Yimsoo Farm, Mae Rim

Yimsoo Farm, Mae Rim

December 6, 2023 Selene Orellana

Yimsoo Farm, Mae Rim

Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

Impact

The Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities is a non-profit organization committed to assisting individuals with disabilities. One of its remarkable initiatives is the operation of “Yimsoo Farm, Mae Rim,” primarily staffed by individuals with disabilities.

Visitors to the farm can participate in a tour, gaining insights into vocational training activities conducted by the Foundation. The experience includes a traditional North Thailand meal prepared by the team, providing hands-on exploration of activities that showcase the rich Lanna culture and tradition.

This project aims to spotlight the importance and value of the work done by persons with disabilities, empowering them to become exemplary citizens who positively influence society. The initiative has successfully fostered a better understanding of disabilities, transforming perceptions and recognizing them as valuable contributors to society.

23
differently-abled people benefitting
60
people indirectly benefitting
.

Critical Need

The Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities is dedicated to establishing vocational training centers in central and northern Thailand, along with providing occupational support for individuals with disabilities. In the past, the community did not benefit from tourism due to a lack of technical support and confidence to host international travellers. The primary focus was on their disability, rather than their strengths and resilient attitude.

Consequently, they were unable to participate in tourism activities in Thailand. Additionally, Yimsoo Farm, Mae Rim, lacked market connectivity and the training needed to host travellers in the past.

Our Involvement

Planeterra has played a crucial role in introducing the Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities to the international community, enriching the understanding of persons with disabilities in Thailand through visits and showcasing their work and achievements. Those benefiting from Yimsoo Farm have gained a renewed sense of confidence and are earning income, serving as beacons of hope for communities globally.

Moving forward, the goal is to raise awareness of this project, encouraging more individuals to visit and witness the impactful work carried out by persons with disabilities within their organization. Through these efforts, the organization aspires to create more jobs and opportunities for persons with disabilities.

.

Related projects

Ban Ou Community Tourism
D’danau Homestay
Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver
Yimsoo Cafe Bangkok
Read more

Ban Ou Community Tourism

July 13, 2023 Selene Orellana Partners

Ban Ou Community Tourism

Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

Impact

Ban Ou Community Tourism engages ten out of the 60 families in directly offering tourism experiences to travellers. The community empowers women to actively participate and lead in tourism activities, including demonstrating the making of Laos rice noodles, weaving, and providing authentic meal experiences. 

Additionally, the involvement of elderly community members adds a special touch to the traditional Baci ceremony, a warm welcome deeply rooted in Lao culture. The ultimate goal is to uplift the community through tourism embracing their traditional culture.

10
families benefitting
50
community members indirectly benefitting
.

Critical Need

Luang Prabang is one of the main tourist attractions in Lao PDR, with travellers often placing it high on their must-visit list. Ban Ou is a small village comprising 60 families whose livelihoods revolve around farming, fishing, and traditional crafts such as silk and cotton weaving, bamboo weaving, and blacksmithing. The village is very charming, situated between picturesque mountains and the Mekong River. 

Although many tour buses pass through Ban Ou en route to the renowned Kuang Si waterfall, a key attraction in Luang Prabang, the local community has not benefited from these visits. Until recently, tourism was a novel concept for them, and they had not engaged with any tour companies.

Our Involvement

Recognizing the immense potential of Ban Ou Community Tourism, Planeterra embarked on a partnership to empower them in hosting travellers. We worked closely with them to enhance their readiness and provide valuable support. This included comprehensive training to ensure they were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge. Additionally, we focused on improving key infrastructure elements, such as the dining area and waste management facilities.

We also helped them set up the outdoor kitchen, which not only enriched the tourism experience but also highlighted the local culinary traditions and flavours.

Additionally, we connected Ban Ou Community Tourism with one of our corporate partners to create a consistent influx of travellers, generating a sustainable income stream that would benefit the entire community.

.
.

Related projects

D’danau Homestay
Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver
Yimsoo Cafe Bangkok
Oodles of Noodles
Read more

D’danau Homestay

March 22, 2023 Selene Orellana Partners

D'danau Homestay

Kota Belud Sabah, Malaysia

Impact

D’danau is a beautiful homestay located in Kota Belud Sabah, Malaysia, an ideal place to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. The local community provides accommodation, cooking classes, a natural fish spa, a water bath tube, forest trekking and mountain climbing. Visitors can also learn about the lives of the Borneo people, and enjoy the cool climate and peaceful atmosphere. D’danau’s mission is to promote their culture and way of life, protect the environment and enhance their livelihood.

D’danau’ homestay provides job opportunities for locals engaging in providing the experiences to travellers for hiking, water tubing, cooking classes and other activities. The income generated from tourism allows the community to collect fees that are invested in the nature conservation and development of the village. 

30
Community members directly impacted
150
community members indirectly benefiting
.

Critical Need

D’danau Homestay started operating in September 2018 with limited prior experience in hosting foreign guests. Their establishment boasts an exquisite and unspoiled natural environment, which they aim to share with a wider audience, including both domestic and international visitors. They are in need to connect with the wider travel market not only to showcase the beauty of their surroundings but also to enhance their livelihoods by offering unique tourism experiences.

Our Involvement

Planeterra helped D’danau Homestay to enhance the quality of their services and experiences to cater to both domestic and international travellers Moreover, by collaborating with our corporate travel partners, we can guarantee a steady influx of visitors to D’danau Homestay, thereby contributing to the local community’s economic growth through sustained tourism revenue.

Through this collaboration, D’danau Homestay hopes to further improve the living conditions and job opportunities of the local people and also, to learn from different cultures by creating meaningful encounters with travellers. 

.

Related projects

Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver
Yimsoo Cafe Bangkok
Oodles of Noodles
Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association
Read more

Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver

February 9, 2023 Selene Orellana Partners

Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Impact

As tourism recovers and borders reopened in Cambodia, Ms. Kim decided to register the Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver group as an association to offer tuk-tuk (Auto rickshaw or Remorque in Khmer) transportation services to travellers who want to discover the beauty of Siem Reap, the home of Angkor Wat, and many ancient temples. But the mission of the Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver group goes beyond that, as they also seek to empower women to be confident and independent given that most of them serve as the leader of their families. The women can now use the income from tourism to support themselves and their families.

40
community members benefitting
70
community members indirectly benefitting
Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver Siem Reap, Cambodia

Critical Need

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic had devastating effects on communities worldwide and Cambodia was not the exception. Women in Siem Riep were struggling to earn an income, especially in tourism-related activities. With the recovery of tourism, there is hope for the members of the Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver group, but in order to fully reap the benefits of the travel industry, they need to secure a steady stream of visitors in need of their services.

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided training and mentoring support so that the Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver group can become confident in working with travellers and continue building a sustainable business model. Also, by connecting Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver with Planeterra’s corporate partners, the group of women is able to secure a constant stream of travellers demanding their services in addition to the individual visitors they are hosting daily.

Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver Siem Reap, Cambodia
Lady Tuk-Tuk Driver Siem Reap, Cambodia

Related projects

Auctions
Pink City Rickshaw
Pink City Rickshaw
Sheroes Hangout
Join the Movement – GX
Read more

Yimsoo Cafe Bangkok

September 7, 2022 Selene Orellana

Yimsoo Cafe Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand
logo_Yimsoo Cafe Bangkok

Impact

The Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities is a non-profit organization that helps people with disabilities by setting up vocational training centres in central and northern Thailand and providing occupational support for persons with disabilities. They also run “Yimsoo Cafe”, a coffee shop operated by differently-abled people to empower them and voice out through the community that they can do anything they set their minds to accomplish.

At Yimsoo Cafe, you can not only enjoy a nice cup of coffee and a bowl of boat noodles cooked by their talented team, but you can also learn how to use sign language and place your orders. You can even join in a hands-on experience to prepare some local cuisine dishes during your trip. This program allows Yimsoo and the Foundation to create more job and training opportunities.

8
community members directly impacted
.

Critical Need

The Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities has supported differently-abled people by providing them with training and work opportunities at the Yimsoo Cafe for over six years. In addition, they have done an excellent job showing the community how capable these people are.

However, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have struggled to find customers and make their business profitable. 

Our Involvement

With the support of Planeterra, they have a viable source of income outside grants. They use this income to support their vocational training centers for differently-abled people in central and northern Thailand, which serve more than 200 people every year. They also plan to invest in an expansion project of Yimsoo Cafe to create more jobs for differently-abled people.

Likewise, having more customers visiting Yimsoo Cafe, will allow them to raise awareness about the importance of their work.

.

Related projects

Oodles of Noodles
Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association
Libaran Island Community Tourism
Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise
Read more

Oodles of Noodles

November 6, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Oodles of Noodles

Hoi An, Vietnam

Impact

Planeterra connected the Oodles of Noodles class with one of our travel industry partners, G Adventures. This steady base of visitors allows STREETS to ensure they can provide tuition, safe housing, health care and social inclusion to current and future students of STREETS. 

Students enrolled in the STREETS program are taught everything there is to know about working and running a restaurant and graduate with top International Culinary Arts Certificates. Many have gone on to work at large five-star hotels in Da Nang and neighbouring cities. 

32
youth impacted
+250
youth trained to date
Oodles of Noodles

Critical Need

There are an estimated 20,000 children living on the streets across Vietnam. And unfortunately, the divide between the rich and poor, ethnic minority and majority, and the urban and rural populations of Vietnam appear to be growing. This problem is intensified by the lack of strong and effective child protection systems, professional social workers, and adequate programming and services for vulnerable children.

Our Involvement

Planeterra Foundation partnered with STREETS International (an extensive hospitality-training program that works with at-risk youth in Vietnam) to develop an exclusive Oodles of Noodles Tour and to expand their training kitchen. 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.

Oodles of Noodles

Related projects

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association
Libaran Island Community Tourism
Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise
Kao Thep Pitak
Read more

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association

Kundasang, Borneo, Malaysia

Impact

The Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association is managed primarily by the young generation in Mesilou who have returned home to create income from tourism. The program not only provides a new source of income, it also highlights sustainable projects locally, like the organic fruit orchard and the aquaponics farm. Through the regeneration of this tourism experience, and connection to a customer base of international travellers, the community feels they are able to shine again after many years of not having the opportunity to share their culture.

23
families directly impacted

Critical Need

Mesilou Atamis Homestay Association was registered in 2014 with 20 homestay families. Located at 1600m above sea level, the homestay is popularly known as the “The Highest & Coldest Homestay in Malaysia.” In the past, Mesilou Atamis Homestay showcased unique traditional and cultural activities to guests, but over time became more like a home rentals service through demand from the domestic tourism market. A homestay once created as a way to showcase their local culture had lost its connection to cultural celebration and immersion. 

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided a catalyst grant for Mesilou Atamis Homestay (MAH) to undergo a training program by BEST Society, a Malaysian non-profit that has expertise in community development. MAH received training to improve their homestay operation, with a focus on creating new tourism activities that allow travellers to experience and connect with the local culture. 

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Libaran Island Community Tourism

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Libaran Island Community Tourism

Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia

Impact

This tourism experience on Libaran Island is led by women who had never worked outside their homes. As they gain new income through tourism, they are also becoming more confident in speaking with travellers. The tour on Libaran Island highlights unique aspects of the community’s culture, environment and handicrafts, allowing the community to celebrate their culture and share it in a new way with guests.

10
community members employed
1,200
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Libaran Island is known as Borneo’s “Turtle Island” because thousands of Green and Hawksbill sea turtles return to nest here every year. To protect the turtles, the  FOSTER project, which stands for “Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research”, was initiated on the island.  Being so remote, there are few economic opportunities for locals. Given that it is a nesting site for endangered species,  it is important that local people have the ability to earn an income that allows them to be stewards of this fragile environment, rather than taking advantage of it.  Tourism that fosters conservation as well as economic opportunities were needed to help this community thrive.

Our Involvement

Planeterra provided a catalyst grant to BEST Society, a Malaysian non-profit that has expertise in community development, to build the capacity of community members in Libaran village with the help of staff from a local resort. Community members learned how to improve the quality of their souvenirs made from ocean plastic waste, as well as how to use local plants like the pandanous leaf for weaving and cooking.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise

Ao Luk, Krabi, Thailand

Impact

Our partnership brings additional income to 450 community members in Ao Luk, allowing local businesses to grow. With improved tourism products, the community is better set up to benefit sustainably from tourism and perform in the niche market of adventure tourism. The community members take responsibility for their fragile environment seriously and are able to bring travellers through ecosystems in a way that is sustainable and is educational.

20
community members directly benefitting
55
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

Laem Sak is one of the hidden gems of Southern Thailand, with its beautiful sea, mangroves, islands, cultural diversification, foods, and rich natural resources. Because of this, the Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprise was launched in 2014 to allow community members to diversify their income. Unfortunately, the program had limited success in reaching customers, as it is considered to be far away from the typical tourist route. As a community near a fragile marine ecosystem, the community members felt a strong desire to attract visitors as a more responsible way to experience the Andaman Sea.  

Our Involvement

Planeterra partnered with the North Andaman Network (NAN), a local non-profit organization that provides training to small community tourism enterprises in order to upgrade the Laem Sak Tourism Community Enterprises’ tourism experience. This included the purchase of new equipment for marine tours and upgrades that would enable them to receive travellers for active tours that include hiking, biking and kayaking. Planeterra connected the Laem Sak community with G Adventures, who bring their travellers to experience the community through a 3-day sea kayaking experience with locals, and hands-on activities like batik making, sea-grape planting and experiencing local foods. These programs are supporting the women, men and youth of this community, making up 12 microenterprises.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more

Kao Thep Pitak

August 21, 2020 Planeterra Partners

Kao Thep Pitak

Ban Kao Thep Pitak, Suratthani, Thailand

Impact

The tourism program in Kao Thep Pitak engages women, men and youth. It provides a new income source for community members while also promoting local entrepreneurs. The income from tourism has allowed community members to improve their living conditions.

5
community members directly benefitting
25
community members indirectly benefitting

Critical Need

The Kao Tep Pitak community is located next to a beautiful suspension bridge with a clear view of a heart-shaped mountain – a perfect photo opportunity for travellers. With the support of a Thai national tourism organization, the community set up a community-based ecotourism enterprise providing homestays, meals and tours to travellers in 2014.  Unfortunately, even with their tourism enterprise, most travellers simply passed by the village to take a photo on the bridge. Few travellers came to the community and provided any economic benefits to locals. The association wanted to build a community centre that would allow them to better host guests, but they were unable to raise the necessary funds through tourism.

Our Involvement

In partnership with the North Andaman Network (NAN), who originally supported the creation of Kao Tep Pitak’s tourism association, Planeterra was able to provide community members with training in food and hygiene and improvements to the tourism experience. Further, Planeterra provided a grant to see the completion of a community centre which the association had started back in 2016. The community centre included a dining area, kitchen and restrooms for hosting guests. Through Planeterra’s corporate partner G Adventures, we were able to help them secure a stream of thousands of guests to come and visit the community, enjoy fruit orchards, and enjoy a local southern Thai meal. Community members are also able to showcase local handicrafts to the guests which benefits even more community members.

Related projects

Good Work Foundation
Moshi Mamas
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Nyamirambo Community Tour
Read more
Contact
19 Charlotte Street, Toronto, ON
M5V 2H5, CANADA
+1(416)263-4671
More info
Social media
Newsletter sign up

Canada Not-for-Profit Corporation Number: 793488-2, US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-1619668