In this piece, we explore the nature and meaning of favelas in Brazil and the ethics of favela tours. Through conversations with residents and community leaders in Vidigal favela in Rio de Janeiro, we consider how community-driven favela tour experiences can create positive social impact and reduce the exclusion and separative otherness of marginalized communities. … [Read more...]
Volunteering and Voluntourism: The Good, The Bad, and The Questions You Should Ask
If you are interested in volunteering internationally or going on voluntourism trip, what are the ethical considerations you should be aware of? Which questions can you ask to better ensure that your actions and any financial contribution are aligned with your values and expectations? That you don't end up doing unintended harm with your goal of helping or "doing … [Read more...]
Child Welfare in Travel: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Engaging Responsibly
You care about the kids you encounter while traveling, right? Are children ever props in your photos? Do you location tag them? What about giving money to begging children? What about passing out gifts to random kids you meet? What about those school visits? How does it all impact children and their well-being? Can any of your actions cause unintended harm? A … [Read more...]
Traveling in the Age of Overtourism: 10 Ways Travelers Can Help
Accelerating tourism growth and the threat of overtourism are here to stay. This is our advice on how to travel better in the age of overtourism -- tips and actions which will improve your travel experiences and also help to reduce pressure on the places you visit. … [Read more...]
How Social Media Influencers Can Use Their Power to Combat Overtourism
Can social media influencers on Instagram use their sharing and promotional power – something which helped accelerate overtourism – to affect and shift traveler decisions for positive impact? We offer a set of tips and considerations that each of us -- professional influencers as well as everyday social media users – can employ to be part of a solution to overtourism. … [Read more...]
How Your Travels in Madagascar Can Support Conservation and Communities
If you’ve ever wondered whether your travels can make a difference, here's a case study from our recent trip to Madagascar. It shows just how tourism can support conservation, sustainability and community development. … [Read more...]
How to Use Social Enterprises to Improve Your Travels…and Make a Difference
If you’re looking for more meaningful travel interactions and are interested in giving something back as you travel, it’s important to understand the concept of social enterprise — what is it, how it works with local communities, and where to find it in the travel industry. … [Read more...]
Should Travelers Give to Kids Who Beg?
Giving is a good thing when traveling, right? But is it a good idea to give money and pass out things to children who beg? Will it really help those kids? Will it help their families and community? Does it really support child welfare and well-being? Or can giving to children who beg cause unintended harm? We paused along the side of the road in what seemed … [Read more...]
Investing in Women: How Travelers Can Make a Difference on Their Next Trip
Reflections on the broader import of International Women’s Day, including why investing in women around the world is an investment in our future generations. We also examine how travelers can seek out organizations and travel service providers who directly invest in or indirectly impact the well-being of women in communities around the world. When we set off … [Read more...]
Cooking Across Borders in Berlin
“Add a little sugar to the saffron,” Farzane said as she worked the combination in her mortar and pestle. “It makes it easier to grind.” Farzane, a 20-year old refugee from Afghanistan who’d come to Berlin with her family in the last year, was deep in the process of teaching us how to prepare several Afghan dishes she’d grown up cooking in her home town of Herat. … [Read more...]
