Voluntourism with Planeterra

What is Planeterra?

Planeterra is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable community development through travel.


We do this by working with local partners in many different countries to establish development projects while at the same time offering travelers the chance to engage in the projects during their travels.


Watch this video to learn more about how Planeterra provides opportunities for travelers to interact with local people in community projects around the world.

 

See new videos on our Youtube Channel! Youtube.com/Planeterra

Cuzco Kids Project

House of the People of the Sun:  Planeterra travels to Peru to visit with children threatened by poverty in Cusco. 


Planeterra established the Cuzco Kids Project to give back to the people in the communities where so many travellers visit every year to explore the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu during their travels through South America. Planeterra, with the help of Gap Adventures and hundreds of travellers, raised $150,000 USD to purchase a home to provide a safe, permanent, comfortable location for our local partner's programs.

Travelers can incorporate a visit to this project during their travels to Peru when they pass through Cusco.  

Women's Weaving Project

Since 2005, Planeterra has been working with the Ccaccaccollo community to develop a women's weaving cooperative. Travellers are able to visit this community as part of the Sacred Valley Tour with Gap Adventures where they meet the women and learn about all the stages of the weaving process; from hand-spinning the wool, dying the wool using natural dyes, and participating in a weaving demonstration. 

This video offers a glimpse into community life in the Sacred Valley and the wonderful ladies Planeterra works with.



Tibet Eye Camp


Each year Planeterra sponsors a micro-surgical eye camp in a rural region of Tibet. Our camps, conducted by our partner Seva Canada, have helped restore sight to hundreds of people with a simple and highly cost-effective cataract surgery. Our support also helps trains local doctors and has been used to purchase surgical cataract instruments for a remote health clinic in rural Tibet.

This video shows pictures of the camp and of lots of happy treated patients.

Learn more about our project, Give the Gift of Sight, and how you can get involved.

Holiday Celebrations Around the World

Every year Planeterra and Gap Adventures staff, friends and families get together to celebrate holidays around the world with children in local communities. Last year we had a Christmas party with 300 kids in Toronto near our head office, with crafts, presents, a turkey dinner and lots of activities. In the Sacred Valley of Peru we had hot chocolate, traditional "Paneton" and presents for 400 children from several villages. In Kenya we celebrated by delivering water tanks and having a big bbq. This year we've got more planned in more countries, so stay tuned!