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Voluntourism News
'Voluntourism' Wins Soft Power Education 1st Place in Educating Africa Award
Soft Power Education (SPE), a British registered UK Charity and Ugandan NGO set up to improve the quality of life through education in Uganda - has been awarded first place in the 2008 'Pan-African Entrepreneurship in Education Awards' out of 250 charities in 29 countries.
Gibraltar (PRWEB) December 8, 2008 -- Soft Power Education (SPE), a British registered UK Charity and Ugandan NGO set up to improve the quality of life through education in Uganda - has been awarded first place in the 2008 'Pan-African Entrepreneurship in Education Awards' out of 250 charities in 29 countries.
The awards were run by Teach a Man to Fish (www.teachamantofish.org.uk) and in conjunction with Educating Africa (www.educatingafrica.com) with a first place prize of $10,000.
SPE has harnessed the ever increasing 'Voluntourism' market by offering a 'One Day Volunteering' programme allowing tourists the opportunity to work at grass roots level. The volunteers assist with the School Rejuvenation Project by painting and helping to build much needed classrooms.
"We average about 1000 day volunteers every year mainly from overland tour adventures with an additional 250 volunteers returning to spend up to three months with us" enthused Hannah Small, Founder of SPE.
"We were very impressed with the unique concept of voluntourism and its impact on children and families in Uganda" remarked Nik Kafka Founder of Teach A Man To Fish.
The $10,000 prize money from the award will assist SPE to provide power at the Amagezi Education Centre for a new community library and to power additional computers to teach children and adults.
To continue with its mission of making a difference in the lives of Ugandan children and their families, Soft Power Education is actively seeking donations and volunteers and for more information visit www.softpowereducation.com.
Contact Details:
Sharon Webb
email: sharon @ softpowereducation.com
Hands Up Holidays ,
the award winning responsible travel operator who believes that travel can make a positive difference, has noted that the economic downturn is inspiring some to seek meaning and enrichment through volunteer travel.
One of Hands Up Holidays' key client segments is Young Professionals (aged 25-38), and it is this segment that has been arguably most affected to date in the current economic turmoil, and yet Managing Director Christopher Hill, himself a former investment banker, has recorded a noticeable spike in bookings from Young Professionals.
The reasons cited by clients are a desire to have meaningful experiences in their life, and they have been attracted to the Hands Up Holidays concept of a ‘taste of volunteering' to allow them to dip their toes in the waters of volunteer travel, and find out if it is for them. "Some clients have decided to ride out the storm by travelling for an extended period of time, rather than scramble for scarce jobs with poor bonuses" says Hill.
Popular voluntourism destinations by young professionals are:
South Africa, India and Nepal, and extended multi-country tailormade volunteering trips in South America and South-East Asia.
TIME TO END COTTON WOOL CULTURE AND GET YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM
02 October 2008
- First ever national Learning Outside the Classroom National Conference and national awards held today -
- Ministers launch new Quality Badge scheme and more support for teachers -
More children and young people will be able to go on educational school trips thanks to new measures slashing red tape and giving teachers more support, Children's Secretary Ed Balls and Children's Minister Kevin Brennan said today.
The Out and About package, launched this morning and backed with £4.5 million of funding, is designed to give schools much clearer information to organise effective learning outside the classroom activities for all pupils.
It includes a new Quality Badge scheme which will cut paperwork for teachers by helping schools and local authorities to identify organisations that provide high quality experiences and manage safety effectively.
Mr Balls said learning outside the classroom - whether within school grounds, locally and on visits further afield or even abroad - should be part and parcel of every child's school career.
But he said it was wrong to deny children valuable learning opportunities or wrap them in cotton wool because of risk assessment paperwork or fears over compensation culture.
And he stressed it was time to allay teachers' fears about litigation over incidents on school trips once and for all.
The Quality Badge scheme is part of a series of measures being launched at the first-ever Learning Outside the Classroom National Conference, at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Kevin Brennan is the keynote speaker.
The full Out & About package includes:
• A new Quality Badge to identify organisations that provide high quality experiences and manage safety effectively - from field study centres and outdoor activity centres to museums and historic houses. The first badges will be awarded next year; and
• Online guidance, advice and training to help school staff plan learning outside the classroom effectively.
Also being announced:
• The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver the Manifesto Action Plan over the longer term; supported with funding from the Government. The interim board is announced today with the full Council up and running by autumn 2009;
• £2.5million initiative to promote residential schemes for young people funded and run by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation charity; and
• First ever national Learning Outside the Classroom Awards rewarding outstanding provision in schools, colleges and early years providers. Castlechurch Primary School in Stafford is the first national winner, alongside eight other regional winners.
In addition, new guidance for school employers on dealing with incidents on school trips will be published shortly.
Today's announcements follow the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto launched in November 2006 - the first time a Government committed to increasing the learning outside the classroom to all three-to-19-year-olds.
Over 1,000 organisations, including teacher and headteacher associations, have now signed up to the Manifesto.
Ed Balls said:
"I am delighted that all the teacher and headteacher associations, alongside over 1,000 other organisations and educational providers, now back the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto. Their hard work developing the Manifesto pledges over the last two years will pay off for generations for pupils in the future.
"It is wrong to wrap children in cotton wool as they grow up. Trips and getting out of the classroom should be part and parcel of school life and always form people's most vivid childhood memories.
"Learning outside the classroom is not some optional extra. It should excite young people, deepen their understanding of classroom subjects and is vital for young people to become independent, confident and motivated.
"The vast majority of England's eight million children go safely on school trips or learn outside the classroom at some stage. But we know that more can be done to make sure it is an integral part of every child's education.
"Today's package makes a clear case for the benefits of learning outside the classroom. It is a massive step forward to making it easier for teachers to take pupils out of the classroom - giving them the confidence and tools to organise outside the classroom environment; cutting paperwork and red tape on visits; and breaking down the fear of litigation.
"It is time that the fear of compensation culture is consigned to history once and for all. The fact is that individual teachers do not get sued because their employer holds public insurance liability and prosecutions for gross negligence are extremely rare - against the tens of thousands of trips that happen day in, day out.
"The bottom line is that teachers and parents should be confident in organising visits outside the classroom and no child should ever be denied educational opportunities because of it."
People must live morally, ethically, to save environment, says pope
By Catholic News Service CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- The only way to put an end to environmental degradation is for people to live more simply and ethically, said Pope Benedict XVI. All of creation represents "an enormous gift from God to humanity" so people have a responsibility to "protect this treasure" and dedicate themselves "against an indiscriminate use" of the earth's resources, he said. The pope made his comments during a Sept. 27 audience with members of the Italian Tourist Youth Center and the Belgium-based International Bureau of Social Tourism. The audience also marked World Tourism Day which is sponsored by the U.N. World Tourism Organization. It was dedicated this year to the theme "Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change." "Environmental degradation can only be stopped by spreading an appropriate culture of behavior that includes more sober lifestyles," the pope said. "Without adequate ethical and moral limits, human behavior can, in fact, become a threat and challenge," he said. A responsible use of the world's resources should also be part of "a healthy and sustainable economy" of the tourism industry, he said, noting that hurting the environment and local cultures also inflicts damage on the tourism industry. "Learning to respect the environment also teaches respect for others and for ourselves," he said. About WTM WRTD What is responsible tourism? In 2002, 280 representatives from all sectors of tourism from 20 countries attended the Cape Town Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations, preceding the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. A declaration on responsible tourism was agreed. generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well being of host communities; improves working conditions and access to the industry involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues provides access for physically challenged people is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence WTM has four realistic objectives for this day of action. WTM WRTD, with support from the UNWTO wants the industry to work together to: explore the issues of how countries and destinations are made more sustainable including case studies of best practices educate the marketplace and debate key environmental related issues to push the agenda and be a catalyst for change harness the influence of World Travel Market as an international business forum to encourage the industry to drive the responsible tourism agenda forward.
ITTFA Supports UNWTO in Relaunch of Protect Children Campaign The campaign is a renewed endeavour to raise awareness across the globe, emphasising that it is unacceptable for the tourism trade and travelling public to tolerate child exploitation in all its forms. Through this campaign, the World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, hopes to help eradicate child labour and sexual exploitation in the global travel industry. According to an estimate by the International Labour Organization, 246 million children are engaged in child labour, while millions are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. There is little doubt that there is a strong link between the tourism industry and child exploitation in some areas, especially in countries where economic growth has created an enormous demand for child labour. UNWTO is also concerned about the spiralling growth of sexual exploitation of minors which is often associated to travel and tourism. UNWTO is currently designing a new logo, documents and video that will be launched at World Travel Market in London in early November. The full campaign will take effect on Universal Children's Day - November 20, 2008. ITTFA meanwhile will ensure that the campaign logo and related documents will be distributed via their member show stands as well as in their own quarterly newsletter and relevant marketing materials. "ITTFA and its members fully support this worthy project, " states Tom Nutley, ITTFA Chairman, " and we encourage other tourism industry bodies, companies and related suppliers to join us in working towards a successful implementation of these basic principles. As responsible industry leaders, it is the duty of us all to educate new and growing markets and help show the way forward in all aspects of the industry." In today's busy and competitive environment, trade associations offer members a secure and comfortable environment in which they can gain knowledge and exchange ideas. Instead of going it alone, the power and voice of a group gets faster results and carries more weight. It is within this domain that ITTFA feel they can add weight to this worthy campaign. Johan F Lundberg, current President of ITTFA is particularly concerned that the tourism industry take a more active role in social issues. "I would like to see the industry in general take on more responsibility for the environment and sit down to discuss the various global issues that affect us all, such as exploitation of children. Events are slowly becoming more socially aware and some, such as our ITTFA member show, WTM, now run their own charities and support various social projects. I do feel that we should be taking the lead rather than just a part in such issues which are common to the global community. Travel is a part of most people's lives these days and as an industry we hold a unique position as travel trade shows to reach millions of people on a regular basis." UNWTO and ITTFA hope that this renewed campaign will put the issue of child exploitation in tourism firmly back on the international human rights agenda. The project is being led by Alla Peressolova, Fairs and Communications Assistance at UNWTO (aperessolova@unwto.org) together with the International Task Force for the Protection of Children in Tourism. For more information on ITTFA, view www.ittfa.org 11 September 2008 09:39 A novel scheme to celebrate the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa and help fight disease and poverty has been unveiled by an adventure holiday company.
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Cape Town Declaration
The 2002 Cape Town declaration agreed that responsible tourism:
minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts
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WTM World Responsible Tourism Day objectives
help drive change by educating more responsible behaviour with the travel and tourism industry and travelling public
14 September, 2008
The World Tourism Organization, UNWTO, is strengthening its efforts to encourage the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and within this framework is relaunching its "Protect Children Campaign." International Tourism Trade Fairs Association, ITTFA, has recently confirmed its support of the campaign and will be encouraging members to promote the cause and help raise awareness around the globe.Football for fun' kicks off in Africa
Acacia Adventure Holiday's 'Football for Fun' campaign is offering its holidaymakers the chance to pay for and distribute a much prized £10 football during their African tour in a small expression of 'voluntourism'.
And £2 from each sale will go to fight Malaria, Aids and provide clean drinking water for locals.
Kate Plummer, sales and marketing coordinator of Acacia Adventure Holidays, hopes that the gesture will result in customers engaging with locals in a friendly game of football.
"The game of two halves can be enjoyed in dusty fields, townships or even in the bush, and with no particular stops marked out for the match this means that all our overland travellers can participate in the campaign," she said.
Holiday with the works By Brad Crouch August 05, 2008 12:00am
It is one of the fastest growing niches in travel – voluntourism. Trips where travellers use part of their time to do community and environmental work are booming. As well as the feel-good aspect of such trips, participants have a much closer connection to the areas they visit. In places from Nepal to the Coorong, a variety of companies now offer a diverse range of trips where people can do volunteer work. Travellers can sign on for holidays that restore habitats for endangered species, build schools for poor communities, teach English and much more. Some trips revolve entirely around such work, others have a volunteer component as part of a sightseeing tour, and some use payments to fund projects. One woman who has seen some incredible parts of the world, and built a close bond with local villagers thanks to voluntourism is South Australian Kyra Glasby. After working in Ethiopia with aid agencies when she left school on a world trip, she returned home to Mt Barker and completed a nursing degree. She has repeatedly returned to the Afar region of Ethiopia to continue the work of the Barefoot Initiative, founded by Kyra, her husband Sunil and brother Aidan.
This raises funds in Australia for simple, sustainable projects to improve the lives of people in Afar. As these photos show, working as a volunteer can take you to unusual places and give a deep insight into foreign cultures. Such places may be well and truly off the tourist map - Ethiopia rarely figures on "hot" destinations lists - but for many people that is part of the appeal. Go online for more on the Barefoot Initiative - here are a few more volunteer holidays: From www.news.com.au
World Environment Day 2008
The World Environment Day slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. Recognising that climate change is becoming the defining issue of our era, UNEP is asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. The World Environment Day will highlight resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economies and life-styles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption. The main international celebrations of World Environment Day 2008 will be held in New Zealand. UNEP is honoured that the city of Wellington will be hosting this United Nations day (read the press release). The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. When did it all begin? World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP. How can you celebrate World Environment Day? The World Environment Day Alphabet - 80 Ways to Celebrate Heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. Serious pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management and economic planning. This observance also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions. On this World Environment Day, let us examine the state of our environment. Let us consider carefully the actions which each of us must take, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on earth in a mood of sober resolution and quiet confidence.
Our logo is a Turtle and we have been lucky enough to support Turtle conservation in several parts of the world over the years, the most memorable being on Bird Island when we helped tiny hatchlings out of their nest and protected them on their way to the see from the crabs and gulls that normally feast on them. Click here for holidays where you can help out these wonderful creatures. Throughout the world, the number of turtle species that have become critically endangered has doubled in the last five years due to their popularity in the food and traditional medicine trade. In the United States, turtles comprise approximately 95% of reptile exports each year. Thirty-five million turtles were exported from the United States between 2000-2002. The majority, more than seven million per year, were freshwater turtles destined for Southeast Asia to supply the growing food markets. Because many wild turtle populations in Asia have been decimated by over-collection, dealers have begun targeting U.S. turtle populations to meet the Asian market demands. In May 2003, North Carolina passed legislation allowing the state Department of Natural Resources to protect native reptile and amphibian species from exploitation before they become threatened and endangered from over-collection. In order to stop turtle collection for the Asian market, the state then banned the harvest of freshwater turtles. South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama are considering similar action. In addition to conservation concerns, turtles in the food trade are treated with little or no regard as living creatures. Pollution and Development Loss of habitat and destruction of habitat (via damaging collection techniques) are serious threats to all turtle populations. The gopher tortoise, for instance, is declining throughout its range, particularly in Florida, primarily because of development. Researchers believe if action is not taken, the gopher tortoise will only exist within protected areas. Coastal developments such as hotels, resorts, and condominiums also greatly reduce suitable nesting habitats for sea turtles. Refuse, such as discarded plastic bags and balloons, cause suffocation, strangulation, or blocked digestive tracts in many turtles. Pollution, in the form of hazardous chemicals and garbage, further limits suitable habitats for turtles and causes illness and death in many land, freshwater, and sea turtles. A study conducted by the Canadian Wildlife Services at three sites in the Great Lakes region found deformities in male snapping turtles, believed to be the result of chemical pollution. Young turtles in the region also showed other biological abnormalities including impaired thyroid function. What's more, sea turtle populations near areas of intense human activity are suffering from the deadly disease Fibropapilloma, which may be caused by chemical pollution. It is believed that nearly 50% of all green sea turtles that occur off the coast of Hawaii are infected with this disease and will perish from it. Fibropapilloma is a contagious disease that causes turtles to develop large tumors that cover their soft tissue and spread to many parts of the body. External tumors inhibit the turtle's breathing, sight, and/or feeding ability, eventually killing the animal. Internal tumors destroy vital organs such as lungs, liver, and kidneys.
We are very concerned about a little girl we sponser in Burma and it's very hard to get information about the affected areas, so if anyone knows of the situation in Chan Mya Thar Zi, please let us know. many thanks len@voluntourism.co.uk World Vision has today launched an appeal to provide emergency relief to millions of people displaced and homeless after Cyclone Nargis slammed into Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta region on 2 May. "The country has been paralysed and all infrastructure has been wiped out. Villages in the southwest delta region have been completely flattened. People are finding whatever shelter they can until aid arrives," said World Vision Chief Executive Tim Costello. Cyclone Nargis hit the southern delta regions about 250 kilometres southwest of Yangon. The storm has dissipated after pounding the country with ten hours of rain, packing winds of 190 kilometres per hour at its peak. Almost 90 per cent of the region around Laputto has been wiped out. World Vision's emergency teams arrived overnight at the request of the Government of Myanmar. Immediate response will be to distribute emergency food and shelter and assess longer-term needs. "We are still trying to get to the worst hit region. There are massive obstacles to reach these parts. Roads are impassable and communications are down. This is a catastrophe for a small nation." World Vision has more than 500 staff in country and is now mobilising all available humanitarian aid into the region.
The value of voluntourism Voluntourism is also becoming more viable for more people thanks to more flexible scheduling. Instead of having to commit to weeks or months - or even years, as in the Peace Corps - it's now easy to mix doing good with having fun in as little as a week or two. In fact, when survey participants were asked how many days out of a two-week trip they would be willing to devote to volunteer work, two choices - four to six days and seven to 10 days - accounted for 56 percent of the responses. Full story at
Tourism company fuels up on recycled cooking oil A leading Canterbury tourism company has taken steps to offset its carbon footprint by switching all its vehicles to bio-diesel. Hassle-free Tours is the first tourism operator in the region to make a complete switch to the cleaner, environmentally-friendly fuel produced in Canterbury by Biodiesel New Zealand which is made recycling cooking oil from restaurants and hotels. Mark Gilbert and partner Nikki Marsh, who own and run Hassle-free Tours, say its important New Zealand lives up to its clean, green image and that tourism operators take steps to reduce their carbon emissions. Hassle-free Tours operates seven vehicles which take visitors on tours of the Canterbury high country, including spots where scenes for the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. Two of their vehicles are large six-wheel drives, one of which was designed and built in Christchurch, and both successfully switched to bio-diesel. “Our tours take visitors into some breath-taking countryside. We really want to make sure that we have as minimal impact on the environment as possible which is why we made the decision to change to bio-diesel,’’ Mark Gilbert says. “With overseas visitors, particularly those from Europe, becoming increasingly environmentally-conscious New Zealand tourism operators need to show they are paying more than lip-service to being green.’’ Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince praised Hassle-free Tours’ initiative and stressed the importance of the tourism industry taking steps to become environmentally sustainable. “This is a perfect example of the kind of long-term commitment to change and continuous improvement we are encouraging here,” she said. “It is ideal that cooking oil from our hospitality venues can be reused to facilitate amazing experiences for visitors,” she said. The switch to bio-fuel is one of two big changes Hassle-Free Tours has made this year. It’s now running the popular Alpine Safari Tour which takes visitors on trips to the picturesque heart of the South Island’s scenery on three iconic modes of transport – the jet boat, the 4WD, and the TranzAlpine Express. “We’ve been on enough tours during our travels to know how disappointing it is when a trip doesn’t live up to expectations. It’s really important to us that people who come out with us really enjoy the experience and every detail is right,’’ Nikki Marsh says. Hassle-Free Tours also runs 4WD and jet boat adventure tours into the Southern Alps. Msnbc.com-Condé Nast survey explores emerging travel trend By Rob Lovitt The survey polled more than 1,600 people and found that approximately 20 percent had taken at least one volunteer vacation. Of those who hadn't, nearly two-thirds (62 percent) said they'd be very likely or somewhat likely to take one. Then again, considering that 95 percent of those who have taken one said they'd be (somewhat or very) likely to take another, those who haven't may discover that taking one is just the beginning. "There comes a point — generally when you’re on your third margarita, sunburned over 60 percent of your body and the kids are screaming in the infinity pool — when you start to wonder if there is more to the whole vacation concept than lying on a beach getting toasted. A way of showing thanks for your own good fortunes, perhaps. You want a chance to contribute more to a local economy than buying overpriced trinkets that neither you nor your friends back home really need."
Las Vegas, June 7- Escape Adventures, a Las Vegas based multi-sport touring company, recently received the highest rating ever granted by Sustainable Travel International, making them the greenest touring company on earth. With hundreds of tour companies claiming to be environmentally responsible, this will undeniably raise the bar for outfitters who claim to be running their tours in an eco-friendly fashion.
These companies claim to be sustainable, not leaving carbon pollution in their tracks, when essentially they are only paying to pollute by purchasing energy credits and not truly offsetting their carbon footprints. The people need a better way to decipher real green from "light green" companies who use "green" as nothing more than a marketing ploy. If you drive a Hummer to shop at Whole Foods, you may fall into this category.
Jared and Heather Fisher of Escape Adventures have worked many years to acquire this outstanding honor. Their mission is simple: Support human power and the natural environment. Give back to the earth for the boundless free services it awards us.
The Fishers differentiate themselves from other outfitters in many ways.
· Grow their own organic garden & they feed its fare to guests on tour
· Collect used kitchen vegetable grease from local restaurants to fuel tour vans
· Recycle 90% of waste; tires, bottles, paper, plastic, glass- on tour & at shops
· Have public recycling bins
· Have installed solar panels at their home & shops
· Awarded, "Certificate of Environmental Stewardship," by Rocky Mountain Power, for purchasing 30,000 kilowatt hours of renewable wind energy
· Offer all employees $5/day to ride to work rather than drive
· Use only recycled products and buy merchandise with little or now packaging
Third party auditing by organizations like Sustainable Travel International, which has over 1200 companies adhering to their uber-strict guidelines worldwide, will hold the key to knowing whether a touring company, or any company for that matter, is truly green. For more information on Sustainable Travel International, please visit http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org.
For more information about Escape Adventures and Las Vegas Cyclery please visit www.escapeadventures.com or call toll free 800.596.2953
World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.
World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways, including street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, recycling efforts, clean-up campaigns and much more. In many countries, this annual event is used to enhance political attention and action.World Turtle Day May 23rd
Cyclone in Burma
Do good, but have fun, too
www.msnbc.msn.com
Travel writer
MSNBC contributor
Volunteer tourism, aka voluntourism, is alive and well and growing in popularity. In fact, according to a new survey sponsored by msnbc.com and Condé Nast Traveler, more than half (55 percent) of the respondents expressed an interest in taking a volunteer vacation.