About Planeterra
Planeterra is a non-profit organization that supports a steady cycle of giving and investment, via our global network of travel industry partners, in the social and environmental needs of people and places travelers visit worldwide.Planeterra has a history of raising funds for the needs of local people in the destinations where G Adventures and its industry partners send travelers. Since 2007, Planeterra facilitated the development of voluntours worldwide, by developing projects where travelers share their time and skills with local people and their projects in destinations around the world.
In 2012, Planeterra is building on this track record of bringing time and money to a growing number of projects under the leadership of Executive Director Megan Epler Wood and Associate Director, Paula Vlamings.
Planeterra seeks to get at the root of the challenges local communities face by supporting community based businesses and local NGOs working in the iconic destinations its partners serves.
Visit our projects page to see a list of current projects available to support throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Planeterra reaches out to travelers around the world to give funds for investment in sustainable development that focus on specific needs in destinations around the world. Specific funds are being established to help travelers invest in ways that route funds to the areas of greatest need. Our new socially responsible funds will create opportunities to invest or donate in:
1. Emergency Preparedness & Response Fund: Emergency response to climate related and natural disasters in travel destinations where our travel partners can give effectively to help the area recover. Last year we raised $13,500 toward relief in the Women's Weaving Project's community after devastating floods in January 2010 and over $10,000 for Haiti.
2. Destination Preservation Fund: Improvement to the management of iconic destinations, which lack basic planning and infrastructure and urgently need systems for ensuring important historic monuments and human heritage will be supported and conserved in the long-term.
3. Social & Environmental Fund: Equitable solutions to human needs in tourism hubs – where travelers gather and stay in hotels, use local services, and prepare for their journeys. An example of this is the New Hope Cambodia Outreach Centre. Conservation of ecosystems where travel impacts are increasing and funds are lagging for conserving the beautiful beaches, coral reefs, rain forests, wild rivers, high mountains, and deserts upon which the travel community depends.
4. Small Business Development Fund: Entrepreneurial community small business development where the travel economy brings growing opportunities to villages and local vendors who supply our travel partners. An example of this is the Peru Women's Weaving Project.
Learn more about our staff and Founder below:
Bruce Poon Tip, Founder
Megan Epler Wood, Director
Paula Vlamings, Associate Director
Liz Manning, Program and Development Manager
Kelly Galaski, Program and Operations Manager
Andrew John Virtue Dobson, Communications and Fundraising Coordinator
Planeterra Ambassadors in Destination
Nanda Rivera, Central America
Paula Quiros, Peru
Joel Callañaupa, Peru
Kris Dhiradityakul, South East Asia
