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The OVF ecotourism program will support conservation
and rural development by helping to protect valuable
natural areas and generating income for local economies.
Project Design:
The design of this program will lead to experiences
that will build long-term relationships and return
visits as well as stimulate demand for the African
products produced in these communities. As people
take their high quality experiences home with them,
they build a deeper sense of connection with Africa.
Positive word of mouth about the authenticity and
the healing aspects of these experiences will increase
the number of visitors to these projects. Through
the tour design, we aim to give people from all walks
of life an ability interact and serve in the grassroots
communities of Africa.
Target groups:
- Cultural creatives who have not only have an interest
in the beauty of nature and the indigenous culture
of Africa but also seek out sustainable tourist
experiences.
- Socially Conscious Corporations
- Africa Diaspora
The Business Case for Eco-tourism
Typically, US employees have very little exposure
to the world, especially of the developing world.
Promoting the wellness of the US workforce is an important
component of long-term worker productivity and by
extension the long-term viability of the corporation
itself. Socially conscious corporations are beginning
to see that the best way to invest in their future
is by investing into the well-being of the employees.
By learning from the Africans, participants in this
program will learn about their customs; how they live,
work, learn and play. This process of "getting
back to the root" of what we are as
human beings will help to cultivate innate intelligence
within each individual, resulting in an increased
capacity for innovation and creativity as well as
helping to reinforce our ethical mores.
Ecological Design and Ecotourism
Travel is a way to build bridges between different
groups of people. Unity Centers will be the hubs,
coming together spaces where people from diverse environments
can learn about each other and explore different approaches
towards the development of sustainable communities
and eco-living. This eco-tourism experience is not
simply an exploration of nature and local culture,
but one that highlights the ecological and socially
conscious aspects Unity Centers. This will add to
the traditional tourism experience by offering visitors
accommodations that combines state of the art sustainable
design with a contemporary African cultural aesthetic:
a healing environment that is pleasing to the senses.
The goal is to provide an experience for visitors
where people can heal, experience African culture
and nature, while having the option of also participating
in oneVillage development programs.
Building Local Economies and Promoting Sustainable
Development
A major focus of the project will be to provide
jobs, education and skills for local people and to
care for people with AIDS. Unity Centers will feature
local artist galleries as well as Vo-Tech schools
that emphasize practical skills such as computer education
courses, sustainable design and welding and carpentry.
Tours outside of the communities where the Unity Centers
are located will involve large vans equipped with
workshops to help teach and build sustainable prototype
projects, the progress of which will be monitored
by the ICT network. These eco tours will be staffed
by a core group and supplemented with volunteers from
academic and eco-tourism programs.
Goals of Project:
- Give Academic and non-Academic
elites an ability interact and serve in the grassroots
communities of Africa
- Help people to become the model
for change in their everyday actions and work
- Make learning and teaching a fun
and real experience
- Encourage the participants to develop
a more in-depth understanding of each other
- Develop a deeper perspective on
what life has to offer
- Become more respectful of the environment
- Weaving together the Pillars the
OVF Mandala to create whole, complete communities.
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