Changing Lives Stories
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These changing lives stories help to get the sustainable tourism message across in a simple way...
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In Kenya, tourism is offering children a brighter future
Nataana is now able to go to school, because visitors are taking a new sustainable excursion to Enkerari village in the Maasai Mara. Income from tourists is being used to provide education for the children, as well as basic sanitation and running water. It is making an amazing difference to their lives ... and giving visitors an experience of a lifetime!
Sustainable excursions are offering fresh hope to 6 communities in Kenya and The Gambia, increasing earnings by up to 800%.
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In Sri Lanka, we're helping to rebuild lives after the tsunami.
Kanthi and her family lost everything and now have a brand new house. They are over the moon to receive cassava, mango, coconut and rambutan trees for their new garden. It is great for them to have somewhere to rest in the shade and grow their own food, rather than buy everything from the market. The girls Manel and Kumudu are learning how to look after the new life in their garden! The girls are so happy to know they have friends in the UK, who are helping them towards a brighter future!
A newly established tree nursery is planting 150,000 trees to help revegetate after the tsunami.
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In Cyprus, we’re keeping life in the traditional villages
Maria is opening a café because of new self-drive routes taking visitors in to the heart of the island. This is giving rural people a way to make a living through tourism and a reason to stay in the mountains... and giving visitors a whole new experience of an old favourite!
31 local communities and 70 businesses are now benefiting from sustainable tourism.
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In The Gambia, The Travel Foundation is helping the communities made famous by Alex Hayley’s book ‘Roots’, to earn a fair living from tourism.
For years, the villagers of Jufureh and Albreda received no entrance fee from visitors. Like so many in his community, Lamin Trawally had no choice but to try and earn a living by hassling tourists to buy souvenirs. But now, thanks to a fair ticketing scheme and establishment of a community fund, Lamin is a trained tourist guide. It’s changed his life, and he is now able to support his family thanks to a regular income...which has increased by 80%!
Thanks to the community fund, Lamin and 15 others are now trained guides earning a monthly salary which allows them to support their families, and the community.