lead a noodle-making class with travellers and teach them about the twenty-six different types of noodles available in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Critical Need
The town of Guneysinir is located in a region that receives very little precipitation, with rainfall dropping to less than 10mm between the months of July and September. In addition to the stress imposed by drought and climate issues, this area is in need of alternative economic opportunities for its growing population. Unlike the more popular touristic Western side of the country where job opportunities are diverse and plenty, people of Guneysinir rely heavily on agriculture for income. The addition of an almond orchard to this community provides an attainable means to combat drought, a place for community members and visitors alike to enjoy, and also a sustainable model for social enterprise development.