elevate destinations

Kenya

Gallmann Africa Conservancy
(www.gallmannkenya.org)

The programs of the conservancy are focused on wildlife protection, environmental education, community service and the preservation of traditional skills and research.

Kuki Gallmann, known to many as the author of “I Dreamed of Africa” (which inspired a movie of the same name), began the conservancy 30 years ago and settled in Ol ari Nyiro . The hundred thousand acre wildlife reserve, Ol Ari Nyiro, offers extraordinary research and educational facilities, and an opportunity to connect humankind to the place of its origins.

South Africa

South African Youth Leadership Initiative (SAYLI)

The Southern African Youth Leadership Institute (SAYLI) aims to strengthen and supplement the efforts of young social entrepreneurs who are already committed to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals in Southern Africa. SAYLI will play its part in making the passionate initiatives of youth not simply inspiring, but also measurably successful in effecting change by providing young leaders with an individually tailored program that will enhance their work.

India

Floating Desert School

The Floating School Project brings learning to a large rural area by realizing the idea of a floating school, a school that can move from place to place, a schooling philosophy that is anchored in community and local occupation strategies. The model is inherently flexible, adapting to the needs of each dynamic and particular village. The Floating Desert Schools Project came into being as a consequence of the terrible Indian Earthquake of January 26, 2001 in Gujarat India that devastated the homes of hundreds of villagers that live in the desert regions.

The Floating Desert School Project now embraces an international coalition of 3 constituencies: school children, an indigenous anthropologist and researchers from MIT Media lab (and Media Lab Asia) who believe that digital technologies can revolutionize learning.

Tsunami Relief

Elevate Destinations supports the Thoreau Group’s Tsunami relief efforts. The Thoreau Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to development and disaster relief. It is currently raising funds to help the Tsunami victims of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These islands are located off the Southern coast of India and lie in close proximity to the epicenter of the Tsunami. The tribes that live there have little contact with the outside world, and the Indian Navy reports that they may have lost 20 to 30 percent of their populations. Some of the smaller tribes may have only a few survivors or may even have been wiped out entirely.

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India Floating Desert School The Floating School Project brings learning to a large rural area by realizing the idea of a floating school, a school that can move from place to place, a schooling philosophy that is anchored in community. The model is inherently flexible, adapting to the needs of each dynamic and particular village. The Floating Desert School came into being as a consequence of the terrible Indian Earthquake of January 26, 2001 in Gujarat India that devastated the homes of hundreds of villagers that live in the desert regions. The Floating Desert School Project now embraces an international coalition of 3 constituencies: school children, an indigenous anthropologist and researchers from MIT Media lab (and Media Lab Asia) who believe that digital technologies can revolutionize learning. Tsunami Relief Elevate Destinations supports the Thoreau Group’s Tsunami relief efforts. The Thoreau Group is a non-profit organization dedicated to development and disaster relief. It is currently raising funds to help the Tsunami victims of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These islands are located off the Southern coast of India and lie in close proximity to the epicenter of the Tsunami. The tribes that live there have little contact with the outside world, and the Indian Navy reports that they may have lost 20 to 30 percent of their populations. Some of the smaller tribes may have only a few survivors or may even have been wiped out entirely. The Snow Leopard Conservancy Wildlife Conservation Network (www.snowleopardconservancy.org) The Snow Leopard Conservancy is dedicated to promoting innovative grassroots measures that lead local people to become better stewards of endangered snow leopards, their prey, and habitat. The Snow Leopard Conservancy believes that snow leopards are best protected through conservation efforts that grow from within communities living with the cats. These communities are the front line in preserving the biodiversity of Central Asia’s high mountains. We recognize and appreciate the unique opinions and ideas of each individual and each community, while they help us to determine the key factors threatening the cat, its prey and its habitat. We offer material support and planning assistance in exchange for a community’s agreement to assume the primary responsibility for protecting snow leopards and other wildlife. Goodwill Social Work Centre The Goodwill Social Work Centre, a professional social work organisation deeply committed to the development of children, youth and women was founded by a professionally trained Social Worker in November 1981 in the temple city of Madurai, India with the prime objective of performing a wide spectrum of roles in the development of children, youth and women and undertaking a comprehensive action through professional approach with a preventive, curative and rehabilitative perspective. It aims at utilising positively the scientific methods of Social Work for problem identification, problem solving and problem prevention for the multifaceted development of children, youth and women who are at a disadvantage. Naandi (www.naandi.org) The Naandi Foundation was established in 1998 by a group of eminent corporate citizens as a professional, not-for-profit charitable trust that would work to improve the quality of life of the under-served sections of India’s population through public-private partnership projects. Naandi’s core program areas are Farm-based Livelihoods, Potable Water & Sanitation, and Primary Education. The foundation’s initiatives have touched over 4,50,000 people in 6 states – Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Chattisgarh with a vision to help 10 million people living in 10 states by the year 2010. Pratham (www.pratham.org) Pratham is a grass roots literacy movement that helps underprivileged children in, rural and urban India with primary school education. Initiated by UNICEF in 1994 and now independently financed with no direct governmental ties, Pratham has been growing from city to city, and state to state, and now reaches over 50 cities in 21 states in India. Pratham has no political or religious affiliations. From a humble beginning of 2000 children, Pratham now reaches out to over 500,000 children in our direct delivery program and millions more through catalytic initiatives. Pratham’s goal is: "Every child in school and learning well.” Ranthambhore Foundation (business.vsnl.com/tiger/) Established in 1988, this non-government organization has the objective of enhancing the ecological balance with a focus in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan as well as rural and forest communities in other parts of India. The foundation focuses on protection of tigers and their habitats. Various activities that Ranthambhore Foundation participates in include: health care and family planning, reforestation and use of alternative energy. Nila Moti Trust (nilamoti.org) In 1992, a Swiss couple, Monica and Michel Matter, set up a foundation and opened a shop in Penthalaz (Vaud, Switzerland) selling beautiful objects delicately handcrafted in India. Profits were to go towards the construction of a crafts center dedicated to promoting women activities and handicraft in rural areas. At the onset, 15 women were employed at the center, chosen among the neediest mothers with young children, without distinction of cast or social background. Their number had reached 88 by 2007. Kalpavriksh (www.kalpavriksh.org) Kalpavriksh is a voluntary group working on environmental education, research, campaigns, and direct action. It began in 1979, with a students' campaign to save Delhi's Ridge Forest area from encroachments and destruction. Starting with these roots in local action, Kalpavriksh has moved on to work on a number of local, national, and global issues. Kalpavriksh believes that a country can develop meaningfully only if ecological sustainability and social equity are guaranteed. To this end its activities are directed to ensuring conservation of biological diversity, challenging the current destructive path of 'development', helping in the search for alternative forms of livelihoods and development, assisting local people in empowering themselves to manage their natural resources, and reviving a sense of oneness with nature. Madras Crocodile Bank The Madras Crocodile Bank is a trust managed by a board of nine trustees, which includes naturalists, businessmen and local wildlife and tourism officials. It was started in 1976 with the main objectives of creating awareness about crocodiles and their role in the environment, and conserving the three Indian species, which had become seriously endangered due to habitat loss and hunting for skins. In recent years the Crocodile Bank has developed a much broader focus. As a Center for Herpetology, it is India's premier institution for the study and conservation of reptiles. Apart from 14 of the world's 23 species of crocodilians, it maintains collections of several endangered Indian reptiles including the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah). The Crocodile Bank's bi-annual publication Hamadryad has high credit as a serious and well-reviewed herpetological journal. The Wildlife Protection Society Of India (www.wpsi-india.org) The Wildlife Protection Society Of India (WPSI) was founded in 1994 by Belinda Wright, who was an award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker until she took up the cause of conservation. From its inception, WPSI's main aim has been to bring a new focus to the daunting task of tackling India's growing wildlife crisis. It does this by providing support and information for authorities who are combating poaching and the escalating illegal wildlife trade - particularly in wild tigers. It has now broadened its focus to deal with human-animal conflicts and provide support for research projects. With a team of committed environmentalists, WPSI is one of the most respected and effective wildlife conservation organizations in India. Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Organization The Pan Himalayan Grassroots Development Organization is a voluntary organization involved with holistic mountain development in the Kumaon Himalaya and addressing local issues such as drinking water, forestry, alternative energy, optimal land use, sanitation, building materials and micro enterprises. The Organization plants trees under their forestry program, processes timber in a solar timber seasoning kiln, and has a carpenter's guild that provides income for the local people through product design. The Corbett Foundation (www.corbettfoundation.org/) Established in 1994 by Industrialist Dilip Dharamsey Khatau, the Corbett Foundation helps in preserving, protecting and conserving the unique ecosystem of the Corbett country in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Foundation’s activities include supplying first aid boxes and biodiversity awareness programs for villagers as well as developing a unique compensation program for livestock killed live animals. UMANG Umang is a women’s organization in the Kumaon. Umang gives war windows who are also weavers an opportunity to earn an income and benefit the community through their handicrafts.

Nepal

The Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation
(www.nyof.org )

A non-profit organization bringing hope to the most destitute children in the beautiful but impoverished Hymalaya Kingdom of Nepal NYOF funds a variety of projects benefiting children and their families in Nepal. NYOF has created schools, children's homes, medical and nutritional outreach programs and has worked to free indentured girls sold into slavery servitude by destitute families. One by one, thousands of children have benefited from NYOF's touch.

Society for Nature Conservation and Rural Development

The SNCRD is a registered Nepalese NGO and was established in the year 2000 by Lieutenant Colonel Hikmat Bisht. SNCRD's primary project is to assist freed bonded labourers (slaves). In 2000, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal enacted legislation to free Kamaiyas, bonded labourers, from what was in effect slavery, but made no provision for their future. Without land to support them, and lacking the skills to obtain employment, many of these Kamaiyas have resorted to subsistence living through slash and burn agriculture and hunting and gathering within Reserves. It is estimated that 22,000 freed Kamaiyas are eking out a living in Kanchanpur district alone.