More Local - Responsible Travel Colombia

Embracing Responsible Tourism initiatives in Colombia...

As we are aware of the potential negative impact of travel, we always strive to respect the local people, their culture and the environment. Additionally, we encourage enterprising young talent and support small, independent businesses, especially those using natural materials to make eco-friendly products.

We want our travel experiences to be a positive influence everywhere we operate. So a percentage of every traveler’s booking fee is automatically allocated to our local flagship projects.

Since 2009, LARGE minority has teamed up with various charities and NGOs in Sri Lanka and Cambodia. To date, we have raised more than US$20,000 for Meaningful Travel initiatives including small-scale help - such as providing resources to local schools, indigenous communities and local families - and larger projects, like our Water Pipeline Project in Cambodia.

Take a look at some of our local videos: 

In Colombia More Local will be concentrating on two projects:

1) Sustainable Water Management Project - Soco, Colombian Amazon; indigenous local community.

2) Reforestation project with conTREEbute - Antioquia & Nariño; areas previously affected by the internal armed conflict.

As the sustainable water management project is still at planning stage, we decided to first concentrate on smaller projects that benefit the local children. So in December 2011, we made our first official donation which consisted of 80 school kits for the children and sports equipment for the school. Here are some pictures.

Project Background:

Nearly 1 billion people lack access to clean, safe, drinking water - yet we rarely think or do anything about it. Imagine what our lives would be like if we had to struggle for something so basic and essential.

We are concentrating on providing safe water having witnessed the hardships suffered by different rural communities without it. Our first water-related project - the Water Pipeline Project - is being implemented with the Cambodia’s Chambok community, Kampong Speu Province.

Now, we are working with the San Juan Del Soco community on our second flagship initiative: a Sustainable Water Management Project. Like most Amazonian villages, Soco’s number one priority is quality and availability of water, never mind the lack of electricity or cell phone signal.

Project Preliminary Objectives:

1) To implement a sustainable water management program for the local community.

2) To develop local skills to sustain and maintain the project.

We will endeavor to maintain up-to-date information on the exact amounts raised and the latest news from the projects, travel with us - get involved with our local community projects and witness their impact

*Any further updates will be shared on our website.