Revenue from every journey is directed towards organisations working directly in the destinations our clients explore, chosen for the measurable, lasting change they deliver. Last year we focussed on eight partnerships in six countries, directing our support amongst the key pillars of people, planet and wildlife. From a school lunch programme in Nepal to a river clean-up in Bali, here is exactly what that support achieved, story by story.
People
Investing in education, health and livelihoods across the communities we visit.
Providing school lunches for 65 students – Shree Kumrung Baraha School, Nepal
Who they are: A primary school on the terraces of Tikhyan, beneath the southern slopes of Annapurna in Nepal, reached only by footpath.
Our impact: Many of the families attending this remote school in Nepal are subsistence farmers, unable to afford lunch for their children. Pupils walk up to two hours each way to get to school, eating breakfast at home but often going hungry until they return home.
A daily lunch programme, funded by our $1,200 donation, now feeds 65 students, with produce sourced from the farming families around the school, providing them with a reliable income. Attendance and classroom engagement have both improved as a result, and this year the students led their own World Environment Day activities, promoting reduced plastic use within their community. Find out more about the school here.
Paying a teacher’s salary and rent of two classrooms – Reality Gives, Mumbai
Who they are: An education charity running community learning centres in Dharavi, Mumbai, and Sanjay Colony, New Delhi.
Our impact: Our $9,262 donation funded 10 months’ rent for the two centres, and 10 months’ salary support for Prathiba, once a student at the centres and now a Teacher Development Trainer and English Teacher. You can read her inspirational story in our recent interview. Together, the centres enrolled over 217 students across English language, digital literacy, financial literacy and employability courses, with a completion rate above 80%. Beyond the enrolment numbers, Prathiba’s own path from student to teacher is a clear sign of the organisation’s ability to grow educators from within the communities it serves. Find out more about Reality Gives here.
Sponsoring a dedicated play room for a year – The Toy Bank, New Delhi
Who they are: A children’s charity providing safe, structured play spaces in underserved areas of Delhi.
Our impact: Our donation of $8,200 sponsored a dedicated playroom for a full year, giving children a safe space for structured, developmental play. Building on 147 sessions in the first quarter, the playroom delivered a further 173 play sessions between September and November, with teachers reporting continued gains in communication, teamwork, problem-solving and confidence, alongside milestones including Dussehra and Diwali celebrations, a Halloween craft day, and the ongoing Chess, LEGO and Literature Clubs. Find out more about how the Toy Bank supports children’s development.
Supporting community wellbeing – The Ol Lentille Trust, Kenya
Who they are: A community trust working with Maasai and Samburu communities in Kenya’s arid Laikipia North region.
Our impact: We continue to support the Ol Lentille Trust, contributing $3,500 last year. The money went towards reducing poverty and improving livelihoods through better access to education, healthcare services and water provision. It also supported the trust’s anti-FGM programme, directly advancing community wellbeing.
Planet
Protecting ecosystems and supporting climate resilience in the regions we explore.
Removing 1,527kg of of waste from Bali’s waterways – Sungai Watch, Bali
Who they are: A river conservation organisation tackling plastic pollution across Indonesia’s waterways.
Our impact: Indonesia is the world’s second-largest contributor of ocean plastic, with around 80% entering via rivers. Our $6,000 donation sponsored a river barrier, with trash sorting and recycling, for a 12-month period. After 379 days of operation, the barrier had intercepted 1,527kg of waste in total, contributing to Sungai Watch’s organisation-wide total of over 300,000kg removed across 302 active river locations. The barrier is placed along a well-travelled route in Bali, so clients exploring the island can take a first-hand look at this project in practice.
Funding construction of 700 fuel-efficient cookstoves – Ripple Africa, Malawi
Who they are: A conservation charity working on deforestation and rural livelihoods in northern Malawi.
Our impact: After assessing several options, including tree planting and forest patrols, our $10,000 funding was directed towards constructing 700 fuel-efficient cookstoves. These reduce firewood consumption by around two-thirds and lower indoor smoke by more than 70%, while slowing deforestation and creating local employment through the construction and training programme. Find out more about the cookstove project with Ripple.
Wildlife
Conserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species and their habitats.
Supporting conservation of wildlife and wild lands in Africa – African Wildlife Foundation
Who they are: African Wildlife Foundation works across the continent to protect wildlife and wild lands, combining direct conservation action with community empowerment and education.
Our impact: Our $16,000 contribution last year completed our pledged $20,000 commitment, supported in part through client contributions, towards continent-wide conservation initiatives. This represents one of our largest strategic wildlife investments to date. Find out more about how AWF works in Africa to protect wildlife and support communities.
Providing rural conservation education to children – Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust, Zambia
Who they are: A wildlife education trust based in the Luangwa Valley, bordering South Luangwa National Park.
Our impact: Our $4,750 donation supported rural education programmes that build wildlife conservation awareness, help protect habitats and empower local communities to become conservation ambassadors. Chipembele delivers this conservation education to children and communities across seven chiefdoms, teaching them the value of wildlife and the environment they share.
Together, our donations have protected biodiversity, funded education and helped safeguard the landscapes at the heart of every journey we plan. Every trip booked with us carries this same spirit of giving back to the places explored. To find out more, visit our impact page.
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