VolunTour: Enjoy and Help
North America

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It is a reciprocal way of tourism in which the tourist is also a volunteer of social, cultural and economic improvement projects of the community visited. Truly learn from the destination and serve its residents.

Standings & Awards

20 out of 422 in North America
10 out of 179 in Poverty
37 out of 929 in Define
76 out of 1066 in Blended
163 out of 4003 Overall

1

VOTES

Travel and reduce poverty
Poverty reduction through tourism and volunteer placement.Awareness of cultural diversity and social inequity.

"We can end poverty before 2015". Its just one of the Millenium Development Goals of the United Nations. The World Tourism Organization aware of such problem presents the summit: Sustainable ‎Tourism – Eliminating Poverty” (ST-EP). Moreover, the president of Mozambique,Guebuza,declared that: "Tourism is a poverty reduction tool". 

In such context, "VolunTourism: Enjoy and Help", looks to support the work of local community organizations in developing countries, starting in Mexico, through service opportunities for national and international volunteers. 

People enjoy and learn from the place, but also connect with the communities in need. In this reciprocal form of traveling, volunteers and host communities benefit from the experience.

Many new jobs are created since the main source of labour for "VolunTourism: Enjoy and Help" will be people leaving in the rural communities. Furthermore, they will develop their own business regarding touristic activities. 

Learning about history, gastronomy, music, architecture, traditions and environment come with the development  of the towns and thus poverty reduction.

 

Sponsors, Investors, and Supporters

Tecnologico de Monterrey Estado de México

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation? 
Expand a sustainable way of tourism to alleviate poverty in Mexico by means of volunteering in social improvement projects for the visited communities. Is not about being a volunteer in a touristic place, it is about being a tourist in a community to really learn about its culture and alleviate poverty.
2. Who gains the most? 
It is a reciprocal business, the poor communities that receive help and create new businesses and the tourists that travel and learn from the experience. Development and new jobs will be created for those who live with less than a dollar per day.
3. Who pays? 
Tourist willing to pay for a unique traveling and learning experience that will also make a significant difference.
4. What is your success? 
Period (months) & Target 1-3 Start operations officialy, arrange 12 trips at least 4-6 Enter to the ST-EP project portafolio, expand operations to Chiapas 7-9 Expand operations to Guerrero and partner with airlines 10-12 Evaluate annual performance in poverty alleviation and define new strategy to the next year
5. How will you do it? 
Establishing a great network of national and foreign volunteer-tourists eager of knowledge and experience. NGOs and government agreements must be made to establish meaningful social projects. Closing commercial agreements with airlines and transportation companies to have preferencial prices. Communicating and expanding in social networks and tourism events.