For the Love of Travel: Giving Back to Local Communities Back to posts
Source: Skitterphoto
It’s much easier to claim that we love
something, or someone, than to act upon that claim. Beyond its commercial and
romanticised façade, love is a mutual bond that requires commitment, sincerity,
and a lot of hard work; a bond that is capable of building bridges where misunderstanding
would otherwise fuel hatred and disparity; a bond that can heal the deepest
wounds.
Can the same be said of our love for
travel?
Many of us are proud of being avid
travellers, boasting about the off-the-beaten-tracks we’ve walked, and the
locals we’ve broken bread with. The farther we venture, the wider perspective
we gain, and the more energy for life we charge. But what do we give back to
travel?
The bond a traveller shares with the travel
community might be a bit unconventional, but there are multiple ways to express
your genuine, sincere love for travel. Here are only a few:
1. Travel
Responsibly
Schoolchildren during a clean-up on one of Marsa Alam's beaches in Egypt. Credit: Enas El Masry
The first and most important way to express
your genuine love for travel is to leave the destinations you visit as they
are, or even better. Oftentimes travellers leave behind far more footprint than
can be overcome or restored.
The negative impact of irresponsible travel
doesn’t stop at littering and pollution. It can take various other forms, such
as unknowingly supporting animal abuse, cultural appropriation, or insulting
the local cultures due to not acquainting yourself with their customs and traditions prior to your visit.
2. Volunteer
Volunteering at ACE - Animal Care in Egypt. Source: ACE Facebook page
For several years, voluntourism has been a
controversial topic, arguing that the impact volunteering tourists (or
voluntourists) leave behind can be more harmful than beneficial. However, volunteering
with local projects can be a great way to get up-close and personal with the communities
you visit. With reasonable research you can find several local projects that
guarantee positive impact on the local community and yourself.
Here are a few places in Egypt where you can volunteer, give back to the community, and interact with it in a whole new light:
- Catherine Exists is a project that started off as a photo-series which aimed to shed light on the local community of Saint Catherine city in Egypt’s Sinai. Today it has grown into a community centre where travellers can volunteer as well as learn from the local community.
- Connect-In Groups is the only informal school in Siwa oasis where locals can learn or enhance their English language, and even their computer skills. Run by Dutch Yuridia Montoya and her mother Ellen, volunteering at Connect-In is a case in point for how intercultural exchange can add value to everyone involved.
- Safarni is a rather different way to give back to the travel community. Based in Cairo, Safarni organises intercultural programs for children in Ard el-Lewa to introduce them to different cultures around the world. Through workshops that mimic travel experiences, they aim to expose the children to the world’s cultural diversity, prompting understanding and a sense of global awareness.
- Animal Care in Egypt (ACE) is a great place to volunteer if you love animals. While most shelters around Egypt take in stray cats and dogs, ACE looks after working animals in Luxor. There’s much to be learned for veterinary students as well as volunteers with no veterinary experience.
- Habiba Community, based in Nuweiba, offers multiple volunteer opportunities. If you’re an agriculture student or expert, you can volunteer at Habiba Organic Farm. You can also inquire about other volunteer opportunities at the Habiba Learning Centre which offers after-school programs for children aged five to 13.
3. Buy Local
Ahmed in Fayyoum spends his vacations selling the wicker products his mother makes to support the family. Credit: Enas El Masry
Many local communities, especially women,
turn to small projects to support their families. Travellers may feel inclined
to compare their products’ prices to similar mass produced ones. By buying
their products, not only are you valuing the time, effort, and artisanship that
goes into their handmade crafts, you are also supporting their community and encouraging them to preserve their lifestyle.
If you wish to support local communities
around Egypt, you can check out the Siwa-based Tiltawein (literally
translates to ‘women’ in Tamazight, the local language of Siwa) which exhibits
various handcrafts ranging from silver accessories to embroidery. Also if you’re
ever around Saint Catherine, make sure you don’t miss Mountain Rose’s assortment
of natural products and trail food (their energy bars are exceptionally
delicious). For a more comprehensive shopping experience, you can visit any of Fair Trade Egypt’s stores
which have been retailing locally made handcrafts since 1998.
4. Spread the
Word and Educate
A group of Chinese tourists at the Pyramids. Credit: Enas El Masry
After the trip is over and all the fun is
done, the only thing that connects us to the priceless time we had is retelling
our stories and sharing all the moments we’ve captured. Through your photos and
stories, many others get to see the destinations you visit through your eyes,
and comprehend their cultures through your stories. This makes it particularly
important to differentiate between personal impressions and solid facts about
the culture.
Mixing both up in an interesting, eloquent
narrative can often lead to creating and feeding misconceptions about places
others have never been, and people they’ve never seen.
Do you express your love for travel in a
different way? Make sure to share your story in the comments section below.
This Post is under category: General
Post tags: LocalCommunities Valentines travel TravelCommunity GivingBack Voluntourism
Add a comment