#1: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand

Aoraki / Mount Cook towers over the Southern Alps of New Zealand, its snow-covered peak reflecting in glacier-fed lakes below. The park is a sanctuary for alpine plants and birds, and a sacred place in Māori tradition. Its dramatic trails and night skies offer an unforgettable connection to both nature and culture.

Experience it for Yourself: Kiwi Complete Explorer

This comprehensive itinerary includes Aoraki/Mount Cook along with other must-see destinations across the North and South Islands. Walk on glaciers, soak in geothermal pools, and connect with Māori culture in a landscape that feels both epic and intimate.

Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts who want to experience New Zealand’s most iconic natural wonders with cultural depth.

#2: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda

Hidden in the southwestern hills of Uganda, Bwindi is a dense, ancient rainforest teeming with life. It’s home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorilla population and a sanctuary for hundreds of bird and butterfly species. Trekking here is challenging and humbling, and one of the most meaningful wildlife encounters on Earth.

Experience it for Yourself: Primates & Parrots in Uganda

Join expert trackers to observe gorillas in their natural habitat, bird alongside seasoned guides, and learn how conservation and community efforts are working hand in hand in this biodiverse region.

Best for: Wildlife lovers, birders, and travelers looking for profound connection through nature.

#3: Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica

Located on Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, Corcovado is often called the most biologically intense place on the planet. Its lowland rainforests, rivers, and beaches are home to tapirs, scarlet macaws, monkeys, and even elusive jaguars. Remote and rugged, it offers a rare glimpse into one of Earth’s last truly wild places.

Experience it for Yourself: Costa Rica for the Natural Explorer

We’ll work with you to craft a custom journey into this pristine rainforest, complete with guided hikes, wildlife tracking, and eco-lodge stays that support ongoing conservation.

Best for: Nature enthusiasts seeking an immersive, off-the-beaten-path wilderness experience.

#4: Isla Bastimentos in Panama

Isla Bastimentos, part of Panama’s Bocas del Toro archipelago, is where lush rainforest meets crystal-clear Caribbean water. Coral reefs, mangrove forests, and island trails create a playground for wildlife and exploration. It’s a perfect setting for learning through play for both kids and adults.

Experience it for Yourself: Pure Panama for Families

This active, engaging journey includes snorkeling in marine parks, jungle wildlife walks, and cultural experiences designed to spark curiosity in young travelers and their families.

Best for: Families who love discovery, wildlife, and sharing nature-based adventures together.

#5: Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia

Torres del Paine is Patagonia at its most dramatic—jagged peaks, sweeping valleys, glacier-fed lakes, and skies that stretch forever. It’s a land shaped by wind and ice, where guanacos graze beneath condors in flight. Every viewpoint feels cinematic, and every moment invites reflection.

Experience it for Yourself: Patagonia Discovery Safari

Explore the park and its surroundings by vehicle and foot, with flexible days, knowledgeable guides, and welcoming lodges that let you experience Patagonia’s majesty without the need for rigorous trekking.

Best for: Active travelers who want to take in Patagonia’s iconic landscapes with some flexibility and comfort.

#6: Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka

Udawalawe is one of the best places in Asia to see wild elephants and much more. Open grasslands and forested wetlands provide habitat for hundreds of bird species, crocodiles, water buffalo, and leopards. The park also borders vital community-based conservation work that supports both wildlife and local livelihoods.

Experience it for Yourself: Wild & Sacred Sanctuaries

This itinerary blends safari-style wildlife watching in Udawalawe with visits to ancient temples, hill country towns, and coastal villages—offering a rich mix of ecology, culture, and history.

Best for: Travelers who want to explore the connections between nature, culture, and spiritual tradition.

Every trip with Journeys International contributes to the well-being of the places we visit. We proudly give to 1% for the Planet, and through the Earth Preservation Fund, we support grassroots conservation and community projects led by local partners around the world.

If you’re dreaming of your next adventure, Earth Month is the perfect time to choose a journey that aligns with your values. Whether it’s hiking among glaciers, tracking wildlife through the rainforest, or sharing quiet moments with your family in a place that feels worlds away, the right trip can deepen your connection to the planet, and leave a lasting impact. Our team is here to help you plan an experience that’s not only unforgettable, but meaningful. Please email or call an Adventure Specialist to chat more.

The post Earth Month: Six Inspiring Destinations for Outdoor Adventure appeared first on Journeys International.

Our Conservation Story

The founders of Journeys International, Will and Joan Weber (then Joan Schwartz), first met on a campus organizing committee for the first Earth Day in 1970. In many ways, this momentous global event – the start of Earth Day and the birth of the environmental movement – planted the seed for Journeys International’s eventual creation, although Will and Joan had no idea at the time that they would spend their lives as partners in life, business, and conservation.

After graduating from college, Will and Joan moved to Nepal for work in the Peace Corps and schools. In their final year in Kathmandu, Will helped the team working to establish a National Parks system in Nepal. Upon returning to the United States, they encouraged friends to visit the Himalayas. However, they realized how difficult it was for American travelers to visit Nepal in ways ways that included cultural connection and contributions to conservation and they began planning trips themselves.

When Will and Joan planned their first trips in 1978 and 1979, one of the goals was to support local people and the conservation of their culture through income from tourism. A second goal was to leverage tourism to support conservation. Journeys International has been committed to sustainable travel since the very beginning. Honoring Earth has been one of our company values since the start.

Roots in Ecotourism

Our founders understood the profound impact of culturally-respectful and environmentally-sensitive travel. Rather than merely extracting resources from the places we were visiting, we believed, and continue to believe, in leaving a positive mark. This philosophy laid the groundwork for the concept of ecotourism.

Over the years, the team at Journeys International has worked to identify specific ways to connect across cultures, nurture natural environments, and care for the world around us. We have prioritized partnerships with ground operators owned locally in the destinations where we travel. We craft itineraries intentionally to include as much cultural interaction as possible, and to minimize the negative environmental impact. As collective knowledge improves about how to manage and travel sustainably, we aim to learn and improve.

Alongside Journeys International, Will and Joan started a non-profit grant-making organization called the Earth Preservation Fund (EPF).  The EPF channels contributions from Journeys travelers to projects in our destinations where relatively small amounts of money can go a long way to support conservation and development. This is a prime example of the benefits that travel can deliver to local communities – ecotourism in action.

A Journey Through Time

As we reflect on our journey from the early Nepal trips to our current extensive trip offerings, one thing remains constant—the unwavering commitment to our founding principles. Today, Journeys International stands as a testament to over 45 years of ecotourism evolution in action.

Under the leadership of second-generation owner Robin Weber Pollak, we have expanded our destinations and honed our skills, yet our core values persist. Our growth has been deliberate, with new destinations added only after establishing personal relationships and gaining a deep understanding of the local cultures and environments.

Our team continues to consider how to care for the planet and its people as responsibly as possible. In the past decade, we have eliminated printed marketing and internal printed documents. We have shifted to remote operations and eliminated the carbon footprint of commuting. We offset the full carbon footprint of all travel. We are now embarking on the process to become a B Corporation, but in the meantime….

Another Step: Joining 1% for the Planet

The natural next step for Journeys International is formalizing our commitment to environmental and cultural sustainability and regeneration. 1% for the Planet is a global network of businesses and nonprofits committed to addressing the planet’s challenges. The principle is simple but powerful: participating businesses pledge to donate 1% of their annual sales to conservation causes through the network. This collective effort aims to drive positive change and support organizations actively working towards the conservation and restoration of our planet. By aligning ourselves with 1% for the Planet, Journeys International solidifies its commitment to responsible travel and environmental stewardship, formalizing the commitment that a portion of our proceeds will directly contribute to the well-being of the places we explore and cherish.

This commitment reinforces our dedication to sustainability and environmental conservation. For 2024, 1% of our annual sales will be donated to environmental causes through this global network of businesses and nonprofits. Excitingly, the EPF is now an environmental partner in the network, and we will continue to support and nurture the work of that longstanding partner. We also plan to support our commitment with team volunteer work for environmental partners within the 1% for the Planet network. The International team has pledged to complete a total of 100 volunteer hours in honor of Earth Day and our new partnership.

As you embark on your next adventure with Journeys International, know that you are not only exploring hidden worlds but also contributing to the preservation of our planet. Your goals for exploration align with our commitment to environmental stewardship, and together, we can create a positive impact on the places we visit. Thank you for being a part of the Journeys International family and our vision. Here’s to more adventures, discoveries, and a sustainable future for all.

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Since 2007, Journeys International and Journeys Uganda guide Paul Tamwenya has helped children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in his home village in Uganda. The Earth Preservation Fund has long supported Paul’s efforts which are today operated as Birds of a Feather. (You can read more about the history of Birds of a Feather on the Journeys Blog.)

A few months ago, BOF purchased 500 baby chicks! These chicks will eventually lay eggs and those eggs will become an important protein source for the children in the organization’s care. The excess eggs sold to support the children’s school fees. With significant assistance from generous EPF donors and volunteers, BOF previously attempted a similar project, but the result of the first attempt was a complete failure. An unexpected drought affected the Nangaiza area at the worst possible time and all of the chickens were lost. Today, thanks largely to the generosity of EPF donors Rick and Paula Vogel, the BOF Poultry Project is back on track.

In addition to the news of the baby chicks, Paul recently sent more general updates about BOF’s accomplishments. Paul writes:

• One of our orphaned children, Ochieng Brian, who lost his Dad in 2005 and was taken care of by Birds of a Feather graduated from Makerere University with a bachelor’s degree in Library and Information science.
• Another, Tusiime Phillip, whose father died in 2000 and mother in 2011, also successfully completed his certificate course in tour guiding at the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute in Jinja and is now planning to enroll for a Diploma in Tour Guiding still supported by Birds of a Feather.
• Birds of a Feather has effectively supply books and scholastic materials, and paid school fees for 39 children in the boarding and in the day section without fail.

Since 1979 the Earth Preservation Fund and Journeys International have supported community-initiated environmental, educational, and cultural preservation projects in adventure travel destinations. To donate to Birds of a Feather or to learn more about other projects visit www.earthpreservation.org. 

The post Why did the Chicken Cross Uganda? appeared first on Journeys International.

Some single-use plastics are recyclable but, unfortunately, global capacity for recycling plastics appears to be shrinking. In 2018, China, the world’s largest importer of plastic for recycling, ceased importing certain types of plastic citing environmental concerns.* Now, more than ever, it is important for travelers to take responsibility to personally reduce their consumption of single-use plastics. Here are four easy suggestions for doing just that.

1. Decline bottled water.

Bottled water is a big one for adventure travelers who visit destinations in the developing world with questionable tap water. Ensure clean water while avoiding one-use plastic water bottles by carrying your own water purification system. We like the Grayl Ultralight purifier and water bottle in one.

2. Eschew plastic shopping bags

In some parts of the world providing your own shopping bag is expected or encouraged while in other places the custom is to provide a plastic bag for even the smallest of purchases. Plastic bags are hard to recycle and light enough to be blown by the wind until they find their way into water sources where they clog water flow, create breeding grounds for mosquitos, and are ingested by marine animals. Try to make carrying a personal shopping bag your own personal custom. A reusable fabric bag is lightweight and takes up little space in a daypack. Plus it can do double-duty carrying your picnic lunch or as a laundry bag. For international flights, we like to maximize leg space by stowing our daypack in the overhead and using our reusable shopping bag as a minimalist holder of essential inflight items – e-reader, eyeshade, headphones – under the seat in front of us. Our pick for travel is a packable bag that stows down to the size of an egg. Check www.ecobags.com for all kinds of reusable bags.

3. Pack wisely

Buy reusable containers, like the silicone GoToob, and fill up at home instead of buying travel-sized shampoo and conditioner bottles for each trip. Next, organize your luggage using packing cubes instead of plastic zip-top bags. We’re partial to Eagle Creek, but there are many other similar products out there.

4. Fall in love with ice cream cones

Okay, the point here is if you take your scoops on top of a cone rather than in a dish, then you can eat the whole thing without trashing a one-use spoon. Alternatively, bring along a spork so that you can eat take-away meals (and ice cream) in the airport or on the go using your own dining utensils and avoiding disposable forks, knives, and spoons. REI carries a wide range of fork-spoon combinations.

*UNEP (2018). SINGLE-USE PLASTICS: A Roadmap for Sustainability, at 6.

Since 1979 the Earth Preservation Fund and Journeys International have supported community-initiated environmental, educational, and cultural preservation projects in adventure travel destinations. To donate, visit www.earthpreservation.org. 

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How did the Earth Preservation Fund start?

Travelers on Journeys International trips saw things that moved them and they wanted to make donations to help. The EPF started as a way to help let that feeling last beyond the trips. In the beginning travelers used to carry goods to donate, but with luggage restrictions and security questions that ended, so we started to look for something else that was tangible for people to give back other than just good feelings and photographs. Supporting EPF is a positive statement in favor of helping people do better in their home countries and also supporting globally-interconnected communities.

Were other travel companies doing the same thing 40 years ago?

The EPF was registered as a non-profit corporation in Michigan [where the EPF and Journeys International are based] in 1979 and, I think, received 501(c)(3) status in 1980. Journeys was on the leading edge of the eco-travel and eco-tourism movement and it is possible that Journeys was the first travel company to start a non-profit and make this kind of a statement. If not the first, then we were one of the first.

Was it particularly relevant that Journeys was a travel company supporting the EPF? Or could it have been any business supporting a good cause?

We had contact with energetic and idealistic local guides who were dreamers for ways that could help their communities. Our most successful projects have been when Journeys guides took personal notice of situations and wanted to help. The guides themselves were volunteers for the EPF, but they were also local people who understood local problems.

Is there an example of a quintessential EPF project?

We have always focused on projects where a relatively small sum – $500 – would make a difference. I know one of Robin’s* favorite stories is that EPF donors paid about $500 a year so that an astrologer could visit Ridzong, Hemishakpatchn, and Temisgam which are small Buddhist villages in Ladakh. The astrologer needed to travel to each specific village to divine the dates for planting and harvesting festivals by making use of ancient texts and obscure traditions that only he could interpret. The villagers didn’t have the money to pay for the astrologer’s travel costs, so without a donation from the EPF, this cultural tradition would presumably have died out.

[Ed. Note: Robin Weber Pollak, Will’s daughter and current owner of Journeys International.]

Any unsuccessful projects that stick out in your memory?

Someone had a plan to bring soil additives that hold moisture to Peru. The idea was that they would be helpful for reforestation. For a while it seemed like this was going to be a great new thing, but in the end the technology just did not work.

What do you see for the future of the EPF?

Combatting climate change. It is becoming an ever bigger problem that all of us need to do more to solve.

Since 1979 the Earth Preservation Fund has supported community-initiated environmental, educational, and cultural preservation projects in adventure travel destinations. To donate, visit www.earthpreservation.org.

The post Celebrating 40 Years of Earth Preservation! Part One. appeared first on Journeys International.

1.  Ask questions about what you see.
2.  Practice mindfulness in taking note of your surroundings.
3.  Notice how your feelings vary in different kinds of environments.
4.  Bring children along and teach appreciation for wild places.
5.  Document the beauty of nature, and share it.
6.  Carry a reusable water bottle.
7.  In places without clean drinking water, carry a lightweight water filtration bottle from a company like LifeStraw.
8.  Keep a reusable shopping bag in your daypack.
9.  Decline plastic straws. If you’re worried about the cleanliness of cups, carry a reusable metal straw with you.
10.  Take shorter showers.
11.  Turn the water off while brushing and showering.
12.  Open your curtains, blinds, and windows. Leave the lights off.
13.  Take stairs instead of elevators.
14.  Say “no” to hotel housekeeping.
15.  Keep to marked trails when hiking to let natural plant life flourish.
16.  When snorkeling or diving, keep your feet off the reef.
17.  Pick up litter along your way.
18.  Eat like a local.
19.  Choose vegetarian meals when they’re readily available.
20.  Buy locally produced food and snacks to reduce the transportation footprint of your purchases.
21.  Choose souvenirs made of reused materials.
22.  Ask questions about lodges’ and tour companies’ sustainability programs, and their support for local communities.
23.  Return maps and brochures to be reused by future travelers.
24.  Use public transportation instead of private cars.
25.  Hike, walk, trek, bike, raft, or otherwise travel by people power.
26.  Give a break to over-visited destinations and try lesser-known gems.
27.  Book non-stop flights whenever possible.
28.  Offset your emissions with a contribution to a carbon reduction project (or if you book through Journeys International, we do this for you!)
29.  Plant some trees along the way.
30.  Rethink the necessity of new gear purchases.
31.  Leave your electronics at home.
32.  Unplug all your home appliances while you’re gone.
33.  Leave your make-up at home.
34.  Never feed the wildlife
35.  Never buy animal products as souvenirs.
36.  Never photograph animals being exploited.
37.  Never pay to participate in activities that exploit animals.
38.  Speak up if someone does something harmful to our planet.
39.  Tell locals and fellow travelers about how you honor the earth.
40.  Make a donation to support conservation projects.

There are many, many small but impactful ways to make a difference when you embark on an adventure abroad, and every action is a step in the right direction. Each time you travel with Journeys International, a portion of your trip goes to the Earth Preservation Fund to fund projects that help local communities and conservation efforts. Additional donations can be made to the EPF through our website link below.

The post 40 Simple Ways to Honor the Earth When You Travel appeared first on Journeys International.

The Saraswati School, near the village of Wana, had already begun to deteriorate due to the age of the building when it was further damaged by the severe earthquake and subsequent aftershocks which struck Nepal in April 2015. (See our earlier posts for more on our response in the immediate aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.) The result was leaky roofs, cracked walls, broken doors and windows, rough dirt floors, and no functioning toilet facilities.

More than 2 years after the earthquake, teachers and administrators were still concerned about their lack of ability to meet the most basic conditions for providing a quality education to the students in the area.

So, beginning in fall 2017, and led by Journeys International travelers, Dave and Marcia Shannon, donors raised funds to make needed repairs to the buildings, pour concrete floors in the classrooms, and even provide a fresh water supply to the school which it never had before.

Meanwhile, the Earth Preservation Fund facilitated the funds transfer while Journeys Nepal director Narayan Shrestha provided oversight and in-country assistance.

The result has been an amazing success! After completing critical infrastructure improvements the project has now turned to a new phase focused on improving the academic program at the Saraswati School by purchasing a new computer for students to use, along with internet access, subscriptions to online curriculum materials, and teacher training.

So far, this project resulted in great progress for the Saraswati School, but the opportunity for further improvements to education in this area remains and is very apparent. As a result the project is being continued into the current school year with current fundraising designated for additional infrastructure and academic programs at the Saraswati School and now also at the area high school where the Saraswati and other students attend when they move to the upper grades.

Many classrooms will receive electricity and lighting for the first time, along with additional classroom computers and access to e-curriculum. The project is also funding a new science teaching lab with curriculum, materials, and teacher training that are consistent with the Nepali national educational standards.  This is a very exciting development that we look forward to seeing implemented.

For students in Midland Public Schools, participating in the project fulfills one of the core themes of their curriculum, to TAKE ACTION when students see a need. Beyond just raising funds for an important purpose, Midland students have learned about Nepal and interacted with students from a culture that is very different from their own while Saraswati students have had a similar experience. The project’s impact on these students has been very significant in creating a better understanding of people in another part of the world and giving them a more global and humanitarian perspective.

To make a donation to support the work of the Earth Preservation Fund visit www.earthpreservation.org. You can choose to designate your donation specifically for “Nepal Earthquake Relief” by making a note on the Paypal form.

It is sometimes possible for Earth Preservation Fund donors to visit Saraswati School. For more information on travel to Nepal contact Journeys International.

The post Nepal Earthquake Relief: Michigan students help rebuild a school in Nepal appeared first on Journeys International.

In 2007, Peruvian-based groups joined together to support an existing program (the Conservation of the Polylepis Forest at Vilcanota Watershed) focused on restoring these forests. Then, through the Earth Preservation Fund, Journeys International began supporting these reforestation efforts as well, helping raise funds necessary for the initiative to be successful. The project is not only benefiting the environment, but also the community. Here, Mark Smith of Amazonas Explorer explains what makes this such a crucial program for this region.

Chocolatada—Hollow or Helpful?

Here in Cusco, Peru, there is a long Christmas tradition of businesses giving something back to rural hill communities. Known as a “chocolatada,” it involves the office taking a day off to load up a truck and head into the hills to spread some Christmas cheer.

I have been on a couple of these, and somehow they ring hollow.

The day is a bunch of city folk, pulling up in plush vehicles to distribute hot chocolate, bread and cheap plastic toxic toys to the poor Andean people. I often wondered what they really think, these hardy hill dwellers. They know they will never see us again. They know the toys will be broken within a day and discarded on the ground. And as for the city folk—do they really think they are doing something useful? I just saw a bunch of people feeling slightly embarrassed. A bunch of people who could not wait to leave.

So we decided to do things differently.

A Project is Born

We love the Lares region. It’s a beautiful area full of great treks. It is one of the most traditional areas in the whole of South America. People live in low, stone built, thatched houses, with walls blackened by fires that keep away the worst of the cold. Every morning, as day breaks, figures emerge from these houses, clad in the traditional red ponchos of the area, ready to seek pasture for their alpacas and llamas, and to dig the thin soil and harvest their meager crop of potatoes, onions and carrots.

Working with Journeys International to bring tourists to Lares, we feel a responsibility to look after the place and its people. The loss of trees in this region has caused a slew of problems. We need trees to hold water, trees to prevent erosion, trees to clean the air we breathe. As the glaciers retreat further each year, the villagers below watch as their once abundant water supply dwindles, as the routine of their seasons change. Life is hard enough now. How hard will it be for their children and their children’s children?

So in 2007, we joined 1% for the Planet. With Ecoan (a local non profit) and support from Journeys International, we set about reforesting this small patch of the Andes.

Merging Community with Environmental Action

Many well-intentioned projects fail as a result of outsiders coming in with big ideas, but failing to engage the communities. We have been highly successful because, from the beginning, we have focused on integrating communities of the Lares valley into the project.

Every year on the tree planting days, the whole village turns out to meet us. It is heart-warming to see everybody, from small children to grandmothers in their eighties, come out to play their part in preserving the future of their community. Now, the entire village is a part of this project, not only on the work days but through their ownership of the project and their desire to protect their work throughout the rest of the year.

Instead of leaving broken plastic toys behind us on a hollow chocolatada day, we work with the villagers to look towards the future. A successful project, indeed.

See the tree planting project in action—watch the video!

How You Can Help

One dollar raised supports one tree for this project, including the cost of the tree and the cost to plant it (we provide a symbolic salary to every villager who helps on tree planting days, which has also made a significant difference in the economics of the villages). Our goal: one million trees. To date, we’ve planted 420,000. We need your help to reach our goal.

Throughout the year, we raise funds to purchase saplings and cover the costs of planting them, then once each year, we host a tree planting day. Administrative costs are covered by our partners, so 100% of the funds raised go directly to the tree planting efforts, allowing us to stretch every dollar as far as possible.

Please consider donating to this important project. For every dollar you donate, you are providing one tree, plus income for a local villager. And because Journeys International’s Earth Preservation Fund (EPF) covers 100% of the administrative fees, every penny you donate through the EPF goes directly to this program.

The post Why we are planting one million trees in Peru appeared first on Journeys International.

Five hundred years ago, when Spanish conquistadors first set foot in Peru, the high Andes had abundant forests of a low-growing and durable tree called Queuña (Kay YOU nyuh). Today, these ancient forests have almost disappeared, and with them many of the species that once lived within them.

In 2007, Peruvian-based groups joined forces to restore these forests. Through the Earth Preservation Fund, Journeys International began supporting these reforestation efforts, helping raise funds necessary for the initiative to be successful. The project is not only benefiting the environment, but also the community.

The post VIDEO: Tree planting in Peru appeared first on Journeys International.

Here, the President of one of the partners, ECOAN (Association of Andean Ecosystems), shares how this reforestation project has helped women and their families in the Lares region.

By Constantino Aucca Chutas, President, ECOAN 

For all the time we have been working on conservation in the Vilcanota Mountains, there is one story that to me is the most important one, because it helped change and improve the family structure for the region’s villagers.

ECOAN began our activities in 1999, and in 2001 we began working hand-in-hand with many of the communities in the areas where we work. For the reforestation project, we started paying a symbolic salary to every member of the community—whether male, female, adult or child—who participated on the tree planting days.

A woman and her daughter carry trees to plant.

In the beginning, we had some hurdles to overcome to make this model work. Traditionally, in these villages, the men had the right to collect and manage all of the money earned in the family, regardless of who earned it. The men could also spend it however they wished, which often included spending it on alcohol.

When we decided to pay the women directly, there was a lot of disappointment from the men. We explained our position and how this project could be more successful if everyone cooperated, and if everyone had the opportunity to earn their own money. We enlisted the support of the community’s leaders, and the women were often the last to agree.

We decided to test this method of payment for two years, thinking that it would end, and everything would return to how it had always been. But, it was so successful, that here we are, 15 years later, using the same model.

As a result, we see many happy faces on the women. They’ve told us that they know the real needs of their families, and by earning their own money, they can buy food, educational materials, and even small toys for their children.

And while the women in the villages were usually the last to approve of this method, we are convinced that our best allies on the ground are the women and children, because they take ownership of projects and hold us accountable to the promises we’ve made to them. We’ve repeated this strategy in other areas of ECOAN’s work with the same success.

Support this project

Please consider donating to this important project. For every dollar you donate, you are providing one tree, plus income for a local villager. And because Journeys International’s Earth Preservation Fund (EPF) covers 100% of the administrative fees, every penny you donate through the EPF goes directly to this program.

Donate to peru’s tree planting project

The post How reforestation affected women’s economics in Peru appeared first on Journeys International.