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At GOOD Travel, we have always believed in the power of individual action and the importance of each doing what we can to support one another. This has never been more important. The tourism industry has come to a complete standstill and we are seeing tourism businesses around the world being forced to make heart breaking decisions for their businesses and the individuals that depend on them.
So what can you do as GOOD travellers? We'll be sharing lots of ideas over the coming weeks through our #virtualtravel campaign and we'd love to hear your ideas too!
One thing we are doing here at GOOD Travel as part of our #virtualtravel campaign is to donate $100 each week to a local cause in our featured destination for the month of April. We have shared the causes we are supporting below and if you are in the position to also donate, please do!
Zealandia is the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary, with an extraordinary 500-year vision to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems as closely as possible to their pre-human state. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced over 20 species of native wildlife back into the area, some of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years. Zealandia is a tourist attraction and uses the income generated from visitor entrance fees and tours to fund their work. They have had to close their doors during the lockdown period, but their work continues.
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Peruvian Hearts is an incredible non-profit organisation empowering young women in Peru through the Peruvian Hearts Scholars Program. The parents of Peruvian Hearts' scholars drive taxis, sell vegetables at local street markets, work in the agricultural fields, work as a secretary at a primary school, decorate cakes, and work at restaurants to make ends meet. Due to COVID-19, the parents can no longer perform the jobs that they have come to depend on to help them pay for their most basic needs. Without a source of income, it is extremely difficult for the parents to feed their families and cover their monthly living expenses. Peruvian Hearts have therefore launched a fundraiser to allow the families to cover their basic needs and help to ensure that they can purchase food and necessary medications.
The North Andaman Region of Southern Thailand is home to a large population of Burmese migrant workers who come with the hope of finding a living wage and a better way of life. Burmese children often find themselves living as second class citizens without the money to afford basic fees for enrollment, uniforms, and transportation to school. The Burmese Learning Center was established to provide education for 80 Burmese migrant children. The center is supported by Andaman Discoveries, a social enterprise offering tours in Thailand. However, without visitors, Andaman Discoveries are currently unable to provide their usual support to the learning center.
>Donate to the Burmese Learning Center (via the Global Purpose Group)
Chef José Andrés founded WCK in 2010 to use the power of food to heal and strengthen communities in times of crisis and beyond. Confronted by the immediate and longer term ramifications of our current reality, WCK has activated a solutions-oriented movement to support and inspire people, food relief efforts, and food businesses across the country.
> Donate to World Central Kitchen
The Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) is a community organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa, who supports close to 500 children in the area of Kliptown through education programs, daily meals and performing arts. They have had to close during this time but continue to distribute meals and help the community to stay safe and healthy in what is a very challenging situation in their community.
