We are very proud to partner with Jungle Bay Community Fund for our Dominica Retreat. The Community Fund is made up of donations from guests, staff who generously give 10% of their gratuities, and other local lodge owners who commit to supporting community needs. 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. Find out more about the incredible impact and inspiring projects these donation supports in this Q&A with Jungle Bay staff member, Laura Ell.
Jungle Bay Community Fund’s Mission
What are the primary objectives, projects, and goals of the Jungle Bay Community Fund?
The Jungle Bay Community Fund was started as a way to intentionally support and work with the people of Dominica, specifically the members of villages in and around the property. Our primary objectives are in efforts of sustainability education, social-economic support, cultural heritage preservation as well as environmental care. The goal of our various projects is to work with the people of Dominica to build thriving and sustainable communities.
History and Impact
Tell us about how the Community Fund started and a bit about its history up through the present.
Sam Raphael, owner of Jungle Bay
The Jungle Bay Community Fund started in 2005 to continue our efforts of social, environmental and cultural care of Dominica. With our funds consisting of guest donations, Jungle Bay staff who generously give 10% of their gratuities and lodge owners, we have developed many programs and projects to work with our community.
Over the years, as our fund has grown, so has our impact. We have been able to build lasting projects over the years which you can see in detail below.
Achievements
What have been the biggest achievements in recent years?
Over the years, as our Fund and commitment have grown, we have been able to work on many different projects. Below are details into some of our projects:
The House of Hope
This is a community-operated facility for indigent children and young adults with severe disabilities located in the southeast of Dominica. The house has benefited from a generous contribution of over $40,000 USD from Jungle Bay primarily to cover the salaries necessary for 24-hour supervision and care of patients.
Southeast Entrepreneur Loan Fund (SELF)
In 2006, Jungle Bay launched the Southeast Entrepreneur Loan Fund (SELF), which allowed local entrepreneurs to borrow up to EC$12,000 each for business activities such as organic produce, seafood, local arts/crafts production, and guiding of cultural tours and hikes.
Emerging Entrepreneur and Business Mentor Retreat
This is a collaborative effort of Waitukubuli Entrepreneurs Levé (WEL), Jungle Bay, Dominica Youth Business Trust, and Invest Dominica, with support from additional individual and corporate sponsors. The project is aimed at celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), and provides financial benefits to help the people of Dominica's southeast. Individuals can develop a range of transferable construction skills in a timely manner, supporting many local residents who were forced to transition after the decline of the banana trade. With unemployment rates in Dominica near 25%, it’s critical to provide business training and mentorship to young adults on the islands and to stimulate the creation of new businesses, many of which can be connected to the ecotourism industry as suppliers or service providers. To date, 32+ entrepreneurs are in business thanks to this innovative and important program and 123 have benefited through participation.
Open Books, Open Minds
Jungle Bay was a founding partner of this literacy project bringing 250 books per year to hundreds of primary school students in seven schools in the southeast of Dominica. One school went from having among the lowest literacy rates on the island to the highest, according to the Ministry of Education.
The Pharmacy Field School Rotation
Started in 2008, this program brings 15 US students and professors for two weeks at a time to learn about health care in Dominica and to volunteer in rural clinics. Prior to their trip, students collect medical supplies from US pharmacies to supplement the rural health clinics and in 2012 alone this program donated over US$50,000 worth of medical supplies!
Sports and Recreation
Jungle Bay has been contributing sports equipment to teams in villages surrounding Jungle Bay since 2006 to support the development of children for fitness, community-building and to develop team skills.
Vision
What do you hope to impart to those that interact with the Jungle Bay Community Fund - be they volunteers, visitors to the Lodge, or community members?
Our hope to all who support the Jungle Bay Community Fund is that they have the opportunity to learn about and understand our projects, goals and objectives. We want them to know how their donations will positively impact our community through further education of our projects. We also hope that people feel personally involved and immersed in the culture of Dominica before donating to the Community Fund. We see great value when people learn about Dominica firsthand and feel a deep connection to the place. From this level of awareness, when people do support the Fund, it can have a deeper meaning in both their own lives and the lives they are directly impacting in Dominica.
Partnership with Traverse Journeys
What are you most looking forward to about this collaboration with Traverse Journeys and sharing the details of your projects with our guests?
Guests on our December 2021 Dominica trip
Traverse Journeys’ ethos of impact and empowerment through the lens of sustainable, ethical, and purpose-driven travel aligns with our hopes to build our projects and funds. Bringing guests from Traverse Journeys to Jungle Bay is a fantastic way to educate mindful travelers about Dominica in a way that is truly culturally and socially immersive and creates greater awareness and understanding. When guests see the value in supporting our community project and choose to donate, they are directly assisting in our community needs - from healthcare and literacy to recreation, business mentorship, education, and more.
Learn all about the Community Fund and support their work by joining us on our next Dominica trip!
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Whether indulging in delicious Creole dishes, succulent seafood or hearty stews, the food in Dominica offers a delightful array of dishes for the taste buds, each showcasing the island's unique culinary traditions. Enjoy this culinary journey to Dominica with our top 10 must-try snacks, meals, and sweets that embody the essence of Dominican local dishes, ensuring an unforgettable gastronomic experience.