Mejdi Tours, made up of an eclectic team of Arabs, Jew, and Christian peace-builders, has created a travel experience with the potential to re-define travelers’ perspectives, bringing guests a greater understanding of the complex history and culture in the Middle East.

This year they’ve teamed up with National Geographic Expeditions to offer a 12-day trip through Israel and the West bank guided by both Israeli and Palestinian peace-builders. On the trip you have a chance to meet and hear the stories of a range of people, from rabbi’s to refugees, all in the effort of creating a balanced narrative. Just take a look at Day 3 of the Mejdi Tours itinerary: as you make your way through Jerusalem, you’ll learn the significance of the Mount of Olives from a local rabbi, at Dome of the Rock you’ll hear from an imam concerning its Muslim roots, and finally later in the day you will explore the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a important Christian pilgrimage destination, with a local pastor.

Mejdi is the brainchild of Dr. Marc Gopin, Aziz Abu Sarah, and Scott Cooper. Marc is a professor at George Mason University and director of its Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution. Also an ordained rabbi, Marc has over 25 years experience in the world peace-building and conflict resolution. Aziz, an entrepreneur at heart, has worked in the world of tourism for over 10 years and co-founded Al Tariq – The Palestinian Institution for Democracy and Development. Scott built up years of experience in the banking and financial markets to help peacebuilders and investors identify the best business models that will harness growth, change, and success.

One eager student, Ziata, who joined in on one of their academic tours, blogged, “Tolstoy once said that everybody wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change themselves. Our whirlwind experience completely rocked our worlds and made us wonder of our own roles in our societies. Such a change on a personal level can bring about a change on a broader, national or international, level.”

Trips begin in October 2012 and run through May 2012.

Also check out these destinations and tour operators similar to Mejdi that we’ve featured in previous issues: The Holy Land Trust, The Top 10 Countries for Sustainable Adventure Tourism (Israel is #2), Exchange Tourism during Ramadan Creates Equality in Jordan

Try his signature Sea Cave Nature Tour, which takes you to caves not many people know how to find.   You’ll explore three caves, if the tides allow.  This coastal area is teaming with life – harbor seals, as well as a multitude of creatures such as crabs, fish, birds and algae, are all on display.  We loved the sea stars, purple sea urchins, and flower-like green sea anemone, which feast on crabs and snails.  Click here for a video of harbor seals making their way into sea near Mendocino.

A recent paddler remarked, “We experienced slow, medium, and slightly rough waters in different parts of the trip, and Craig very skillfully guided us all through them… he managed to keep an eye on everyone and we loved how he loves Earth – always stressing respect and care for the environment.”  Craig also offers kayak surfing lessons, a nice idea for day two and a definite contrast to the predominantly smooth paddling of the caves.

End your visit with a trip to one of the area’s boutique wineries and a stay in one of the local B&B’s – Craig can recommend the best!
For more information call 707-937- 0700 or send an email through the contact form here: http://www.kayakmendocino.com/contact.php.

The Sierra Norte Mountains in Oaxaca

While CNN has countered negative press about travel to Mexico with facts – taking into account the newly expanded U.S. travel warning, the region continues to suffer from negative press.  Lonely Planet’s U.S. Travel Editor, Robert Reid, points out, “It’s in the 17 of 31 states not named in the newly expanded warnings where you’ll find the most rewarding destinations: the Yucatan Peninsula and Baja California beach resorts, colonial hill towns like the ex-pat haven of San Miguel de Allende, even the capital Mexico City.”

Recently the Wall Street Journal described the effect of the cartel wars on Mexican tourism, travel advisory warnings have been posted for 14 of the 31 Mexican states and have successfully discouraged travel to Mexico. While Mexico pushes to regain tourists’ trust by advertising sandy beaches and authentic cultural heritage by accompanying them with their slogan, “Mexico: The Place You Thought You Knew,” the constant stream of frightening news about ongoing drug wars have discouraged travelers from choosing Mexico as their vacation spot this year. When you compare numbers though – the violence is much on par with U.S. cities,  this article points out that last year 111 U.S. Citizens were killed in Mexico last year, comparable to U.S. cities such as Boston and Orlando.

This year, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan fell during August. Around the world, fears rose and people speculated what would occur in countries that are currently experiencing turmoil, such as Libya or one of the other countries in which the US has issued travel warnings.

In May 2011, Shannon Stowell, President of the ATTA, traveled to Jordan and Egypt, commenting,”…Jordan is unfortunately lumped into ‘the Middle East’ along with different problems, each destination should be considered completely separately. Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Libya, Tunisia all have very different issues going on and the media does a disservice when misreporting goes on.”

Zikra is an initiative based in Jordan which has a goal of breaking down stereotypes.  Based in Ghor al Mazraa’, Zikra Initiative welcomes visitors from around the world (although currently 65% of visitors are Jordanian) to participate in exchange workshops allowing visitors to learn traditional skills and crafts such as making organic eye-liner , weaving baskets, tassling hatta, and cooking traditional dishes like Gallayet Bandora or Tomato-in-a pan. In exchange visitors pay a nominal fee that is channeled into a microloan in addition to other economic and social development projects, such as university scholarships. People pay JD 25 which will support the ladies of Ghor Al-Mazra’a. “Women don’t usually have work so this creates job opportunities, helping them become more independent,” adds Rabee’.

About 65% of their visitors are actually Jordanians themselves, people from larger, more urban communities such as Amman. Zikra’s founder, Rabee’ Zureikat commented, “We mainly target Jordanians in an effort to connect and shatter stereotypes in both communities. When Zikra was launched it was a charity drive, I had learned about  a ‘dusty community’ discriminated against because of their skin color. They had been taken advantage of by loan sharks and now couldn’t pay the loans back so their land was taken away. After awhile it started feeling awkward – it created a giver/receiver relationship, as if we, the givers, were the heroes. In reality we were learning a lot from this community.”

Rabee’ continues, “Amman is full of influential people, it has become very westernized yet we don’t really know the country. I wanted city dwellers to visit the rural areas without being the heroes and going to ‘save’ the area and community.”

Muslims view Ramadan as a time to reflect while they fast each day in order to practice patience and submissiveness to God. Practicing Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, at which time Muslim communities gather to break fast and celebrate together.

Zikra Initiative has put together a special program with the Ghor al Mazra’a community in Jordan, who hopes to share their heritage as well as allow any foreigners who visit to experience what it looks like to celebrate the breaking of fast during Ramadan.

Although the Ramadan program is now over, Zikra offers many other programs of interest throughout the year. If interested in participating in the Ramadan exchange next year, send them an email to reserve your spot.

Be sure to keep up with Zikra on Twitter and Facebook. Check out their YouTube page to hear one of their community members sing live at a recent TEDxDeadSea event (this was the first time that someone from the community was actually there to represent the Dead Sea community.)

Another organization to keep in mind  as you plan your travels is Voluntour Morocco.  They host a number of programs throughout Morocco that not only allow you to volunteer your time but also foster an atmosphere that encourages cultural exchange. Founder, Nabil, also imports various crafts selling them at various trade shows he attends,  if interested contact Nabil to learn more.

Ghami Village in Mustang Valley

“Nepal has stolen my heart for the mix of nature and scenery, especially the culture and mix of Buddhism and Hinduism,” comments Tjalling whose home lies in the Netherlands.

Tjalling is from Venhuizen, a small agricultural village, 50km north of Amsterdam. Ten years ago Tjallling discovered Botanical Treks & Excursions through a friend who had organized four other trips with them. Bijay manages Botanical Treks and has acquired over eleven years of experience in the field of tourism as well as sever professional certifications.

Sue also trekked with Bijay in 2002 and six years later as she planned a second trip, chose Bijay again, “He was the best person for us fledglings as he was very kind with us. He is such an expert and professional, he just encouraged us all the time with every hurdle we encountered.  He seemed to know innately when we were flagging and a bit desperate and just kept us keeping on with it.  We all have our own special memories but agree that it was the best experience we have ever gone through – at 50 and 60 years of age, this is quite [a bold statement]; we have done many things throughout our life!”

Botanicak Treks has a variety of trips that run at various times throughout the year. If you’re looking for an authentic experience, take a

Gyanandra, Lee, Sue and Bijay in Nepal, October 2008

look at Botanical’s Upper Mustang Trek.

In 2008, Nepal officially asked Mustang’s King to step down from his position and thus ending a Monarchy whose roots extended to the man they say founded the Kingdom in 1380, Ame Pal. Formerly a part of Tibet, Mustang became a part of Nepal and is open to only a selected number of trekkers each year. In fact, if you plan on trekking in the region you must obtain a special permit that costs around $70 each day. Individuals are not permitted to hike in the area, so it is best to book an expedition with a tour operator months in advance. Upper Mustang is an 18 day expedition and can be booked between May and October.

As we spoke to former clients, opinions were unanimous regarding Botanical Treks’ experience, personality, and expertise, Sue commented, “I would and do, recommend Botanical Treks to anyone who wants advice about trekking in that part of the world.  In fact, Lee and I did…a team leader contacted us both for a reference…as a result, they got the job.  Why wouldn’t they, they are brilliant at what they do.”

Off the Radar continues to be encouraged by comments such as these, to know that around the world, responsible tourism thrives, thanks to individuals and organizations such as Bijay and Botanical Treks who have a passion for what they do and the ability to sustain the cultural traditions and knowledge of such vast, diverse areas.

Be sure to check out Botanical’s profile on StepUp Travel.

Each year on August 9, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is celebrated all around the globe. This special day was declared by the United Nations in 1994 with the aim of facilitating international cooperation around efforts to solve the problems faced by indigenous people. These efforts focus on socioeconomic development, environmental conservation, the preservation of cultural heritage and improving basic human rights for indigenous people and their access to healthcare and education.

As the UN’s World Tourism Organization has acknowledged, tourism can play a vital role in promoting cultural understanding, tolerance and respect, which is why the theme “linking cultures” has been chosen for the 2011 World Tourism Day (to be celebrated on September 27). Often, in an area with indigenous populations, or people who are original to the land, one of the greatest assets is traditional culture. Through mindfully operated cultural tours, indigenous groups have something a great deal to offer – and to gain! – from exchanges with tourists.

Here we share a roundup of some of our favorite indigenous culture tours found in the whl.travel network of local tour operators.

In the Embera indigenous communities of Panama, women wear a traditional headpiece of tropical flowers and use corporal paint. Photo courtesy of Panama Tourism Authority

Visit the Embera Indigenous Community of Panama

In a world faced by rapidly paced globalisation, sometimes it becomes necessary to take a moment, close your eyes and just breathe. If you are searching for a place that lends itself to breaths of truly fresh air, a place where you can break from modernity and ‘progress’, you will have much to learn from contact with the traditional Embera indigenous tribes and their playful children. In Panama, the Embera maintain a careful distance from global influences and a deep respect for their environment. They use palm trees and natural fibres as construction material; they wear only simple multicoloured woven cloth garments; they practice corporal painting and have dances for all occasions. Complete with flowers in their hair, they are just as their ancestors before them were.

To start a memorable day with the Embera, your hosts paddle you down a river in a traditional dugout canoe to their community, where the village warmly welcomes you. During your day, you witness traditional dances, feast on typical foods and learn local crafts. A walk through the village and the botanical surroundings further helps you understand the wild diversity of their natural environment. At the end of the day, you leave with tender memories of a remarkable cultural exchange with the indigenous Embera, a uniquely beautiful community.

Two local girls on Malekula Island in Vanuatu greet visitors with shy smiles. Untouched by the forces of globalisation, their curiosity about foreign cultures matches outsider's intrigue about Makekula daily life. Photo courtesy of John Nicholls

Explore the Malekula Island People of Vanuatu

Visitors to the Malekula Island of Vanuatu are always intrigued by the history of cannibalism on the island. The belief system of the island’s indigenous Namba population included cannibalism until about 100 years ago, when the practice became obsolete (on the Malekula). These days, however, among the indigenous Namba, other tribal practices continue to thrive in full colour, such as matting, dancing, face painting and vibrant costumes.

As part of a special seven-day island safari, whl.travel local partners John and Silvana Nicholls include a visit to Malekula and a taste of life with the local Namba people. The tour begins in the capital city of Port Vila and then proceeds to Malekula, where you stay in the locally operated Nawori Seaview Bungalows for three nights. During that time, you follow local guides on excursions to nearby tribal villages and even take a canoe trip to ex-cannibal Rano Island. Another highlight is a visit to the Big Nambas tribe, which is distinct from all other tribes in Vanuatu; their red-dyed textiles are a highly prized and much photographed artifact of indigenous Vanuatu island life.

An Akha woman smiles warmly. The Akha are one of the five main indigenous hill tribes of northern Thailand. Photo courtesy of flickr/AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker

Trekking to the Hilltribes of Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in Thailand and part of the Golden Triangle travel loop of Southeast Asia. It is also the gateway for tours of the hilltribes of northern Thailand, fascinating encounters in sharp juxtaposition with the pace of contemporary urban life. On a trip into the lush scenery of rural northern Thailand, you reach the mountainous region near the border of Myanmar and encounter the small communities of several different tribes, like the Lahu, the Karen, the Hmong (or Meo), the Lisu and the Akha, each with its own distinct costumes, language, traditions and livelihoods.

You can arrange a trip to the hilltribes of northern Thailand through Hilltribe Holidays, a tour operator dedicated to exploring areas near Chiang Mai in a respectful, culturally sensitive and sustainable way that creates enriching and mutually beneficial exchanges for everyone. You can take in the scenic mountain passages, waterfalls, breathtaking views and local tribal ways of life. Sharing home-cooked meals and ancient customs with the local communities is one powerful way Hilltribe Holidays creates a safe and constructive context for cross-cultural understanding.

In Venezuela's Canaima Nationnal Park, an indigenous guide of the Pemon tribe leads tourists through the protected area of the park and to the main attraction: Angel Falls. Photo courtesy of flickr/whl.travel

Discover Angel Falls with a Pemon Guide in Canaima Park, Venezuela

As one of the highest waterfalls in the world, Angels Falls is the major attraction at Canaima National Park in Venezuela. The waters of Angels Falls plunge 2,648 feet (807 metres) from top to bottom, inspiring photographers and filmmakers alike with its roar and mists set against lush green forests and glistening gray rock faces. Because of its remote location, though, reaching the famous cataract takes some doing. One travel option is a five-hour upstream trip in a traditional dugout canoe.

If you’re looking to experience Canaima Park beyond a glimpse of Angel Falls, a two-day tour led by an aboriginal Pemon guide takes you deep into the natural wonders and everyday customs of the indigenous populations. (The local language of the Pemon people is Cariban, spoken only by an estimated 15,000 people.) During the tour, the Pemon guide explains the indigenous people’s symbiotic relationship to the land. Over dinner, he shares some of the myths and beliefs of the tribe before you retire to sleep in hammocks under a brilliantly starlit sky and within earshot of the roar of the Angel.

The Bassari people of Senegal practice subsistence farming in their remote villages and celebrate their rites of passage with decoration and fanfare. Photo courtesy of Association ACoSTE

Experiencing the ‘Teranga’ of the Bassari People of Senegal

In Senegal, the Wolof word teranga describes the warm welcome that Senegalese people are known to bestow upon their guests, something the whl.travel local partners in Senegal are determined to share. One way of doing so is to lead you outside the hustle and bustle of the country’s urban areas and head straight into the heart of its local villages, some of which are inhabited by people indigenous to the land.

Tours like the 12-day Great Unknown Senegal or the nine-day trip to Park Niokolo Koba  and the surrounding area take you inside the daily life of several villages in Bassari country near the border with Guinea. The Bassari are subsistence farmers who speak a local language from the Tenda family and adhere to a belief system that is, at its root, animist.

Both tours, run by Réalirêves, the whl.travel local partner in Senegal, spend several days in remote villages outside Niokolo Koba National Park. Lodging is taken in a village encampment and the daily activities focus on time spent with the people. Lucky visitors arrive in time for to witness an initiation ceremony, the most common kind of Bassari celebration. On the way out of the area, the tour passes through a Bedick village, home to another tribe similar to the Bassari.

How did the Zikra Initiative start?

When Zikra was launched it was a charity drive, I had learned about  a “dusty community” discriminated against because of their skin color. They had been taken advantage of by loan sharks and now couldn’t pay the loans back.  So their land was taken away. This community doesn’t have high positions in government. We donated mainly household items and camp food at first. After awhile it started feeling awkward, it created a giver/receiver relationship, as if we the givers were the heroes. In reality we were learning a lot from this community. As a city-man I was not exposed to my traditions or roots as much. I started to see how rich “poor” people were and how poor “rich” people were. Each community has their own deficiency. One was rich in culture and tradition while the other had financial security. That was when Zikra  changed into an exchange concept.

Amman is full of influential people, it has become very westernized, and we don’t really know the country. They are ministers, they are the future of country – yet don’t know country, its people, or the roots and traditions that have shaped Jordan. I wanted them to visit the rural areas without them being the heroes and going to “save” the area and community. Rural communities have just as much to give and teach, it is an equal relationship.

Explain the Economic Impact of Zikra

We are using tourism as a tool to solve social problems. We wanted the trips to be cool and relevant to everyday life. We use social media, YouTube, and the like to get the message out.

The Exchange Tourism process is created through an attractions program between the urban and rural community. The Zikra Initiative creates trips for the urban community to travel, participate and experience Jordan’s heritage and roots in an interactive workshops led  by Ghor community. The visitors learn traditional skills and crafts such as making organic eye-liner , weaving baskets, tassling hatta, and cooking traditional dishes like Gallayet Bandora or Tomato-in-a pan. In exchange  visitors pay a nominal fee that is channeled into a microloan in addition to other economic and social development projects. People pay JD 25 which will support the ladies of Ghor Al-Mazra’a.

We don’t view our exchange as a business or an attraction, we honestly want to overcome what years of racial discrimination have done to this community through breaking different stereotypes we may have about one another, allowing rural communities to develop pride in their culture and generate fund invested in marginalized areas

Are most of the participants from Jordan? If not, where are they from?

About 65% are Jordanians. Jordanians can only come weekends, foreigners are able to come on weekdays, usually they find us through travel agencies, travel alone, through their embassies, or they come with other Jordanians. We mainly target Jordanians in an effort to connect and shatter stereotypes in both communities.

People in Ghor al Mazra’a think people from Amman are selfish while many from Amman see rural communities as backward or uneducated. The government tells them they are poor and have nothing to offer, we search for and highlight their treasures and assets. Fish don’t know about the water until you take them out of the water. This community had a hard time seeing what they could offer, so we helped point it out.

Ghor al Mazra’a is an expert in recycling and growing organic food – teach are able to teach the Amman community how to be responsible because they are responsible by nature. Who said they are poor? do they consider themselves poor, perhaps financially. We need to redefine the word, we need to create equal relationships and stop looking at things from only one perspective.

Have the revolutions and violence from surrounding countries affected program or volume of participants?

Not as much as other organizations, most of our participants are from Jordan and understand the level of security in our country. The revolutions and image problems have affected other organization who cater mostly to foreigners.

However there is a close parallel to the revolutions here. Accoridng to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, self-esteem is needed for motivation and self-actualization. Tunisia motivated other countries who didn’t think things could change. If you tell communities that they have things to offer, that they are worth something, you have the capability to change lives. Motivation so important for economic development and self image We judge people by one criteria but need to look at the big picture, it’s not just about money or level of education.

What are your most popular programs? What do you think spurs it’s success?

Exchange Tourism is the most popular. We come up with new ideas all the time, it’s never the same program. We do a lot of team building activities for businesses or theater programs. At the end of day participants can say, “We learned something, we saw something new. We took and gave in return.”

Is Ghor al Mazra’a unique in its situation or are there many communities who face similar challenges in regards to discrimination, unemployment, and poverty?

Most of Jordan is the same, my friend Raghda Butros says, “There is no such thing as a poverty pocket, only rich pockets.” All of Jordan is poor, it is mostly made up of villages. What makes Ghor al Mazra’a a special case is that it has had a history of racial discrimination.

What did the community first think about this project? Has that changed?

It changed how they looked at themselves, they realized they had a lot to offer. At the beginning they thought it was weird that people from Amman would come to learn from them. They thought, “how silly.” But it has truly helped them appreciate who they are.

We also do many cultural activities, using culture to build identity. Culture brings people together, it gives them self-esteem and pride. Now we have begun to participate in different festivals. At TEDxDeadSea, on of our community members, a 16 year old girl, sang. But her father supports her. It was a shock for Amman and Jordan which is very conservative, women don’t usually sing. Her songs talk about her village and way of life. This was the first time that someone actually from the community was there to represent the Dead Sea community.

I don’t like the word “voluntourism” , although l respect and encourage volunteering, for what it stands for and does for the development of communities , but unfortunately nowadays the perception of volunteering  has become a reflection of a giver-receiver relationship or a hero-victim relation.

By Victoria Okoye

Mole National Park, located in Northern Ghana, is a remarkable natural landscape. This grand expanse of nature is the country’s largest national park and its largest protected ecosystem. As a wildlife reserve, it is refuge to nearly 100 different mammal species, more than 300 types of birds and in excess of 30 kinds of reptiles. It is understandably also a major tourism destination for travellers to Ghana.

Diverse Natural Features and Communities

In addition to the rich biodiversity within its borders, Mole National Park is surrounded by nearly 30 indigenous rural communities, all of which rely on the land for their livelihood.

The farming eco-village of Mognori is located in Gonjaland, in Ghana's northern region, 15 kilometres from Mole National Park. M&J Travel and Tours works in the local community to teach and train women about shea-butter production methods, a way to promote sustainable incomes for the women and their families. Photo courtesy of M&J Travel and Tours

The land for the park was initially set aside as a wildlife refuge in 1958, but in 1971, the government relocated the human populations and designated the land as a national park. The government also annexed a sizeable chunk of indigenous land, thereby compromising the welfare of families and communities that earned their income directly from the land. Unfortunately, the line between community lands and park property – between accessible commons and nature preserve – has blurred over time as a result and the actions of the communities have been at odds with efforts to preserve the national park and Ghana’s natural savannah.

Today, the relocated indigenous communities continue to struggle to survive, and their traditional subsistence activities, including hunting and woodcutting for fuel, have over the past decades degraded the parkland and resulted in substantial loss of the park’s biodiversity.

Marian Thompson (in yellow skirt), the whl.travel local connection in Northern Ghana, is welcomed by the Magazaya (elected leader and spokeswoman) of a woman's group of shea-nut pickers. Marian and her tour agency, M&J Travel and Tours, work to empower these women in fringe communities near Mole National Park. Photo courtesy of M&J Travel and Tours

Identifying an Ecotourism Opportunity

When M&J Travel and Tours, a local Ghanaian tour operator and the whl.travel local partner in Northern Ghana, opened an office in Mole in 2010, addressing the issues raised by the park’s fringe communities fit perfectly with the organisation’s commitment to ecotourism and sustainability. Since its launch 20 years ago, M&J has consistently sought to make a positive impact on local communities through tourism.

In June 2010, M&J Travel and Tours therefore launched a shea-butter income-generating project that targeted women’s groups as they’re the main harvesters of the abundant shea trees’ oily nuts from which they then produce a buttery byproduct that is used as a key ingredient in moisturiser creams and cosmetics, hair conditioners, cooking oil, medicinal ointments and soap. Shea-butter production is already a major economic industry in Ghana and the rest of the West African region, where Ghana is now also the leading producer.

Shea-butter production in Ghana is a multi-step process that begins with harvesting the shea in fruit nut form. The shea are washed and rinsed to remove dirt and other impurities. The clean fruit nuts are then sun dried, making it possible to sort out any bad ones. Photo courtesy of M&J Travel and Tours

“The main idea is that when the government took over Mole Park, they took over a huge chunk of [local communities’] land, compromising the women’s ability to pursue their traditional activities, such as hunting and farming,” commented Arnold Asafu-Adjaye, Head of Sales and Marketing at M&J. “What was left were the shea butter trees. So, we saw the need to develop this industry.”

This community issue is now at the heart of the M&J’s corporate social responsibility initiative in Mole.

Women Shea-Butter Producers

Before this project, while local women were already organised to produce shea butter, it was only at a small scale. Now, numbers have grown, and approximately 30 percent of all economic activity for the national park fringe communities results from some aspect of shea-butter production.

In shea-butter production in Ghana, boiling the fruit nuts softens the outer flesh so that it can be removed, revealing the nut's shell. Photo courtesy of M&J Travel and Tours

Women continue to be the primary producers, while the men serve as hunters and search for other work alternatives. The women, who mostly stay in the home, are located in close proximity to the shea trees. Although the women now work longer hours now than they used to – farming and tending to the shea trees, harvesting and processing the nuts – their work provides vital additional income to support their families.

In total, M&J estimates that some 10,000 women are actively engaged in shea-butter production for commercial trade in northern Ghana, although M&J works directly with only about 350 of them.

In shea-butter production in Ghana, the shells of the shea nut are cracked open to reveal the inner nut. Photo courtesy of M&J Travel and Tours

Developing a Viable, Local Industry

Of course, introducing shea butter as a sustainable industry is only the one part of what needs to be accomplished; working with the women to strengthen their rate and quality of production is just as key to ensuring that the women and their families improve their output and reap the full benefits of their efforts.

Therefore, in partnership with a nongovernmental organisation called TechnoServe, M&J is working to provide technical training for the women in quality nut picking, quality butter processing and marketing. There is also hope of collaboration with other agencies and nongovernmental organisations, all involving strong partnerships with financial institutions so as to provide credit facilities to help the women launch viable small-scale businesses.

The women must also overcome existing challenges in the production of shea products, including quality controls, finding consistent buyers for their products and producing at a level that meets customers’ demand, thus ensuring a good return on their time and investments.

Building a Customer Base

According to Mr. Asafu-Adjaye, what the women are now predominantly looking for is buyers, especially those that can ensure their product reaches external markets. At present, sales are more locally based and focus on attracting tourists who visit the Mole National Park.

Their shea butter is not yet available even in the capital city of Accra or other major urban centres such as Kumasi and Takoradi, although M&J is in discussion with local companies that support Ghana-made products.

M& J is also looking partnerships with other potential customers, such as tourism and hospitality services.

“Shea for us is very important in the tourism supply, since products such as soap can be supplied to [those in the] hospitality industry and also become attraction sites to tourists who want to participate in alternative tourism,” explained Marian Thompson, Managing Director of M&J.

Promoting Local Sustainability

In parallel with the support of the women in Mole, the experts at M&J Travel & Tours are actively pursuing other areas of socially responsible engagement with the communities in which it works, from supporting reforestation in northern Ghana to alleviating the effects of climate change and providing local employment opportunities.

Another community project with which the company is presently involved will upgrade the quality of stoves used in local homes to reduce smoke, improve the environment and promote family health in the region.

In shea-butter production in Ghana, the inner nuts are fried in large pans to soften them. The nuts are then converted into a fine paste through a process of kneading, adding water, heating, filtration and then solidification into shea butter as we know it. Photo courtesy of M&J Travel and Tours

For M&J Travel, the shea-butter initiative is targeted at ensuring local communities share in the gains that local tourism brings to the national economy.

“The main thing is that we think about the communities that we work in,” says Mr. Asafu-Adaye. “It’s not just about bringing tourists; it’s about being a part of the community as well. When the tourists do come in to see what they want and are satisfied with everything, how is the local community affected? We need to be a part of the local community, to make sure they are self-sustainable. And in doing that, we’re working with them on shea butter production, making sure they aren’t left out.”

Gregg sits and records data

Five months ago, Gregg Treinish (National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2008) founded Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (ASC), an organization that provides a space for collaboration between the adventure and science worlds to protect and learn about the environment. “We need to stand up and fight for the areas we care about,” says Trenish, who described a selfish feeling, common among adventurers, for not being able to do more for the areas that he loves and explores. He wants to give scientists a viable and inexpensive means to gather data and adventurers an opportunity to do more on their excursions.

The response Gregg has received so far has been pretty tremendous and he feels that the adventure community is fully on board. The citizen scientist movement recognizes that concerned people can make important contributions in science and citizen-scientists are playing a crucial role in the environmental movement. ASC currently has adventurers collecting data on five continents for researchers who are interested in conservation. The data collected in the field is independently verified in labs to ensure the usability of the information being gathered.

Whether the adventurer is capable of hiking the Himalayas or sticks to day hikes, ASC matches scientists who need data collection with the adventurer’s ability. “From Gregg’s experience on expeditions he knows and tries to match up projects that will be attainable for the adventurer and where it will be possible to provide good data without overly impacting the adventure,”says Justin Lichter an adventurer for ASC.

Justin Lichter and his hiking partner Shawn Forrey hiked from the eastern most peak of the Himalayas to the western most peak. During their hike they were way pointing places where they saw or heard pikas and took pictures of their nests. Pikas are an important indicator species for climate change and the loss of the pika would affect many species that depend on it. On the same expedition but for a different research project, Lichter surveyed local people and way pointed bar headed geese for comparative psychologist, Jessica Meir.  These sightings will help researchers understand which altitudes they prefer to fly at and more about environmental pressures the geese come across as they migrate across the Himalayas.

Gregg hopes to recruit citizen-scientists to help in the Yellowstone park area to collect data about the absence and presence of grizzly bears in areas adjacent to white bark pine trees.

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