4 minute read
Travel that supports local communities
Since the pandemic dominated our lives nearly two years ago, we have all started to realise that we have a responsibility to be better.
Better custodians for our fragile planet and its ecosystems and better at looking after our people. Tourism can play a vital role in looking after both people and planet, and we wanted to highlight a few community projects which we think are worth supporting.
Sarvodaya, Sri Lanka
Tree-planting with Sarvodaya
Founded in 1958, Sarvodaya seeks a no-poverty, noaffluence society in Sri Lanka through community-based efforts and volunteerism. You can travel to the most remote mountain settlements and still find signs of Sarvodaya: a seamstress who got her start from a loan through her village bank; a healthy child who benefits from home visits by a young mother trained by Sarvodaya in early childhood development; a hand pump well provided by Sarvodaya’s efforts. Or perhaps a hand-hewn road that brings poor villages into physical and psychological touch with the outside world. It is in the building of such roads that the Sarvodaya movement makes a tangible difference in the lives of local communities. In village after village where hopelessness and poverty ruled, Sarvodaya has engaged people to live by the motto:
By travelling with Low Season Traveller on our Signature Low Season Journey to Sri Lanka in 2022, you will be contributing directly to Sarvodaya and will have the opportunity to see first-hand the difference your travel can make at the community village school in Sigiriya.
MaeVang Elephant Home, Chiang Mai
Up close with the elephants
The MaeVang Elephant home is a very small (eight elephants) home run by a family who have looked after elephants for decades.
They, and their mahouts are hugely passionate about their elephants and offer small group opportunities for visitors to learn about, meet and wonder at these beautiful animals at their small base around 60 minutes south-west of Chiang Mai. They do not allow riding – they have led the way in the local area regarding this – and any visitor will immediately sense how much passion they have for what they do.
They don’t have a fancy website or great PR, however they are superb at both looking after and creating wonderful opportunities to learn about elephants. The global COVID-19 pandemic has hit everyone very hard but the elephants of MaeVang have been hit particularly hard over the last two years. With zero income since the start of the pandemic it has become increasingly difficult for the elephant home to survive.
By travelling with Low Season Traveller and The Tuk Tuk Club on our signature trip to Chiang Mai in 2022, you will not only be contributing financially to MaeVang, but you will also have the chance to help out as you meet the mahouts and of course, the wonderful elephants.
Vembanad Community Environmental Resource Centre (CERC), Kerala, India
Kerala's Wetlands
CERC is an organisation engaged in wetland conservation, sustainable livelihood and climate action throughout the Kerala region of India.
Since its formation in 2007, CERC has been working in the Vembanad region to enhance the capacity and institutional networks of local communities and stakeholders for the sustainable management of wetlands so that they are restored, protected and maintained for future generations.
Wetlands, are incredibly vulnerable to climate change, and significant efforts are required to combat the imposing threats to the lives and livelihoods of the local communities which live in the region.
By travelling with Low Season Traveller and SITA on our signature trip to India in 2022, you will not only be contributing financially to the protection of Lake Vambanad, but you will also have the chance to help out as you meet the locals and volunteers during your visit.
