Backpacking with a Purpose in Guatemala with Lauren Chu

Lauren Chu
Communications Director - Operation Groundswell

Lauren Chu is the Communications Director at Operation Groundswell (OG), a socially conscious travel organization whose motto is “backpacking with a purpose.” Here she talks about her experience on OG’s trips to Guatemala. Indigenous Mayan peoples make up more than 50% of Guatemala’s population. OG’s trips there examine issues such as their role in the community and how they are affected by deforestation, resource extraction and other human rights issues.

Making the First Films in South Sudan

Clara Wetzel
Filmmaker

Clara is an Argentinian filmmaker who visited South Sudan to work on the first movies ever made in the new country. She mentored a team of local South Sudanese filmmakers and helped make 4 films. It was a brave experience as there has been recent violence toward journalists in the country and risk of political turmoil. Learn about the culture and personalities of the team she worked with, and the history and landscape of the country.

Community Development in Ecuador with Jeff Goldman

Jeff Goldman Executive Director - Manna Project International

In underserved communities in Ecuador, social challenges include malnutrition, stunting, unemployment among others. Here, Jeff Goldman, Executive Director of Manna Project International, talks about their social justice and community development programs: nutrition classes, adult programs, job training and after-school/summer programming for kids. Short and long term volunteering and service learning opportunities are available with Manna Project International.

Visiting the Indigenous San Peoples’ Communities in Botswana

Alanna Wallace
Program and Communications Manager - Planeterra Foundation

The San peoples are Indigenous hunter-gatherer groups that are the First Nations of Southern Africa. Here Alanna Wallace speaks of her travels to Botswana to stay in a San-owned lodge and what she learned from the San while there. Alanna is Program and Communications Manager of Planeterra Foundation, which is the leading nonprofit using tourism to tackle poverty, and Alanna talks about how they support the San-run Dqae Qare lodge as well as many other sustainable travel projects worldwide.

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Polly Witker

Founder - Pollygoes.com
Senior Content Lead - Impact Travel Alliance

Polly is a travel advisor, freelance writer, founder of the travel blog Pollygoes.com and Senior Content Lead at Impact Travel Alliance. She recently went gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Imprenetrable Forest in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are only found in this area of the world and are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Traveling to visit these gorillas contributes to providing sustainable tourism income to the region and supports conservation of the mountain gorilla population.

Travel Philanthropy in Ethiopia with Caliopy Glaros

Caliopy Glaros
Principal Consultant - Philanthropy Without Borders

Caliopy Glaros is Principal Consultant of Philanthropy Without Borders, an organization that provides donor travel, ethical storytelling and virtual engagement for nonprofit projects. Here she speaks about her trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to introduce philanthropists to a water sanitation and education project, and shares her perspective on the unique history and culture of the country.

Fighting Youth Homelessness in Uganda with Nicola Sansom

Nicola Sansom
Cofounder and CEO of S.A.L.V.E. International

Nicola traveled to Jinja, Uganda where the problem of youth homelessness and addiction led her to cofound a nonprofit (S.A.L.V.E. which stands for Support And Love Via Education) to tackle these social issues, and reunite homeless kids with their families. Here she discusses the root causes of youth homelessness in Uganda, and their 87% success rate in getting homeless kids off the streets, and back to living with their extended families.

Traveling with the Nenet Reindeer Herders in the Siberian Arctic with Patrick Barrow

Patrick Barrow
Wilderness Guide and Outdoor Educator - Secret Compass

Patrick travels to the Yamal Peninsula in the Siberian Arctic to live with the Nenet reindeer herders. Here he discusses their culture, lifestyle and the threats of mining and climate change to their traditional livelihood.