the Hermanos Project...... A model of Micro-Philanthropy
Hermanos.... a Model Of Micro-Philanthropy
Hermanos facilitates the giving of micro-donations ($25 gifts) to those who need them most. In giving our guests become engaged in the community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude. Although small in scale the hope is that other outfitters world-wide will follow suit and soon an international movement of Hermanos projects will be started.
Your idea
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Street Address
Morelos # 3
City
Jalcomulco
State/Province
Veracruz
Postal/Zip Code
94000
Country
Mexico
Year innovation began
2007
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of benefit to the people of the desitination
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Tourism-related business
Geographic location
Rural, Mountain.
Plot your innovation within the Mosaic of Solutions
Main insight addressed
Incorporate sustainable practices
Name Your Project
the Hermanos Project...... A model of Micro-Philanthropy
Describe Your Idea
Hermanos.... a Model Of Micro-Philanthropy
Hermanos facilitates the giving of micro-donations ($25 gifts) to those who need them most. In giving our guests become engaged in the community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude. Although small in scale the hope is that other outfitters world-wide will follow suit and soon an international movement of Hermanos projects will be started.
Innovation
What is the goal of your innovation?
To facilitate an interaction between our guests and the most disadvantaged families in our community who are beyond the touch of tourism.
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
Hermanos was created to lend a helping hand to those that see little to no benefit from the influx of tourism in our community. Despite considerable investment in local people and projects within our community we realized that there are still many people beyond the touch of tourism. Often the elderly, handicapped and other disadvantaged are overlooked by the hectic pace of set by tourism operations. Travelers (our guests) gain valuable perspective and insight by visiting local homes and making small contributions to better the lives of those that usually see little to no benefit of their visit to the area. Micro-philanthropy... the donation of small gifts.... performing random acts of kindness... has resulted in a mutually beneficial relationship to both the givers and receivers. A connection between our guests and our communities most humble residents evolves.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
Our innovation goes back to the days of Robin Hood.... but instead of stealing from the rich to give to the poor.... we (as tourism operators) are the intermediaries between willing donors and appreciative receivers.
Here is how things started. We noticed some problems in our community and then took action to find some solutions.
Problem 1: Despite Jalcomulco being a successful model in eco-adventure tourism, we realized that some families still see little or no benefit from the tourists we bring into their community.
Problem 2: Our guests gain so much from their experience in Jalcomulco that they ask how they can contribute back to the community.
Solution: Facilitate the exchange of small donations from willing contributers to those that see the smallest benefit from their visit. Create an engaging encounter/relationship for both the giver and receiver.
We invested $200 in 2 sets X 4 different "gifts" that our guests could purchase from us ($25 each) to donate to residents in our community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
At first we thought we were just "doing the right thing" . Then we realized that perhaps 'Hermanos' could be a model for other companies in other destinations to integrate into their programs. We now believe that we can take this model and make a "movement' by linking tourism operators that incorporate "Hermanos" projects in their communities. We are currently spreading the word to outfitters world-wide to join us in benefiting those in their communities beyond the touch of tourism.
Impact
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
To empower our guests to "contribute" to those beyond the touch of tourism.
To connect our guests to their "Hermanos" in our community.
Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts? 200 words or less
We measure our success in a variety of ways.
Quantity % of donors.... over 75 % of our guests make a micro-donation ($25 gift) of which many make numerous donations (set of 4 $100). On average we have over 100% making a $25 micro-donation. The generosity and will to contribute is amazing and previously untapped.
Quality of encounter..... Our guests and recipients both benefit and enjoy the relationship created in the exchange. The value placed on the smiles, laughs and gratitude makes for a priceless experience.
Benefit to recipient.... providing a food basket to those that cannot afford to purchase rice or beans, changing cheap incandescent light bulbs for more energy efficient ones, or giving a young kid a soccer ball or school supplies makes a difference to those who receive them.
To date.... there is no evidence of negative impact.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
Through "Hermanos" our guests are given the opportunity to see how the least fortunate in our community live. We create enthusiasm for making a positive contribution to the community which leads to direct engagement with local people resulting in an incredible level of satisfaction.
Hermanos builds relationships between unlikely partners.... tourists and those not "normally" touched by tourism.
Sometimes our guests are so moved by their "Hermanos Experience" that they become inspired to contribute in bigger and better ways.... other campaigns include "A New Ear for Walter" and the construction of the "Worlds Smallest Museum".
Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area’s cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
The small investment from our guests and the benefit received by the beneficiary is only part of the "Hermanos Experience". The real value comes in the exchange where we are able to translate the differences and commonalities in the ways of life, cultures, values and perspectives of our guests and people that struggle in our community. When we enter a home with a gift of energy efficient lightbulbs we explain the dilemma facing the developing/impoverished world to make the switch. Energy efficient bulbs cost ten times as much as incandescents. Despite lasting up to ten time longer and reaping ten times the savings the initial investment is insurmountable for some families.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Our local staff (who reap the benefit of tourism everyday) are very enthusiastic to be able to 'reach out" into their own community to help those less fortunate. They have the "ear to the ground" and "finger on the pulse" finding families who could benefit from a little "micro-philanthropy". Recipients have progressed from strangers to neighbours to friends of or staff and guests.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
Yes, we have very little overhead... a mere $200 initial investment. When our guests purchase a gift to donate their investment is recycled by us replacing the gift they purchased. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of our guests investment goes directly to the recipient. We have no overhead, no administration fees.... it just keeps on regenerating itself. Any adventure travel company world-wide could start immediately with just a $200 investment.... we provide all the marketing material and "concept" free of charge.
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
This is truly grass roots and has no additional staff or administrative costs. We started with eight $25 gifts and each time one is purchased we replace it with the donors investment. We estimate a $5000 return on a $200 investment by the end of our season. I know this sounds like "small potatoes" but imagine 100 or possibly 1000 like minded adventure travel companies following suit.... thats $500 000 going into the homes of those not directly or positively effected by their tourist operations.
What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
We are planning to share "Hermanos" with all other socially/environmentally ethical adventure travel companies. We hope to promote each other under a common branding. That way when one of my guests is looking at another outfitter in another destination the can say "Hey, they have a Hermanos Project too!". We are appealing to all outfitters listed in the National Geographic "Best Outfitters on Earth" survey and hope to get some others come on board through our presence here with Changemakers.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Currently we have not reached any hurdles, problems or barriers. Hermanos is designed to be 100% transferrable to any developing/emerging community where tourism exists. Our guest enthusiasm for our program is so strong that sometimes we just cannot get around to enough houses in the time frame available. Sometimes our guest prefer to contribute anonymously. We can accommodate them but feel that they are missing out on the most valuable part of the experience which is the "engagement and exchange' of gifts and gratitude.
The Story
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
Jim & Erin Coffey own Esprit, a whitewater oriented eco-adventure travel company based in the Ottawa River valley during the Canadian summer and in the village of Jalcomulco Veracruz during the winter. Collectively, they have worked in over thirty countries worldwide leading eco-adventure tours as well as teaching outdoor pursuits for a variety of prestigious organizations.
In 1995 they started their winter operations in Jalcomulco, Veracruz, Mexico which have developed into a variety of fun, exciting, educational, challenging and rewarding programs.
In Oct. 2007 their operation was rated number 1 in the world for their sustainability practices by National Geographic Adventurer magazine
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
Upon arriving in Jalcomulco in 1995 we quickly realized that there was much more to Jalcomulco than just “coffee and mangoes, acamayas and rafting”. Although we fell in love with the area, the adventure pursuits of the region, and the breathtaking vistas of the Antigua river valley, we quickly recognized the true value of the community lies in its warm, gracious, and friendly people.
We realized that we could make a big difference in the lives of our local friends with small financial contributions. To date our small donations have yielded some incredibly
successful business ventures, improving and stabilizing the lives of our friends and families. We contribute with small scale micro-philanthropy helping our friends to realize their tourism dreams.
In a parallel world across the globe Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh was creating a system of Micro-lending…. in small rural communities allowing small scale business ventures to succeed with easy and affordable repayment plans. Our micro-philanthropy system was similar, albeit on a smaller scale, but had one major advantage over Prof. Yunnus’ micro-lending program. We did not require our beneficiaries to pay us back. We found that our “piece of the action” came from watching our friends succeed, by realizing that we had made a positive contribution to their lives and that their gratitude was more that sufficient compensation for our investment. We realized that “through giving, we gain”.
Eleven years later, in 2006, Prof. Muhammad Yunnus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his micro-lending scheme.
In 2007 Esprit received the #1 ranking for Sustainability in National Geographic Adventure’s Best Outfitters On Earth contest with a score of 100%. Although it is not the Nobel Prize we would like to share our latest initiative “Hermanos... A Model of Micro-Philanthropy.
Under the banner of “Hermanos” we invite our guests to perform “random acts of kindness” in our community by purchasing and delivering small but appreciated gifts to the least fortunate in our community. We know many older people, single parent families, handicapped, as well as just plain poor families that for whatever reason the golden wand of tourism just hasn’t touched. Through Hermanos we have been able to reach out to these families formerly forgotten by tourism. Our guests have supported the project immensely. In exchange for their gifts they receive warm and sincere gratitude. The smiles, laughter, compassion and understanding has been priceless.
Our next phase is to assist eco-adventure travel companies world-wide to start their own "Hermanos Project". We provide all the branding/marketing material, support ideas and web links to any operator that wants to join us.
At this point in time I would like to dedicate the Hermanos Project to a young girl in our community named Dizac. Dizac is 12 yrs. old, and is the oldest of four young girls. Her mother is busy with family matters and her father is too sick to work. When we realized that their family life was extremely challenged we looked at ways that we could lend them a hand. From here we started Hermanos.
Sincerely
Jim, Erin & Team Esprit
Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on the competition homepage.
Hermanos.... a Model Of Micro-Philanthropy
Hermanos facilitates the giving of micro-donations ($25 gifts) to those who need them most. In giving our guests become engaged in the community. Gifts include "despensas' (food baskets), energy efficient light bulbs, soccer balls and jerseys, and school sets. Our guests choose their donation, pick it off our display shelf and are escorted to the home of the recipient. We then introduce our guest to the recipient, share smiles, laughs, stories and exchange our gift for an incredible amount of gratitude. Although small in scale the hope is that other outfitters world-wide will follow suit and soon an international movement of Hermanos projects will be started.
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Comments
On my recent trip with Esprit, I was amazed with the small town that we were based out of, and grateful for the wonderful reception that I received from the locals. At the end of my trip, I wanted a way to say thank you, and after hearing about the Hermanos project, I knew that this would be a wonderful way to give back to the community. Knowing that I provided food to an elderly woman so that she could eat without worry, and school books to a young girl so that she could be a child, was amazing. To be so grateful for something that I consider so small, is unimaginable. We often forget as tourist that there is more that meets the eye to the wonderful places that we visit - Thank you Esprit for allowing me to face these realities and to give back to the people that make these trips truly memorable.
I never imagined that the simple act of screwing in a light bulb could move me to tears, but that is exactly what happened at the end of my recent week long Eco-Adventure Discovery trip with Esprit in Jalcomulco Mexico. I learned about the Hermanos Project my first day there but to be honest it didn’t really sink in. I was much more focused on the beautiful scenery and the amazing activity packed days that were to come. I had no idea going into this trip that what would impact me the most was the people and their culture. The people of Jalcomulco and of the other small villages we visited during our travels were so warm and friendly. Some have so little, yet they seem genuinely happy. The more I experienced the culture and interacted with these wonderful people, the greater was my desire to help in any small way I could. The Hermanos Project presented me with the opportunity to give something back, to help in some small way. Thank-you Esprit for one of the most humbling experiences of my life.
I recently experienced the Hermanos project first hand and it moved me to tears. Tears rising from the blatent inequality in our world. But I had good fortune to witness this inequality because it opened my eyes once more. In our busy, day-to-day lives we can forget. We can forget to give to those that need it most. But Esprit helped me remember and reacquainted me with the joy of giving. The warmth from a smile and hug from an elderly Mexican woman after receiving a food basket will be a feeling I will keep forever from this trip....thank you Jim, Erin and the Esprit family for the opportunity to experience Hermanos.
I recently participated in an Eco-Adventure Discovery with Esprit in Jalcomulco, Mexico. The local community opened their arms and hearts to people they had never met and most of us whom couldn't even speak their language. Just walking down the street everyone greeted you with a smile and you could not help but feel so safe and welcomed. I learned of Hermanos about three days into my trip and immediately knew that I wanted to give something back to all the lovely and warm residents of Jalcomulco.
Being able to meet with the families in their homes and deliver what to me seemed such a small item such as lightbulbs absolutely changed my outlook on life and the blessings I have been given.
Thank you so much to Erin, Jim and the Esprit family. Without their sincere devotion to the residents of Jalcomulco, I would never have been given the opportunity to take part in such a life changing experience.
Hello Jim,
Can you please explain what the campaign "A New Ear for Walter" is and what the "World's Smallest Museum" is? What are the "bigger and better ways" you mention that some guests are inspired to contribute?
Can you give some examples of the business ventures that the donations make possible?
To what extent does the community influence the gifts they receive? Do individuals come up with lists or top choices of what they need?
Instead of small donations being used to purchase small (but necessary) things, have you ever considered using donations to start a trust in which money could be pooled for the collective good. For example, several donations combined could eventually purchase something large that the community needs like a school, a library or a community well. What do you think?
I look forward to hearing your response.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Hi Dana,
Thanks for your comments. You have started to "scratch below the surface" to what really is a driving force behind Hermanos. Our Micro-donations open a few interesting doors for both Donors (our guests)) as well as beneficiaries (the least fortunate in our community... beyond the touch of tourism). The Donor gets an opportunity to experience the "joy of giving' (pardon the chlche). The experience (as evident in some of the other comments below) can be a mutually beneficial, rewarding and often a moving experience. For a meager $25 investment our guests are getting "turned on" to giving, to contributing, to making a connection.... to making a difference.
A very high percentage of our guests take advantage of Hermanos..."giving back a little" to the community. As we pass from house to house, recipient to recipient we also get a look at some underlying issues, problems, and needs that are hidden "below the surface" in our community. One day a few weeks ago someone donated a soccer ball and jersey as well as a "school set" to a young local family. Upon visiting the family we noticed that the young boy " Walter" has a cosmetically deformed ear. An average earning for people not involved in tourism in our community is 100 pesos. Walter's parents have been trying to save to have his ear cosmetically repaired... but the cost of the surgery has been "out of reach' for their earnings. Get this..... the cost is $350 dollars. With a few donations and our company covering the rest Walter will "get a new ear" after Semana Santa. We would have never met Walter or had the opportunity to help his family financially if the door to his house was not opened by Hermanos. A perfect example of Micro-donations leading to something grander...... from small things... big things grow.
More on the museum later.
jim
We have currently started a "fund" where our company matches donations to build "the world's smallest museum" in a remote community called Xopilapa. Xopilapa is at the base of a 1500 yr old Totanac cemetery and years ago local campesinos found many ancient artifacts that were buried there while clearing the land to plant beans. Two of the boys from town would bring the artifacts to Jalcomulco to sell them for a few 100 pesos. Realizing that selling their communities "heritage" was a bad idea a former partner and friend (Memo Aceves) and I purchased all the pieces, and gave them back to the community. We put one of the boys (Dimas) and his family in charge of the pieces and paid them every time we brought our guests to see them. Dimas and his family thought we were crazy... buy the pieces, give them back, pay to see them.... we explained that this is how "Museums" work, and that they are the curators of "the world's smallest museum".
Recently we recognized that the need for a proper "independent structure" is paramount. With this in mind we are currently raising funds through Hermanos to build an underground "museum" in the form of a Temescal.... which is like and adobe igloo. Here the ancient artifacts can return to earth where they were found but with the opportunity for the community to share their ancient heritage with visitors.
Our contributors to this project have been inspired by their original Hermanos experience to take their 'philanthropy" one step further. I think that by turning people onto 'small scale travel philanthropy" by making it easy and accessible, that contributing to the communities that our guests visit could become the norm in tourism rather than a rarity.
Next up...... Micro-philanthropy goes viral.
Dear Dana,
Our "off the shelf' Hermanos donations are conceived by our local staff who have lived in the village their whole life. These donations are inexpensive (by our guests standards) and are filled with basics that really just lend a helping hand financially to the participants. One item that has been very interesting is the donating of energy efficient light bulbs. We see these as "environmentally friendly"..... local people here see them as "cost saving". Most homes we enter are unaware of the energy savings as well as the cost savings.... this makes for an interesting point of discussion between donor and recipient. Being one of the tallest persons in our community has resulted in me changing a lot of light bulbs!!!
Keeping it simple.
Although we have managed to collect and pool funds for larger community projects.... it is not necessarily the "ultimate goal". Hermanos is trying to "plant the seed" of giving and let people share in the experience. As a model to spread to other outfitters we do not want to complicate it with bank accounts, financial statements, treasurers, and accountability issues. The beauty is in its simplicity. We purchased the product for $25, our guests purchase "gifts' for $25 and we then purchase another gift for $25. it is a "in and out" "regenerating investment". We invested a mere $200 but have given away almost $5000 in product. Imagine 100 other companies following the model.... or 1000 companies worldwide.
We hope that in the future our guests consider "investing' their tourism dollars and time with other outfitters that also have "Hermanos' type projects as an integral part of their programs. I am also excited to think that our clients may choose to "invest" their holidays with David Chaimberlain's Exquisite Safaris or Travel With Conscience. I would be very proud if a worldwide network of Hermanos... projects "went viral" ... infecting international tourism with empathy.
jim
Earlier this month I experienced the Hermanos Project first hand with 15 fellow high school students and teachers. When we arrived in Jalcomulco we could not believe how friendly and warm the residents were to people they had never met and spoke a different language. During the first couple days Jim and the Esprit team spoke of the "Hermanos Project" but we didn't really understand what it meant until went to Xopilapa. Our group helped hand out school supplies, soccer balls, food baskets, and changed lightbulbs. None of us knew how rewarding something as simple as changing a lightbulb could be. I am hoping more outfitters will follow in Esprit's steps and adopt the Hermanos project or build their own. I also hope more students will get involved with trips like these, not just ones with a beach. This was and extremely rewarding experience and I cannot wait to do it again.
Thank you Jim, Erin & team Esprit
For 2 weeks in March this year, I had the opportunity to stay with Esprit and participate in the Hermanos project. During this trip, we spent time in the towns of Jalcomulco and Xopilapa. In both of these towns, everyone was so friendly and welcoming even though we were complete strangers who couldn't even speak their language. It was a very rewarding experience to bring them gifts that would be otherwise difficult for them to obtain. In Canada, we take something like buying lightbulbs or school supplies for granted. Everything we ever need is always right at our fingertips. In Xopilapa, getting these things could mean hiking 2 hours up and over a mountain to get to the nearest town. It was great to see how these simple gifts were greatly appreciated by the recipients. Especially how something like a soccer ball could provide countless hours of excercise and entertainment for all of the children in the town. If it weren't for Esprit, there would likely never be any tourism in Xopilapa and certainly less in Jalcomulco than there is now. This flow of people not only brings gifts through the Hermanos project, but it also puts money into the local economies. This was truly a wonderful and life-changing experience for me, and something that was beneficial for everyone involved.
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