The local food culture of New Zealand is incredibly diverse and influenced by the country's indigenous Māori heritage, European settlers, and a range of international culinary influences. Here are some key aspects of New Zealand food you should know about.
Traverse Journeys has partnered with Rights4Children, an NGO in Nepal that is dedicated to protecting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people from abuse and child trafficking by providing accessibility to services that keep children safe, provide rehabilitation, give access to educational resources, and provide vocational training to support a sustainable life. We visit this non-profit on all our Discover Nepal trips.
We are very proud to partner with the Ikaki Foundation for our Eco Tour in Northern India. This is one of the NGOs in India that is working hard to improve the quality of education for children and communities who are underserved and lack access to basic resources.
Traverse Journeys is incredibly proud to partner with Beit Khairat Souf in Jerash for our Taste and Trails of Jordan itinerary. Since 2016, this NGO in Jordan has been empowering women from all walks of life through education and economic development opportunities.
Traverse Journeys is proud to partner with WellKind Guatemala, to whom we donate 3% of our trip sales from our yoga retreat in Lake Atitlan. Wellkind Guatemala, a non-profit program currently working in 8 towns along the northern shore of Lake Atitlán, empowering Kaqchikel Maya locals to enhance the region’s economy, ecology, and community. We are proud to donate to this NGO on all our small-group Guatemala Yoga Retreats.
We are very proud to partner with CEPIA for our Pura Vida in Costa Rica & Playa Grande Beach Getaway itineraries. Find out more about their incredible impact and the projects your community partner donation supports in this Q&A with founder Laetitia Deweer.
We are proud to partner with Jungle Bay Community Fund for our Dominica Retreat. Projects supported by the Fund range from initiatives focused on healthcare and literacy to recreation, business mentorship, education and more. Three percent of sales from our Dominica trip are donated to the fund, as part of our Community Partnership program.
With NGOs in Latin America, like anywhere, it can be difficult to discern legitimacy and impact. When we look at non-profits to partner with for our community partner program, we do a lot of investigation. Who runs the non-profit, an outside entity or people from the local area? Who founded it and why? Does the non-profit work in collaboration with other groups, such as government or private organizations? What is the funding structure?
With an expansive array of impactful and integral projects supporting sustainability in the iconic region of Patagonia, Torres del Paine Legacy Fund’s impressive work is truly inspiring. It’s clear that this iconic National Park will continue to be enthrall visitors for generations to come as a direct result of the efforts, projects & collaborations of Legacy Fund - quite the legacy indeed!!
Mexico has an incredibly diverse range of terrains, cuisines and traditions. The region of Guanajuato is a leader in sustainable agriculture, and when we visit we take a recorrido around the grounds of Vía Orgánica to learn about the native and adaptive species growing all around the farm that in turn feed and educate the local community. Co-founder Rosana Álvarez shows us the roots and vision of this incredible organization.
Beyond a condiment, true virgin and extra virgin olive oil is an essential staple of the Italian diet, with an impressive host of health benefits, flavor compositions, and a variety of uses. To preserve and nurture the continued cultivation of quality olive oil in Italy, the work of our community partner is inspiring.
With opportunities for engagement that include ‘Chefugee’ cooking classes and yoga sessions led by a certified teacher, our partnership with Madrid for Refugees has us excited in more ways than one! Of course, offering unique opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers in Madrid to share their skills, culture and local cuisine with guests is just one of the many incredible programs that MFR spearheads. We spoke with Madrid for Refugees founder Christina Samson about the integral work they do.
Upon a first visit to Lisbon – a city of castles, fado, and seaport vistas - you might be met by an unexpected surprise: The prevalence of graffiti. Rather than writing this off as an act of novice, we looked to embrace this art form and recognize its historic role as a political voice and its current impact for social inclusion.
On our Yoga & Art Morocco itinerary, we visit a rural Berber women’s textile co-op to see exactly how it’s done and how rug-making in Morocco is integral to sustainable development, women’s empowerment and cultural preservation.
The visit with Irish Seed Savers on our Ireland trip is a highlight along the journey, listed among our clients' favorite experiences. In a picturesque setting in rural County Clare, their 20 acres of land are put to great use as they lead the charge in Ireland for seed saving as well as further sustainable, eco-friendly, and educational goals.
We absolutely loved spending time with our community partner Friends International in Cambodia. From creative cuisine at their social enterprise restaurants to hand-crafted goods at their Phnom Penh shop, Friends showcases a sustainable model for social change in Cambodia. We talked to Friends a bit more about their history and vision, and here’s what they had to say.
With its 9400 miles of coastline, New Zealand is no stranger to sealife landing on its shores. We interviewed our community partner Project Jonah to learn more about how they care for the coastlines, particularly in response to stranded dolphins and whales that land in a critical situation once out of their marine environment. Here’s what they shared with us:
You’re seated at a cozy outdoor restaurant, enjoying the balmy night air, the sizzle of a mouthwatering meal coming your way, and listening to the bustle and chatter of a foreign place. Just as your food is served, an adorable little girl who can’t be more than six comes up to you with a tangle of hand-made bracelets. “Good price!” she pleads, pushing the goods on your lap. You hesitate. What to do?
