You have crafted an interesting project, which thoughtfully takes into account both responsible eco-tourism and socially responsible travel. I applaud your efforts to fill a funding gap for NGO’s while connecting tourists to community needs. Following I will offer some thoughts and suggestions for your proposal.
During the bicycle tours, do the tourists have a chance to interact with the local communities and/or NGO’s of South East Asia which they are supporting with funds? In addition to raising funds, do the tourists further contribute to or connect with the NGO’s during or after the bicycle tours?
How do you select the NGO’s to which the contributions are made? Describe more the relation you have with these organizations before, during, and after the bicycle tours?
What is the impact which you hope to have? What is your targeted goal for the number of bicycle tourists to have per year and for the number of dollars contributed and NGO’s supported per year? In the future, how do you plan to expand your impact to other regions?
Thank you for conceptualizing and implementing such an engaging project and for sharing your ideas in this competition.
All best – Ann Glotzbach
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Ashoka's Changemakers
Featured Commentator
Thanks so much for your insightful comments and your interest in our project. I will attempt to answer your questions below:
Tour participants have many opportunities to interact with local communities in the course of the tour, and particularly with NGO projects which we visit/support. For example, the tour group will play a 'friendly' game of soccer against a team from the project/community we visit, after spending time learning about the community and project. This creates a greater engagement for both parties, and an increased understanding of development projects for participants.
In our experience so far, the act of visiting and engaging with communities and projects has led to a much longer term interest and support from participants.
NGO's are selected on the basis of both new and existing partnerships with grassroots NGOs working in a range of sectors, relevant to the tour focus. Each partner is selected for their committment to sustainable, ethical and transparent development practices. Future Cambodia Fund/RISE Tours maintains ongoing relationships with these organisations and in some cases works in partnership with them on development activities.
RISE Tours hopes to have a role in promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism in South East Asia, and to pass on benefits to organisations and communities working to support sustainable and ethical development. We hope to provide tourists with a life-changing experience, which will motivate and inspire them to create positive change in their communities, and continue to support sustainable development in the communities they visit.
Our target number of tourists for 2009/2010 season is approximately 80 tourists over a four month period, which equates to AUD$80,000 contributed to NGO's. RISE Tours has plans to expand the project and deliver a range of tours in Australia and other international destinations, using the same model.
Comments
Dear Leigh,
You have crafted an interesting project, which thoughtfully takes into account both responsible eco-tourism and socially responsible travel. I applaud your efforts to fill a funding gap for NGO’s while connecting tourists to community needs. Following I will offer some thoughts and suggestions for your proposal.
During the bicycle tours, do the tourists have a chance to interact with the local communities and/or NGO’s of South East Asia which they are supporting with funds? In addition to raising funds, do the tourists further contribute to or connect with the NGO’s during or after the bicycle tours?
How do you select the NGO’s to which the contributions are made? Describe more the relation you have with these organizations before, during, and after the bicycle tours?
What is the impact which you hope to have? What is your targeted goal for the number of bicycle tourists to have per year and for the number of dollars contributed and NGO’s supported per year? In the future, how do you plan to expand your impact to other regions?
Thank you for conceptualizing and implementing such an engaging project and for sharing your ideas in this competition.
All best – Ann Glotzbach
----------
Ashoka's Changemakers
Featured Commentator
Dear Ann,
Thanks so much for your insightful comments and your interest in our project. I will attempt to answer your questions below:
Tour participants have many opportunities to interact with local communities in the course of the tour, and particularly with NGO projects which we visit/support. For example, the tour group will play a 'friendly' game of soccer against a team from the project/community we visit, after spending time learning about the community and project. This creates a greater engagement for both parties, and an increased understanding of development projects for participants.
In our experience so far, the act of visiting and engaging with communities and projects has led to a much longer term interest and support from participants.
NGO's are selected on the basis of both new and existing partnerships with grassroots NGOs working in a range of sectors, relevant to the tour focus. Each partner is selected for their committment to sustainable, ethical and transparent development practices. Future Cambodia Fund/RISE Tours maintains ongoing relationships with these organisations and in some cases works in partnership with them on development activities.
RISE Tours hopes to have a role in promoting sustainable and eco-friendly tourism in South East Asia, and to pass on benefits to organisations and communities working to support sustainable and ethical development. We hope to provide tourists with a life-changing experience, which will motivate and inspire them to create positive change in their communities, and continue to support sustainable development in the communities they visit.
Our target number of tourists for 2009/2010 season is approximately 80 tourists over a four month period, which equates to AUD$80,000 contributed to NGO's. RISE Tours has plans to expand the project and deliver a range of tours in Australia and other international destinations, using the same model.
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