Making the travel industry work for women around the world
As one of the world’s largest industries, tourism is a vital source of employment opportunities, financial security, and social change for disadvantaged and marginalized women. G Adventures and its non-profit partner, the Planeterra Foundation, are committed to making travel work for women around the world.
In honour of International Women’s Day, we developed PLANET HER, an audio collection to showcase what it means to different women around the world to be leaders, to have opportunities, to be empowered, and above all, to have equality and freedom.
Empower the women of travel by donating to Planeterra and helping us develop more empowering women’s projects, providing jobs, economic independence, and access to education.
New projects
In the last year, Planeterra has launched new women's projects in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, China and Jordan, that empower local women to redefine their roles in society.
Lusumpuko Women's Club
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Approximately 95% of the population of Zimbabwe is unemployed or partake in informal work on contracts or in subsistence farming. The challenges are that much more for women who were often excluded from education. Despite a traditional gender disparity, many Zimbabwean women are forming cooperative groups to provide services like tailoring, catering, and animal husbandry. These groups are taking matters into their own hands – creating income for their families and communities while empowering other women to build and launch their own businesses. Planeterra has partnered with the 20 members of the Lusumpuko Women's Club to create a cooking demonstration and meal for G Adventures travellers who visit Victoria Falls. Starting off as a cooperative rearing chickens and providing catering services for local churches and events, the group is thriving with the task of creating a traditional meal, much like their mothers and grandmothers used to prepare. Linda is the President of Lusumpuko Women’s Club (Lusumpuko means “Progress” in the local language of Tonga). She believes in the power of the tourism industry to change lives in Victoria Falls. “If tourism grows, the opportunity of employment will grow, too, and especially for women. It’s our dream to help other women in our community.”
Experience it on:
Botswana & Falls Adventure
Delta & Falls Overland (eastbound)
Southern Africa Encompassed
Southern Africa Explorer
Falls, Beaches & Serengeti Adventure (northbound)
Dunes, Deltas & Falls (northbound)
Cape Town, Falls & Kruger Adventure
Ultimate Africa
Cape Town To The Serengeti
Sthree Handicraft Shop & Cafe
Kandy, Sri Lanka
The Women’s Development Centre in Kandy, Sri Lanka has been working to create equal opportunities for women since 1986. This organization runs programs to combat violence against women and empower them as equal members of society, with one of their programs, Sthree, being a handicraft shop for women entrepreneurs. Since its establishment, Sthree had struggled to make the business a source of sustainable income for their programs and the entrepreneurs they serve. Planeterra provided a grant to revamp the craft shop and outfit a working kitchen in the space. Women and youth serve up breakfast, lunch and high tea to G Adventures travellers, as travellers learn more about the amazing work that the Women’s Development Centre does across Sri Lanka. The newly established tourism program works to provide increased livelihood opportunities for women and at-risk youth.
Experience it on:
Sri Lanka Encompassed
Sri Lanka On A Shoestring
Sri Lanka Express
Discover Kerala And Sri Lanka
Discover Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Land & Sea
Sri Lanka & Maldives Adventure
Discover India And Sri Lanka
Jia Community Restaurant
Yangshuo, China
Rural women and children in China are frequently faced with the challenge of being separated from their families, as men travel to cities to earn an income. In Liandaowan village the women are left without meaningful livelihood opportunities, and children’s education remains basic. Planeterra partnered with the Rural Women's Development Foundation to provide the catalyst grant to construct a Community Corner and Restaurant in Liandaowan. Underemployed women from the community have become chefs, waiters and guides. Planeterra supported the training of 10 women in developing the necessary skills to run a successful kitchen that now provides an additional source of income to women in the community.
Experience it on:
Past projects
Since 2003, Planeterra and G Adventures have developed empowering projects women from marginalized communities all over the world. Here are some of our other initiatives from over the years.
SASANE Sisterhood of Survivors
Nepal is a nexus for human trafficking, with as many as 7,000 women and girls transferred out of the country into Indian brothels each year. This project, recipient of a $25,000 grant from the G Adventures-sponsored G Project, trains trafficking survivors as outreach workers and paralegals to help break the cycle. This project won a 2015 United Nations World Tourism Organization Award for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism.
Experience it on:
Annapurna Sanctuary
Nepal Adventure
Delhi to Kathmandu
High Road to Tibet
Delhi to Kathmandu Yolo Adventure
Nepal: Himalaya Highlights
Explore India & Nepal
Maasai Clean Cookstoves
Household air pollution from traditional cooking practices is the world’s fourth-biggest health risk, and is a particular problem in rural Tanzania. We partnered with Maasai Stoves & Solar to train local women in the installation of clean cookstoves in over 60 Maasai villages.
Experience it on:
Tanzania Express Camping Adventure
Tanzania Safari Experience
Tanzania & Zanzibar Adventure
Tanzania Camping Adventure
Tanzania Camping Safari
Safari in Kenya & Tanzania
Kenya & Tanzania Camping Safari
Serengeti Safari to Zanzibar
East Africa Overland
Mt Kilimanjaro & Serengeti Adventure
Women on Wheels
Women and girls are often marginalized, underserved, and underprivileged in Indian society, and as a result often struggle to access the education and employment. Women on Wheels helps Indian women empower themselves and provide for their families by providing them training in non-traditional liveliehoods, including professional chauffeur services.
Experience it on:
Golden Triangle Independent Adventure
Explore North India & the Ganges
North India Highlights
Cruise the Ganges
Explore India & Nepal
Iconic India
Mysteries of India
Discover India