We are really thrilled to be working with such a trail blazer in responsible travel.

here is the press release from Tribes sent out only this afternoon – and here’s the link to the programme! Click here

NEW!!  Tribes Travel offers Volunteering

2nd December 2012

In a brand new and exciting development, Tribes is delighted to announce that they are now offering superb volunteering experiences to clients.

Tribes is working in partnership with the volunteer organisation, people and places.

Amanda Marks, Tribes managing director, said: “We feel the two organisations have similar ideals and working principles, and look forward to a great working relationship.  If done sensitively, ethically and very much in cooperation with the local communities, we feel that volunteering experiences really can provide huge benefit on the ground.  They can also be life-changing experiences for the volunteer”.

We are starting with the following destinations:    Morocco, Nepal, Peru and South Africa.

One example of a project is in South Africa’s Eastern Cape:

Nomathamsanqa village project
Although close to the tourist site of Addo Elephant Park, Nomathamsanqa is one of the country’s most deprived communities.
About 70% of the community inhabitants receive no income and as a result, parents are unable to pay even the minimal school fees or buy uniforms. Most parents work seasonally in the citrus fruit industry. The apartheid legacy remains – one of the greatest challenges is the growing gap between rich and poor. Despite this deprivation the sense of community is strong here. The principal has made the school the centre of the community. The families tend the gardens and care for the school. Many of the children receive their major if not only meal of the day at school.
Some of their needs are:

• lesson planning and teaching methodologies – these are fundamental areas of modern education in which many teachers have received no training
• sports, arts and crafts practitioners are needed to work with the children to build confidence and enhance life-skills
• principals are burdened with rampant bureaucracy – they have little training and even less support in appropriate administration

For more information about all the Tribes Volunteering projects read here

For more details, contact: Amanda Marks (Amanda@tribes.co.uk)