Travel for Change
Travel for Change is a nonprofit organization committed to helping communities in developing countries to build community-based ecotourism initiatives.
Our goals are to establish ownership, development and profit at the local level; to encourage ecological and sustainable development; and to invite travelers to really experience the culture of the places they visit.
Our initiatives are locally owned and operate as cooperatives. Profits are invested in development projects and microbusinesses in the surrounding communities.
We are currently working on our first project, Lukelo Lodge, in the beautiful Southern Highlands of Tanzania, Africa.
The driving idea behind Travel for Change is this: It is possible to direct ownership of tourism initiatives in developing countries to local communities and entrepreneurs, providing much-needed income and investment in community development.
There is a significant amount of tourism in developing countries, however due to foreign ownership of hotels and tour companies, only a small percentage of profits from tourism actually reach the local economy.
The locally-owned tourism initiatives that we help to develop will open an avenue of income generation to poor communities and individuals, empowering them to address the symptoms of poverty that persist in their everyday lives.
About Travel for Change
Our Philosophy
About the Team
MaryGrace Weber: Founding Director
MaryGrace began researching community-based tourism after a semester in Kenya confronted her with the reality of global poverty. She graduated from the University of Iowa in May, 2008 and soonthereafter founded Travel for Change with the goal of bringing economic opportunity to communities throughout the developing world. Her degree is in International Studies, with a focus on Development.
Blandina Giblin: Community Outreach Coordinator
Blandina Kaduma Giblin is a citizen of Tanzania who has lived for many years in the United States. She grew up in Njombe, a district in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. She has extensive experience as a teacher and translator of Kiswahili. Currently she is a lecturer in Kiswahili in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Iowa.
Stephanie Enloe: Sustainable Projects Coordinator
Stephanie Enloe is a third year International Studies student at the University of Iowa, studying Africa and global resources. She has been to Uganda several times and recently spent two months in Tanzania, where she discovered the benefits of providing educational and economic opportunities for empowerment as well as the importance of ecologically sound development. She has combined her interests in Africa and environmental issues by researching sustainable technology and building techniques that will be incorporated into Lukelo Lodge.
Lindsay Keller: Program Manager
Lindsay graduated from The University of Iowa in 2007 with a degree in Political Science and International Studies. Since graduating she has traveled to Tanzania twice to study Swahili and conduct research. In her last trip, she organized a project that raised more than $2,000 to purchase a cow and provide school tuition for a deserving family in Njombe. Lindsay is currently working at The ONE Campaign and is serving as program manager for Travel for Change.
Eugenia Lee: Director of Publicity and Community Relations
Eugenia Lee is a second year student in the Anthropology and International Studies programs at the University of Iowa. She is currently studying Development, Health and Society with the School for International Training in Nairobi, Kenya.
Resources
STI is an organization dedicated to promoting responsible travel and ecotourism, supporting sustainable development, and helping travelers and travel providers protect the cultures and environments they visit.
Responsibletravel.com is working in partnership with Conservation International on a programme to promote community based tourism projects across the globe.
