Sustainable Tourism: Latin America
Please see below a list of charities we recommend in Latin America, including contact details and how to donate.
Falklands Conservation
Falklands Conservation monitors and protects the exceptional wildlife heritage of the Falkland Islands. The Islands are one of the last great wilderness sites on Earth and form a unique bridge between the Antarctic and South American continent.
To donate: www.justgiving.com/falklandsconservation
Website: www.falklandsconservation.com
Email: info@falklandsconservation.com
UK registered charity number: 1073859
As Green As It Gets, Guatemala
The Latin America Travel Association (LATA) is working with this charity on a project to create a line of all natural cosmetics made by artisans in the Antigua area. By supporting the provision of training, technical services and marketing, and by funding the purchase of materials and equipment, the goal is to create a viable cottage industry which will become financially independent and profitably run by hard working small-scale producers from disadvantaged communities. With an emphasis on social awareness in production and environmental awareness in packaging, the programme seeks to help participants lift themselves out of poverty.
To donate: https://www.asgreenasitgets.org/contributions
Website: www.asgreenasitgets.org
Email: info@asgreenasitgets.org
UK registered charity number: 1123580
Galapagos Conservation Trust
The Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) is a UK registered charity set up in 1995 to raise funds for, and awareness of, the conservation needs of the Galapagos Islands. GCT is a part of an international Friends of Galapagos network that aims to conserve the ecosystems and biological diversity of the Galapagos archipelago.
To donate: https://secure.gct.org/don_gen.html
Website: www.savegalapagos.org
Email: gct@gct.org
UK registered charity number: 1043470
New Life Mexico
New Life Mexico (NLM) is a charity that supports children and young people in Mexico who have been physically, sexually or emotionally abused. Stopping children living and working the streets is essential. NLM is actively involved in assisting two local ‘prevention projects’; Kids At Risk’ currently assists over 200 children with education and sustainable lifestyle programmes and ‘Working Children’ offers support and practical encouragement to over 250 children from the age of 7 upwards. Additionally, NLM has instigated and managed the raising of funds to re-furbish the whole Street Children Re-Habilitation Center and many children are now attending external schools or being provided with one-to-one teaching, none of which would be possible without the generous financial support given through NLM.
To donate: www.justgiving.com/newlifemexico/donate
Website: www.newlifemexico.com
Email: pvp@newlifemexico.com
UK registered charity number: 1104138
Lares Project, Peru
The Latin America Travel Association (LATA) supports two projects in the Lares watershed that aim to counteract the environmental pressures of tourism and support local communities. The area has suffered deforestation due to an increased demand for firewood both from local communities and for tourist campfires. The first project is to plant 20,000 Polylepis seedlings to help reforestation in the high Andes. The goal is to provide habitat for endangered species of flora and fauna and to produce sustainable resources for energy supplies. The second project aims to support the Lares communities by providing medical supplies and first aid kits to four villages in the area.
To donate: www.justgiving.com/lata
Website: www.latafoundation.org/projects/reforestation-in-peru/
Email: info@latafoundation.org
UK registered charity number: 1123580
Latin American Foundation for the Future (LAFF), Peru
LAFF was set up to help young and vulnerable people in Peru and supports a number of different projects. Sacred Valley Project is an educational project which enables girls from the rural highlands surrounding Ollantaytambo to access education. The project funds the girls through local state school and provides extra-curricular activities to enhance their learning. Casa Mantay, on the outskirts of Cuzco gives a home to pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers, most of whom are victims of sexual abuse. As well as enabling them to continue with their education the home also provides training in making craft goods and runs a workshop which employs the mothers once they are old enough to work.
To donate: http://www.justgiving.com/laff/donate
Website: http://www.laffcharity.org.uk/index.html
Email: info@laffcharity.org.uk
UK registered charity number: 1125872