Our Foundation
The Adventure Company Foundation was set up to enable us to donate money to local charities and projects. We ask each of our customers travelling with us for a £1 donation which we match. The money is held in a separate account, away from company funds, and by keeping administration charges small (which are paid for by The Adventure Company) we can guarantee that 100% of the money donated goes to the project it’s designated to.
Our clients and our staff believe in The Adventure Company Foundation, and working together we’re sure we can reach and even exceed our aim of £8000 from client donations for charitable projects this year. We hope that through such a joint-venture we have the basis to be able to grow our support to good causes around the world, with your help, for many years to come.
Where does the money go?
Every year based on suggestions from our local agents, staff and customers we compile a list of small grass root projects that are in need of our help. We then ask our customers to help us decide which four projects we should support over the year.
Current projects
Money collected from customers travelling from Oct 10 to Sep 11 will be used to support the following four projects.
Living Water - Borneo - £2,952 raised
Kudat at the northern tip of Borneo is a beautiful destination, with some of the most unique cultures, and stunning beaches. Unfortunately it is also one of the poorest areas in the country. Water is a precious commodity, and the villagers rely on an old well which is often dry.
With your help we supported the drilling and building of new wells and water tanks, which hold over 5,000 gallons of fresh water. The project will also build new public toilets, helping to bring much needed eco-tourism to the area.
Supported by customers travelling between Oct and Dec 10.
Bwindi Watoto School - Uganda
The Bwindi Watoto School in Uganda supports the areas orphaned children. In 2007 with the help of our customers we donated £645 to help build four classrooms, and buy new windows to protect the children from the weather. The school was started with just 102 students, and is now home to over 230, supported by 14 teachers and 6 classroom assistants.
The school continues to grow from strength to strength, but they're still very much in need of our support. The money we donate will be used to build some new classrooms and buy some much needed new furniture and equipment for the children, as well as helping to support ongoing maintenance.
Supported by customers travelling between Jan and Mar 11.
Reforestation - Peru
You might remember that last year Peru was hit by devastating floods, killing hundreds of people, ruining homes and destroying the natural landscape. Every year the country is hit with flooding, affecting people's daily life, transport links and the positive effects of tourism.
The money donated will support a local reforestation project which has pledged to plant 1 million trees by 2020. The tree roots help to drain away some of the excess rain water, and also act as a natural barrier to protect the landscape and the Peruvian people. Each tree costs $1.
Supported by customers travelling between Apr and Jun 11.
Born Free's de-snaring project - Kenya
The snaring of wild animals for meat (known as bushmeat) poses a major threat to Kenya’s wildlife. The cruel snares, mainly made of wire, are set up on paths used by animals; high up in trees to trap giraffes; along fence lines and beside animal watering points. Once snared, animals face a traumatic, lingering death trying to break free.
The Born Free Kenya team help to co-ordinate de-snaring programmes in key target areas. The money donated will fund the team conducting regular de-snaring sweeps every month and educating the local communities.
Supported by customers travelling between Jul and Sep 11.
Previous projects
Jul and Sep 2010 Nepal - International Porter Protection - £3,830
Donations made by customers travelling between July and September were sent to the International Porters Protection Group (IPGG) to support a project to build a very needed porter sheler at Gokyo Village, within the Everest National Park. At The Adventure Company we take the safety and welfare of our trekking porters seriously, and ask all our local agents to sign up to our policy on porter welfare. Part of this policy ensures that the porters are provided with suitable clothing, footwear, shelter and are adequately fed when working. Unfortunately not all porters are protected in this way, working with the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) we’d like to help to take steps to change this. At present some porters often cannot find or afford shelter in the lodges, and either sleep in the local caves, or head down to lower altitude, which is a long way at the end of a days work.
The building will hold 100 porters and will have room for a doctor to be present during the main trekking season; providing medical support to porters and travellers.
Apr and Jun 10 India - Ebenezer Home of Social Outreached - £1,488
During this period we collected £1,488 in total to support the Ebenezer Home of Social Outreaches (EHSO) in Chennai, South East India. Founded in 1986 in response to the gorwing needs of local homeless children EHSO is now a registered charity running a number of projects for children and their families. EHSO’s vision is to provide health, well-being and opportunity so that those in need can lead normal, useful and fulfilled lives and find their rightful place in society. The money donated will help buy much needed supplies for the local medical centre built by the charity.
Jan - Mar 10 India - Dancing Bears - £1,738
Money collected during these three months was sent to the Agra Wildlife SOS centre for rescued bears to support the work that they do. Although banned in 1972 there are still around 800 dancing bears performing on the streets in India. To make the bears dance a crude iron needle is heated and driven through their muzzle without anesthesia or any other antibiotic at the tender age of just six months. The bears live the rest of their lives at the end of a four foot long rope and with no stimulation at all causing several mental symptoms. Male cubs are also castrated at a very young age by use of a razor, without anesthesia or antibiotics and canine teeth are removed when one year old by knocking them out with a metal rod.
As well as caring for rescued bears, Wildlife SOS have also set up a Bear Education Centre, which aims to educate and create awareness about the importance of conservation. The centre is currently only half compelte, and the money donated will help to complete this project.
Oct - Dec 09 Sri Lanka - Trees for Life - £2,846
The donation paid for the educational programme to be rolled out to 40 schools, and over 2,000 children. As well as learning about conservation techniques, the children planted 4,000 trees and created butterfly and medicinal gardens at their schools. The sapling trees that were planted were grown by small satellite nurseries run by local women, providing them with an important source of income.
“We are delighted that The Adventure Company has joined our Trees for Life campaign, what better way to protect our environment than to place it in the hands of our children. Thanks to their help and their customers, this year our school children environment and biodiversity conservation programme will educate over 2,000 school children who’ll visit and experience the Hiyare Rain Forest, learn conservation techniques and will plant indigenous forest trees in areas that need restoration.” Charamrie Maalge Responsible Tourism Partnership.
Want to do more?
People returning from our trips have often asked us if through us they can make a donation to a specific project or cause that they have seen while on one of our holidays. We regret that we are unable to do this and can only take donations towards the projects we support already. We do, however, always welcome suggestions and if you would like to recommend a project or initiative to support, please email our Responsible Tourism team on rt@adventurecompany.co.uk
As well as donating to the Foundation, you can also support local charities and projects by booking onto specific trips.
