Collette launches voluntourism projects in South Africa

Collette has announced the launch of their impact travel program as part of the organization’s commitment to social responsibility both in their own communities and where their guests travel.

Twenty guests just returned from the inaugural South Africa Impact Tour - Travel with Heart, a 13-day experience that blends traditional sightseeing with giving back to local communities. Guests will volunteer with local programs dedicated to improving the lives of children in the South Africa community.

In an interview with PAX, Sutherland explained, "We’re rolling out the impact line with tours to South Africa and Costa Rica, with plans to add an additional tour each year," said John Sutherland, manager of corporate responsibility, Collette. "We see the importance of giving back in the communities that we travel to and we’re excited to have the opportunity to work alongside our guests to positively impact these destinations. We’re participating in the Going Local program, started by adolescent entrepreneurs through CEPIA, in which they give tours to guests of their local area."

Collette has partnered with Knysna Education Trust to spend a day working on educational programs and building projects. Guests will also be giving back by distributing Hippo Rollers in a local community, drastically improving their access to fresh water. Finally, guests will visit the Western Cape region of Stellenbosch to volunteer for the Pebbles Project that helps the local children and community by decorating classrooms and preparing lunches.

"Collette has a long-term partnership with the Knysna Education Trust which offers many volunteer opportunities – it made sense to launch these tours in a destination that we are not only familiar with but are also extremely comfortable with the giving back portion of the tour," Sutherland said.

“It is our passion to give back, connecting travellers to diverse cultures and making a positive impact on the world that surrounds us. Our guests will experience the best of both worlds on these tours by seeing the beauty in the destination while engaging in volunteer work to give back to the local community.”

During the 2018-19 travel season, Collette will offer additional impact tours in South Africa and Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, Collette will be partnering with an organization called Cepia to promote culture, health, sports and education for children and their families in Guanacasta, Costa Rica. Guests will learn about conservation efforts in one of the most biodiverse countries in the world and give back to children in Arenal.

For more information about those tours and Collette Cares, visit www.gocollette.com/impacttravel.