Impac Report
1 NOV 2023 –
Our purpose and goals
Launched in 2023, The Explore Foundation sets out to positively impact the lives of communities worldwide, by supporting projects that target poverty reduction, increase access to education and healthcare, and promote conservation. Tapping into a global network of partners and tour leaders alongside our staff and customers, we’ve been able to connect with - and fund - incredible initiatives and make a real difference in the destinations that Explore customers visit.
The Explore Foundation is a natural extension of the work we do at Explore Worldwide With a registered charity number, we're able to formalise this positive impact, backed by an independent Board of Trustees who help us to direct our funds where they are needed most.
In line with our business goals and sustainability strategy, we aim to focus the support of the Explore Foundation towards projects that help people, places and the planet
It has been a pleas and a privilege to watch t Foundation grow over the last year, and to see the impact we’ve been able to have on these fantastic projects and the individuals they support In the next year, we hope to connect people to several more initiatives around the world, and to keep supporting the people and places that mean so much to us
Michael Edwards, Managing Director, Explore Worldwide
Our achievements
In the last 12 months we’ve been privileged to support initiatives from Ukraine to Cambodia, and create real impact for local communities.
£97,977 donated
One Bike – we donated £9,476 to fund their brand new repair centre in Kahe Village
Lehara – we donated £2,640 to fund three more therapists through their training to join the Khumbu clinics
Lone Buffalo – we fully funded DevTog5, supporting 71 students through a 6 month program of life skills workshops - £14,406 (building on the 87 students that we funded through DevTog4)
Planted 227 trees to support relocated villagers in Cambodia
Provided 200 reusable menstrual kits to support young women in Cambodia
10 initiatives in 9countries Supporting
Provided funding to distribute 5,000 solar lights, enabling students in rural Cambodia to study in the evenings
Donated £2,925 to provide emergency support for the vulnerable waste picker community in Kenya
Raised funds to allow 30 children to attend Stand with Ukraine’s support camp
Donated £9,920 to fund Mahouts’ new initiative in Thailand, creating an elephantfriendly, community-led experience
We fully funded GHE’s new women ’ s cooperative in Ladakh, including installing renewable energy sources - £11,616
Lone Bu
Over 70% of Laotians live on just $2 p rural areas have little access to a stru school (ages 5-9) stands at approxima system By upper secondary level (age meaning that many young people are
That’s where Lone Buffalo comes in T well as access to many extra-curricula the Laotian youth Business and entrepreneurial training, female development programmes, short film production and leadership workshops are all offered for free, alongside quality English tuition in Lone Buffalo’s unique Develop Together Programme.
We fully funded Develop Together in 2024, supporting 71 students to access these life-changing workshops
£14,406 donated
p f ff important we have the support to continue each term. It's really changing young people's lives, developing confidence, creating leaders and getting young people into tertiary education
Mark Steadman, COO of Lone Buffalo
Stand With Ukraine
The ongoing war in the Ukraine is having devastating impacts on its people Many children here have lost parents, siblings, homes. Their childhoods have been impacted in a way most of us can’t even begin to imagine So, when Explore’s local partner in Ukraine introduced us to Stand with Ukraine, we immediately wanted to support it
This wonderful initiative is a residential camp for children aged 10-14 years old that allows them a chance to distance themselves from the realities of day-to-day life, and revert to being children, to playing and having fun Alongside that, they receive emotional support and access to trained youth therapists to help them process what they’ve been going through, and what they'll continue to experience until the conflict is resolved
With generous donations from our supporters, we’ve provided funding for 30 children to participate
£14,838 donated
On behalf of children, their parents and guardians, we would like to express our gratitude for the possibility of having these two weeks of calmness and joy, for the recharging and therapy they will have
Irina Zelenina, Sputnik Kiev
Cambodia Rural Students Trust
All over the world, girls are resorting to makeshift menstruation pads made from materials such as banana leaves, mattress stuffing and even feathers
This project provides reusable period kits for Cambodian girls who currently have to miss several days of school every month around their menstrual cycle Not only will we be supporting the girls who benefit from these beautiful, washable kits, but also those who make them - the kits are all lovingly handsewn using 100% cotton material, by women in Siam Reap who will be paid a good salary for their work.
We've funded the creation and distribution of 200 reusable menstrual kits, helping to support young women and girls in rural Cambodia
£2,370 donated
Your generous support has transformed lives, created opportunities, and inspired a new generation of confident and capable young women Together, we are making a lasting impact, building a future where every girl has the resources, encouragement, and support to stay in school and achieve her dreams
Jessica Palti, Co-founder of Cambodia Rural Students Trust
Ongoing support
As well as supporting some brand new projects this year, we ’ ve continued to fund some exis initiatives with the next phase of their work
One Bike’s Repair Centr
OneBikeharnessesthepowerthatowningabik provides,toempowerruralcommunities,enabli accesstoeducation,healthcareandemploymen
Afterinitiallysupportingthissocialenterprisea footofMtKilimanjarowithadonationtobuy50 weraisedafurther£9,000tofundthebuildofa equippedrepaircentre,ensuringthatthebikes providedtothecommunitiesremainingoodcon
Three new massage therapists at Lehara
Leharaprovidespeoplefromruralcommunities Nepalwithaskill-askillthatempowersthemto asustainablelivingtheycanbeproudof,whilein helpingthelocalcommunitytothrive Leharais developingasportsmassageservicealongthe EverestBaseCampwalkingroute,creatingecon opportunitiesforcommunitiesthatlivealongth route,andofferingavaluableservicetovisiting trekkerswithwearylegs(ofwhichtherearemany!)
In2023theExploreFoundationcoveredthecostof threepeoplejoiningthetrainingprogram,andwe’ve donethesameagainin2024
That’s not all...
In addition to funding these projects and initiatives all over the world, our donations have enabled us to work with a number of other valuable causes
We’ve planted 227 trees in Cambodia
Thousands of families living around the UNESCO site of Angkor Wat have been displaced from their homes by the government to areas that are unhealthily hot, dry and barren The simple act of planting trees can help rebuild the feeling of community, and bring a sense of wellbeing by being surrounded by nature Trees also provide shade, colour, and fruit to new neighbourhoods, helping the communities settle in to their new space
Empowering women in Ladakh
The high altitude landscapes of Ladakh can be a challenging environment in which to make a living, especially for women who are often expected to stay at home with the family For the Changthang community, traditional weaving using goat wool is a key source of income We’ve donated £11,616 to fund the set up of a building, weaving equipment and solar panels for renewable energy, allowing the women to set up a small co-operative, selling their handicrafts to the tourists that visit the region each year
We provided emergency support in Kenya
Following recent flooding in Nairobi we supported the vulnerable waste picker community, who were unable to work and whose homes in informal settlements were submerged by filthy flood water
We helped fund solar lights for students
We donated £5,000 to fund the distribution of solar lights to communities in rural Cambodia This initiative combats the high dropout rates that result when students are unable to study at home due to the lack of electricity By providing a simple solar light, alongside study resources and educational workshops on health, hygiene and nutrition, over 2,000 children have been able to stay in full time education
Supporting elephants in Thailand
Working with the Mahouts Foundation we ’ re working to support tourism that enables people to experience the magic of seeing an elephant in its natural habitat We’ve donated £9,960 to help develop a community-led tourism experience, allowing the Karen community at Palatha to share their in depth knowledge of these wonderful animals Once it’s established, guests will be able to hike through native forest that supports a family of six elephants - with local guides bringing the experience to life
Meet the Trustees
Our fantastic Board of Trustees ensures that the Explore Foundation funds are directed where they can create the most impact. Here’s a little more about them.
John Telfer
Since starting out as a Tour Leader, John has always been passionate about inspiring positive travel interactions, both for travellers and hosts He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in scrutinising overseas projects from his other non-profit work He gets all of his best ideas on long-distance walks, having walked the length and breadth of England & Wales His latest project is connecting the Venice of the Midlands to Little Venice (that's Birmingham to Paddington Station for regular folk!) on foot
Jo Hendrickx
In 2017, after experiencing what Jo calls “ a styrofoam breakfast” she founded Travel Without Plastic to help businesses reduce unnecessary single-use waste Jo is a big believer in collaborative working and finding ways to put money directly into local economies, having spent most of her career supporting small hospitality businesses develop sustainability strategies A life in tourism wasn’t always on the cards though, Jo originally worked as a 999 operator for Merseyside Police before being drawn to the travel industry
Georgina Wilson-Powell
With 10 years working in travel media and a passion for consumer-focused sustainability content, Georgina is our media expert She’s passionate about making sustainable choices the norm, ensuring the responsible habits we build at home aren’t forgotten when we travel Her knowledge about environmental issues facing tourism-reliant destinations is key to helping us decide where our support could have the most impact In her spare time she runs a wild swimming group, braving a dip in the ocean every single day of the year!
Our accounts
Statement of Financial Activities
For the period 1st November 2023 - 31st October 2024
incoming
For more detail please visit the Accounts and Annual Returns section on the Charities Commission website Our registration number is 1201356
How do we raise money?
The majority of the Foundation’s funding comes from Explore, which makes a donation of £2 50 on behalf of every customer, allowing us to continue supporting projects that create a positive impact on people, places and the planet We also have regular supporters, and wonderfully generous one-off donors who support our work
Every penny that is donated to the Explore Foundation goes to our initiatives, Explore covers all of our administration costs, ensuring your donations create maximum impact
How you can help us
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