A World Of Good

It’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of bad news as the world continues to face challenges amidst an ongoing pandemic.

This week, we’re sharing some uplifting stories of how the travel industry is making a positive difference around the globe.

To support the communities neighbouring its 16 boutique lodges, camps and hotels in Kenya and Tanzania, the Elewana Collection’s charitable arm, Land & Life Foundation, launched a new fund — the Pamoja Fund — specifically to help mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

“The inspiration behind it was our communities who live alongside wildlife — the men, women, children, young and old, who motivate and inspire us every day in our work,” Carol Ng’ang’a, acting GM for the Land & Life Foundation, based in Nairobi, Kenya, tells Travel Courier. “As you may already know, Pamoja is Swahili for ‘together,’ borrowing from Elewana’s philosophy of being in harmony with nature and communities. We want to ensure that our communities know that they are valued and are at the centre of our work and we will stand in solidarity with them during these challenging times.”

As a result of the global pandemic, tourism shut down and drastically affected these communities who rely heavily on the travel industry.

“Our communities rely on tourism and pastoralism for their livelihood. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has disrupted both,” Ng’ang’a explains. “They are experiencing closure of markets for their livestock, job losses — camps & lodges, national parks, and protected areas have drastically reduced the number of staff who provide additional eyes and ears on the ground. All this is happening against a rise in the cost of living.”

For the full story, read TRAVEL COURIER now.