By 

How to make a positive impact while travelling


50 Places To Go Before You Die.‘ ‘100 Places To Visit Before You Retire.‘ Sometimes it can seem like travelling is just about finishing a bucket list. Admittedly, I have ticked off a few on my very own list, from Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal, to Mount Everest and the Great Wall of China, I have been up close and personal with them all. Although those places are all very impressive, travelling for me is more than just ticking attractions off a list. For me, it’s about getting to know the residents, seeing how they live, cooking and eating with them, and even learning from them. In return, I want to give something back to the people I meet on my travels, and that’s what this article is about.

Making a positive impact while you travel makes for an even more unforgettable trip. You’ll see social enterprises popping up all over the travel industry, which is great news, as it is precisely these companies that allow you to have those unforgettable experiences that really make a difference to the lives of the local residents. Want to know how to accomplish this? Keep on reading.
 
Cat Tien Mr. Binh Family

What is a social enterprise?

A social entrepreneur takes the world around them into account as he or she earns money. A social enterprise wants to bring about a positive change. For these businesses, earning money is not an end in itself, it’s simply a means to create change. A well-known (and delicious!) Dutch example is Tony’s Chocolonely, an amazing brand that aims to make the chocolate industry slave-free. Tony’s reinvests the majority of its profits in the cocoa farmers, at the bottom of the production chain.

Social entrepreneurship in the travel world

In the travel industry, you’ll find fantastic and ethical companies that employ disabled staff, invest their profits in basic services such as a school or sewer system, or ensure that the poorest people also benefit financially from tourism. Supporting social enterprises as you travel not only makes for a special experience, but it also means you can feel good about what you do. Your money is used to make the community that you visit a better place, and therefore improves the lives of the people living in it.
 
Nepal community based tourism

Tours and activities

If you book a tour with a social enterprise, you can be sure that it will be a special experience. For example, we had an evening meal with a local family in Cambodia via Resirest . Upon arrival, the woman of the house, Mother Phaen, immediately pulled me into the kitchen and asked me to help with the preparations. In no time at all we put together a delicious meal, which we shared with the whole family. It was an unforgettable experience for us, but also for the family. Mother Phaen was overjoyed with our visit. The family is so poor that friends and family would rather not come across the floor. We could rest easy that night knowing that 85% of the amount we paid to Resirest went directly to our amazing hosts.

Our guide Jitu from Reality Tours & Travels took us on a city tour through Mumbai. He grew up in the largest slum in India, but thanks to this job he managed to wrestle himself out of poverty. Jitu showed us the real Mumbai through the eyes of the people who live there, followed by an evening we’ll never forget. Again, around 80% of the amount we paid is invested in great projects such as a community centre in the slums, where children get English lessons and computer training.
 
ResiRest familiediner

Souvenirs and presents

After an unforgettable journey, you may naturally want to take home a souvenir or two. But how do you know for sure that you are not just buying something that’s Made in China? Simple. By buying your gifts at a social enterprise! That way, you’ll get a good story to tell when you get back home, too.

A nice example of a social gift shop is Chu Chu , which means ‘’plastic’ in Burmese. We discovered the inspiring company in a poor suburb of Yangon in Myanmar. They sell handmade gadgets made from recycled waste. Even the store and workshop are built from recycled materials! The owner not only tackles the country’s plastic problem, but she also employs more than 45 women from the poor neighbourhood. The profits are invested in training and waste management in the area – amazing stuff!

Restaurants and cafés

It’s not all about the Taj Mahal, you also go to India to try the delicious food. The great thing about social enterprise restaurants is that they not only put love into every dish they make but also have a positive impact on the community. This way, the curry tastes even better!

In India we had lunch at Sheroes Hangout. The restaurant is run by women who have survived acid attacks. Often, the mutilated women are rejected by their family and friends and have found a chance for a better life here.

Like many others, Syna and Mong once contributed to the highly profitable dog meat industry in Cambodia, running a dog meat restaurant. Despite advice from their fellow countrymen, they threw in the towel a few years ago and transformed their restaurant into a 100% vegan establishment called “Sabay Vegilicious“. They strive to earn a living in a compassionate and animal-friendly way and inspire other entrepreneurs to do the same. Not to mention that the food here, especially the mock meats, is outstanding!
 
Sheroes India Acid Attack

Hotels and homestays

By sleeping in small-scale hotels and homestays you can be sure that your money will end up with the right people, and you often get a more personal touch in return, making your visit an unforgettable one every time.

In Nepal we slept in Sapana Village Lodge , a beautiful accommodation situated on the edge of the Chitwan National Park. The owner, Dhurba, puts his heart and soul (and profit) in all kinds of projects that improve the lives of his fellow residents. From a women’s workshop to computer training and waste management, Dhurba has his finger in many pies, that’s for sure! The most amazing project he is involved in is the Sapana School, where children from the neighbourhood receive free education.

In Iran, we slept in the middle of the desert with a nomad family. The age-old lifestyle of the Bakhtiari nomads is slowly dying out as the children opt for modern life in the city. In an attempt to preserve the old traditions, Majid invites tourists to stay with his family. Sleeping with the nomads creates economic opportunities for the families and helps you to maintain their way of life for future generations.

 
Bakhtiari Nomads Iran

This is how you travel with a positive impact

An increasing number of travellers are becoming aware of the responsibility they have to make a difference during their holidays in developing countries, but how do you find these social enterprises amongst all of the other businesses that offer activities, food and accommodation?

There are a number of platforms offering tours and accommodation where you can be sure that your money will be well spent. A few examples are I Like Local , The Backstreet Academy and The Local Package .

You can also check if the organisation has a seal of approval, such as the Travelife Certificate . This international certificate is awarded to accommodations and travel organisations that undertake sustainable business.

Book your trip with a social enterprise

Or make yourself comfortable by booking your trip with a social enterprise, such as Better Places Travel, the first Dutch and English travel organisation to call itself a B Corp . The international recognition is only reserved for companies that are successful in making a profit and while achieving social and sustainable goals. For example, 10% of Better Places Travels profits go to positive initiatives, such as money for emergency relief after the earthquake on Lombok, Indonesia, and a foundation for street children in Medellin, Colombia. Médecins Sans Frontières and Against Malaria Foundation can also count on the support of Better Places Travel.

How does Better Places Travel work? It’s very simple; they will put you in touch with a local travel expert, who will collaborate with you to create an unforgettable trip. When searching for activities and accommodation, Better Places Travel works together with companies such as I Like Local, Resirest and The Backstreet Academy. This way you’ll make a real difference on your special trip!

Did you enjoy this article? Then you will like this too!


1. Searching for elephants in an ecolodge in the wilderness of Sri Lanka
2. Ecolodge: Discovering the Treasures of Inle Lake, Myanmar
3. Why your shouldn’t volunteer at an orphanage abroad
4. Rajasthan: hospitality, peace and an incredible story in India
5. How to make tempeh! We found the best workshop in Indonesia + video

Daisy
About me

Meet Daisy, freelance travel journalist, filmmaker and cookbook author. Some people know her as a leftover queen, others as a travel addict or a world improver. She can't be described with just one word. She travelled for a year as a travel reporter for Expedia in the Netherlands, held a TED talk about food waste, wrote two cookbooks about cutting down on waste and won the only professional prize for travel journalism with an article about her stay with the nomads in Iran. With this website, Daisy wants to show that sustainable living, travelling and eating consciously is not only simple but very valuable and enriching.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

Everything you need to know about spending money in Zimbabwe
January 16, 2020
Leftover recipe: homemade breadcrumbs (without using stale bread)
January 14, 2020
What to do in Yogyakarta: a Javanese archery workshop!
January 10, 2020
How to be a vegan in Vietnam
November 30, 2019
lekker eten in Kaapstad
From butler to city farmer and his own vegan restaurant in Cape Town
November 16, 2019
Kelingking t-rex nusa Penida
14 tips for an unforgettable trip to the Nusa Islands!
November 14, 2019
How to keep a head of lettuce for 9 weeks without rotting
October 30, 2019
My TED talk about food waste is available online!
August 10, 2019
The ultimate guide for vegetarian and vegan travelling
August 09, 2019

1 Comment

Source Nepal
Reply 26 December 2019

Inspirational Journal!!!
Loved reading content, inspirational text for travellers. Thank you soo much for providing such content.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *