I run an African cultural tourism agency that links up tourists who want to LIVE(homestay), STUDY (cultural and educational)and WORK (internship and volunteer)in Africa with local hosts in rural villages and towns.
African homestay is basically a public interest initiative to market Africa as a tourist-friendly destination with unspoilt environment, climate,wildlife,natural landscape,rich cultural and historical heritage.
As a social entrepreneur and consultant I believe that Africa can eradicate poverty through sustainable social investing in education and skills(especially information technology) transfer and partnerships with companies, governments and communities. Africa has all the natural,human tools and resources to overcome poverty.
I encourage tourists to visit Africa as their contribution to POVERTY REDUCTION especially at the local level by Africans getting benefits from tourism.Tourism is one of the leading "ready" exports and foreign exchange earners for most African countries.But almost 85% on money tourism earnings goes back to foreign investors or countries of origin of the tourists because most hotels,travel agencies,airlines lodges,ranches,villas etc are foreign owned.
Tourism revenue to Africa is far bigger than foreign aid to Africa! Africa's share of global tourism revenues according to the Un is 3.6% and tourism accounts for more than 11% of Africa's GDP.
Cultural tourism(homestay being part of it) accounts for 5% of global tourism and is growing at the rate of 20-30% per year according to World Tourism Organisation.
Homestay benefits the locals where the tourists LIVE,STUDY and do voluntary WORK.
It is a pity that most governments and tourism institutions do not grasp this concept of locals benefitting from tourism.They are only interested in job creation , investment and tax payment as the communities along the tourist circuits live in abject poverty!
Tourism must benefit the tourist and the locals.That is why I pioneer and champion homestay tourism ,cultural immersion and voluntary work concepts to help the communities along tourist circuits with homestay fees(paid to hosts),cross-cultural learning(how much of one's culture or heritage can a tourist learn in a hotel compared with staying with a Maasai family?) and other community projects where guests volunteer.
As a capacity building and training consultant-with the United Nations (UNDP/UNV and UNESCO Club Movement), and Marquette University(USA),I have proven capacity for innovative leadership and a keen interest in local and international affairs.I have participated in international exchange programs with the Ship for World Youth (Japan), Jeanne Sauve Youth Foundation (Canada), Les Aspin Center for Government (U.S.A.) and Minnesota Students for International Development (U. S. A.).
As a freelance journalist,I contribute to a number of national and international press and have travelled to Denmark, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, crossed the Suez Canal, Greece, Switzerland, Netherlands,USA, Canada,Uganda, Tanzania and France.
I am also a social enterprise ambassador for I-genius and as well as a business coach and screener for the Business in Development challenge.
