How Rwanda Redrock Tourism project engages visitors and reduce poverty through sustainable education programs?
Tourism can make a difference, and Greg Bakunzi from Redrock Rwanda is showing the Rwanda style approach as an example of leading the way in poverty reduction through education involving tourism and visitors.
The United Nations defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The last decade has seen worldwide effort, led by UNESCO, to promote ESD (education for sustainable development) that ensures social, ecological and economic viability and well-being.
According to an article appearing in Habitat for Humanity website, various global indices including the Social Progress Index and the Human Development Index show that low educational attainment is most widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Sub-Saharan African countries often suffer from relatively unstable economies as well as and droughts which further worsen the educational crisis and poverty levels.
In Rwanda, even though the government has strived to make education affordable, still, some children, especially in rural areas are unable to go to school because their families face different challenges like poverty. Therefore, many children do not have scholastic materials to make them effectively learn.
Redrock Initiraive from Rwanda
It is in this regard that private sector players and organizations like Red Rocks Rwanda, through one of its programs called Red Rocks Initiatives for Sustainable Development have stepped in to fill this gap.
Through this program, Red Rocks engage a team of volunteers to teach the local youth and women, who were unable to go to school, and hence are hampered by illiteracy, to teach them mostly English language so that they can effectively communicate with visitors.
Red Rocks Cultural Center, where this initiative is run, is Musanze district, the hub of tourism in Rwanda. Therefore, the main purpose of the program is to teach these youth English skill to enable them interact with tourists.
The women and youth are involved in selling products like handcrafts and it’s through effective communication that they can engage with the tourists who visit local attraction sites. The locals are able to uplift their living standards and help in conservation around our parks.
The locals are helped to learn foreign international languages, housekeeping, capacity building, an international architecture, modern farming techniques and about the environment and its conservation and other skills that may uplift their living standards.
But this is not the end. Another key mission of the program is to invite professionals, teachers, educators and conservationists to educate the locals on conservation, particularly around the national parks.
“We believe that the sustainable education program initiated by Red Rocks as one of its major initiatives is going to eventually lead to community development but also environmental conservation,” says Greg Bakunzi, the founder of Red Rocks Rwanda and the initiator of the program.
He adds that they also hope, through support and volunteerism, to educate kids that come from extremely poor families.
“These children need education just like the rest of us. In this age, education for all should be given priority and everyone with ability should take responsibility to support those kids who are not able to go to school because of different challenges,” says Bakunzi.
The Red Rocks Sustainable Education programs believe that it’s through education that we can break the circle of poverty and hopeless indigence that affect many families in rural area, particularly in Nyakinama village when the center is located.
Candidates for the CTO Allied Board of Directors
The Caribbean Tourism Organization annual conference is coming up in Nassau, the Bahamas in two weeks. Elections for the allied CTO Board of Directors for the 2018-2020 will be on the agenda.
Here are the candidates:
- DAVID BAHLMAN: Vice President, Tourism & Hospitality Division ADARA
I have successfully driven hotel revenue as a Director of Hotel Sales and Marketing in Washington, DC, was appointed Deputy Director and Acting Director by Governor Bob Ehrlich for the State of Maryland, led the tourism and Hotel/ Airline partnership team as the Global Director of Destination Marketing at Orbitz Worldwide, and am currently the Vice President, Tourism and Hospitality Division at ADARA.
- BARRY BROWN: Executive Director/ Caribbean & Latin America AFAR Media
Barry Brown is an advertising and publishing professional who has been connected to the Region and the islands of the Atlantic/Caribbean for over 25 years.Barry joined AFAR Media in 2010 – the experiential luxury brand that explores destinations and travel through the insights of locals. AFAR is a long-time partner of many destinations and partners across the Region and is proud to drive increasing amounts of business to the Caribbean.
- CASEY DAVY: Consultant, co founder, VO Sales and Marketing CAPP Busy Rooms Ltd.
Casey Davy has spent the last 15 years positioning, transforming and progressing companies in Travel, Media and Marketing as both a consultant and in senior commercial/marketing roles. This has included, profitably delivering loyalty programs for IHG and driving growth in EMEA for eRevMax, one of the first channel managers.
- RICHARD CUTTING-MILLER: Executive VP Resonance Consultancy LLLP
Richard Cutting-Miller is a senior Travel & Tourism industry consultant with more than 30 years of international experience, focused on Travel & Tourism strategy, policy and planning, economic and travel trend research, policy analysis, lobbying and advocacy. He has worked in more than 65 countries and 350 destinations around the world.
- JULE GUAGLARDI : Partner ZLMN
I have spent much of the past 25 years of my career working toward the betterment of Caribbean Tourism through my efforts as a member of the press – writing and photographing features for 12 different magazine publications and newspapers, through marketing – representing various Caribbean based entities to the US market.
- JACQUELINE JOHNSON: CEO Global Bridal Group
Jacqueline Johnson, CTC holds the distinction of being a pioneer in the publishing industry as the only minority to head up her own Media Company. A Media Company (Global Bridal Group) that provides comprehensive Bridal & Honeymoon guidance through interactive-target marketing.,
- SOLOMON LUKE: Founder & CEO Strategia Solutions, LLC
As the Founder & CEO of Strategia Solutions, LLC, Solomon Luke is responsible for the strategy, vision and direction of the firm. Solomon has over 17 years of information technology experience and is known for the development and implementation of his firm’s IT strategy, the judicious use of resources for his clients, and the ability to tailor pragmatic resolutions. Solomon is currently on contract as an Information Technology Specialist at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where he manages FEMA’s most complex core financial systems.
- BARBARA MAGRO: Director of Business Development Florida & Caribbean: Questex Travel Group
Barbara Magro was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City. A graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder with a BA in English, she began her career as a media professional in Los Angeles, California. She has worked in advertising sales for premier food and travel magazines in the United States and Australia.
- JENNIFER NUGENT-HILL:Director Government & Community Affairs Tropical Shipping
Jennifer Nugent-hill began her career in shipping and trading at tropical shipping in 1995 on St. Croix US Virgin Islands. Prior to her joining tropical shipping she served the people of the US Virgin Islands thru the post-recovery period from the devastation of category 5 hurricane Hugo as the first female Commissioner of Housing, Sports, Parks and Recreation. She received unanimous confirmation by the Virgin Islands legislature who supported her appointment by Governor Alexander Farrell and served with him thru the end of his tenure as governor in 1994.
- CHERYL RICOSSA, CHME: Regional Director Elite Traveler
Cheryl Ricossa is a 25+ year hospitality industry professional with a concentration in travel marketing/advertising. She is currently employed by Elite Traveler. Graduated from University of Tennessee, Summa Cum Laude with BS in Hotel and Tourism Management. Cheryl earned the Certified Hospitality Marketing Executive (CHME) designation through Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association Int’l.
- RACHEL SANDERS: Senior Integrated Partner Strategist, BlueGroup Media
Now in my 6th year with Blue Group Media proudly representing Travel + Leisure, FOOD & WINE, and many more National brands within the Meredith portfolio, I manage the lion’s share of the advertising relationships in the Caribbean, from my base in Miami.Travel and destination promotion are at the core of my profession and my being. I’ve visited 47 countries and counting to date. There are plenty in the Caribbean that fuel my wanderlust to discover much more in our region!
- JOHN LAWRENCE SPEERS: Strategy and Client Service Director The Concept Farm
John moved to New York 2 years ago after a 17-year run in Sydney developing tourism strategy for clients including Tourism Tasmania, Hayman Island, Australian Capital Tourism, Hayman Island, Norfolk Island and Flinders Island. John develops strategic marketing plans, communication strategy and digital innovation across creative, technology, eCRM, social media, content and influencer channels.
- JUERGEN T STEINMETZ: President & Publisher, eTN Corporation, publisher of eTurboNews, eTN, TravelWireNews, Meetings, Aviation, WorldTourismWire, Wines, and Gaytourism.
Juergen Thomas Steinmetz has continuously worked in the travel and tourism industry since he was a teenager in Germany (1979), beginning as a travel agent up through today as a publisher of eTurboNews (eTN), one of the world’s most influential and most-read travel and tourism publications. He is also Chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), and founder of the African Tourism Board.
Data & Digital Platforms: Driving Tourism Growth in Asia Pacific
BANGKOK, September 17, 2018 — Over nine million new jobs can be created within Asia Pacific destinations over the next five years by fully embracing digital platforms and data driven innovation in the tourism sector, according to ‘Data & Digital Platforms: Driving Tourism Growth in Asia Pacific’, a new research report published by PATA and Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, with the support of Google.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that organisations obtain a thorough understanding of current technologies and innovations to make smarter and more informed decisions. This comprehensive report on digital platforms and data driven innovation from our newest Preferred Partner, Oxford Economics, provides important insight into the need for embracing the disruptive and technological changes occurring within the travel and tourism industry,” said PATA CEO Dr. Mario Hardy. “At PATA, we believe that both the public and private sectors must adopt policies to support a thriving digital ecosystem and work in partnership to enhance access to digital products and services and facilitate cross-border data flows.”
With travellers increasingly using online platforms before, during and after their trips, the report highlights several policy recommendations that destinations and policymakers should embrace to support the digital ecosystem and maximise growth opportunities for their stakeholders, including:
Continue to invest in digital infrastructure to improve competitiveness;
Encourage widespread use of digital platforms, and promote data driven innovation;
Ensure skills shortages are addressed;
Address digital use and skills in SMEs to ensure competitiveness in international markets; and
Avoid restrictive policy, such as data localisation policies.
According to the report, the economic benefits are clear for businesses and destinations, as well as for travellers. Over the past five years, arrivals are 5 percent higher than would otherwise be the case due to digital interactions as businesses are better equipped to connect with potential travellers. This impact is higher in destinations which have embraced digital travel interactions.
By adopting the policy recommendations as outlined in the report, there is potential for destinations within the Asia Pacific region to grow GDP by up to one percent, generating over 9 million new jobs over the next five years.