Sustainable Tourism

Many people do travel. Now, more than ever, human beings are exploring the world around them.

Sustainable tourism is a way of traveling and exploring a destination while respecting its culture, environment, and people. Common sense says that this is simply the definition of travel and that the term ‘sustainable’ is unnecessary.

We should travel in a way that can benefit the people and communities we’re in, and that mitigates negative impacts of travel on the environment. Sustainable travel is about showing we care.

South Africa is a leader in responsible tourism and is a magnet for those who are interested in adventure, wildlife, culture, and history. Its history is complex and poignant, from the San who first inhabited the land to the establishment of Cape Town as a stopover for the Dutch along the spice trade route.

Creating a positive and lasting impact on the environment and community has become an increasingly important factor when visitors plan holidays. As one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and with South Africa being such a diverse melting pot of cultures, heritage sites, tourist attractions and adventure activities, our focus should be towards sharing the stories of change and preservation.

South Africa is home to a large number of sustainable tourism service providers belonging to organizations such as Fair Trade, Green Tourism Active and Responsible Tourism South Africa.

“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see”

 

Individual Social Responsibility

The obligation of an organization’s management towards the welfare and interests of the society in which it operates.

It is through careful attention to impacts on society and the environment that organizations achieve sustainability. Behaving in a transparent and ethical way ensures an approach that helps protect the long-term success of society and the environment.

What does it mean?  It is about an individual becoming responsible in his/her actions that have to affect on communities outside his/her immediate circle.  The immediate circle being family and friends.

What is ISR?  The individual social responsibility includes the engagement of each person toward the community where he lives, which can be expressed as an interest towards what’s happening in the community, as well as in the active participation in die solving of some of the local problems.  The individual social responsibility also could be expressed in making donations for significant society causes – social, cultural or ecological.

Is ISR practical?  It has to be as the trends show that the biggest growth for big charitable organizations in the world is coming through individuals and not through corporations and governments.

What is being ethical?  Ethics is a set of beliefs about right and wrong.  The beliefs are dependent on personal experience, family background, religious background, and education.  The integrity of your beliefs is an important element of being ethical.

Is ISR practical, especially the ethical bit?  Difficult but possible, making decisions based on what is good for greatest number of people.  Promoting individual self-interest as long as it does not harm others.  Making decisions with a belief that everyone has a fundamental right that should be respected and protected.  Making decisions which treat everyone fairly and consistently.

I know CSR, how is ISR different? 

  • ISR is at the roots of CSR because a corporate comprises of individuals and hence determines the social responsibility culture it follows.
  • As CSR is being increasingly viewed as a tool to push wares a greater need for ISR is expected.
  • The example of kiva.org in giving people the power to empower is a big indicator of the shift.
  • If ISR becomes a way of life CSR may be an automatic end result.

ISR is a tool for social change, powerful and practical

Sources:

“The Inconvenient truth about corporate fundraising” by Sean Triner

www.sofli.org

Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF), Bulgaria, a position statement on Social Responsibility.

http://www.wcif-bg.org/en/sr

 

Importance of Giving Back to the Community

No matter how tough you think your life is there’s always someone who has to face challenges that are even tougher than yours.

And it goes in many different directions. Not only basic things like making money, getting food, or having a place to rest at night, but also the possibility of taking part in some entrepreneurial projects or getting a proper education.

‘We make a Living by what we get, but we make a Life by what we give’ – Winston Churchill

Long ago, when we were all little, young and just a child, the best things were to play outside. Look into each hole and inspect all the various insects. Without knowing, that the inspection of the little insects stimulated your brain every second. What did this teach us? If the prickly pear thorns have stung you once, you will never touch it again.

If there is a rock in the road and you bump your toe, you will think twice when walking along the same path to look out for the rock in the road.

Every little child deserves to learn from their mistakes. Building up world knowledge is power. Every child has this idea what they want to be when they grow up. Let’s teach them their idea!

Sometimes the right of teaching refrains from us, sometimes there is an open path for teaching, but it is not grabbed with two hands. In the end, it’s awesome to know there are so many different opportunities in life to choose from and the best one is the one you choose!

Karreekloof chose the open road and are going to grab it with both hands. For us, education is very important especially for every child who cannot wait to go to school in the morning. Just so that he or she can learn something new every day.

For Karreekloof, the word “community” plays a major role, and to return is not much demanded.

 

Corporate social responsibility

Ever wondered what social responsibility means for a company and the success they strive after?  Here are a couple of interesting facts.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

One of the most important business ethics quality for an organization to become successful.   The reputation of an organization is very important and implementing social responsibility can increase positive satisfaction results towards stakeholders and customers.

Different organizations have framed different definitions – although there is considerable common ground between them. CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society.

A business’s CSR can encompass a wide variety of tactics, from giving away a portion of a company’s proceeds to charity, to implementing “greener” business operations.

There are a few categories of social responsibility that many of today’s businesses are practicing:

  1. Environmental efforts: One primary focus of corporate social responsibility is the environment.
  2. Philanthropy: Businesses also practice social responsibility by donating to national and local charities.
  3. Ethical labor practices: By treating employees fairly and ethically, companies can also demonstrate their corporate social responsibility.
  4. Volunteering: Attending volunteer events says a lot about a company’s sincerity. By doing good deeds without expecting anything in return.

 Examples of corporate social responsibility

Shoes, another notable example of a company with CSR at its core, donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair a customer purchases.  How about donating money to an individual, for example, every ten plastic bags/bottles or cans that are being picked up.

 Practicing what you preach

Undertaking socially responsible initiatives is truly a win-win situation. Not only will your company appeal to socially conscious consumers and employees, but you’ll also make a real difference in the world.   “Engage your employees [and consumers] in giving back. Let them feel like they have a voice.”

 

Karreekloof environmental protection plan

What Are We Responsible For?

With new beginnings comes huge responsibilities protecting the environment.  In the pipeline of Karreekloof we have exciting projects lying ahead. Supporting our community with beating hearts by helping the environment.

  1. RINO CLEAN: is a project in the township where people can receive a plate of food for every bag of rubbish they can give us. This will be done from our “community center” that is in progress and will be ready in the near future.
  2. RINO FIRE: not just creating jobs but removing invasive trees from farms in riverbeds and making firewood and charcoal to be sold in branded bags.
  3. RINO GROW: also a job-creating project where we will make compost for nurseries from the thin branches and leaves of the invasive trees.

The environment is essential if we want to preserve the flora and fauna of the natural world.

It is hard to feel motivated to save the environment when we feel disconnected from it. So, take time to appreciate the environment. Go for walks, meditate in a local park or other green space and do a little gardening each weekend.

That way, you will realize how much better a gorgeous natural world can make our lives. This will help to spur you on, to take action to conserve the environment for future generations.

People that destroys its soils, destroys itself.

We don’t just want to protect our communities environment, we want to create a community where the environment doesn’t need protection.

 

Principles of Poverty Alleviation

The Importance of Work

Sometimes people are genuinely unable to provide for themselves. Scripture tells us we should all be seeking to work rather than to live off the generosity of others.

Those of us who are employed or who own businesses need to value our work and do our best to it.

Those of us who are employed or who own businesses need to value our work and do our best to it.

Fighting poverty through job creation is essential. Employment is a fundamental tool. It promotes human dignity and the health and well-being of communities. The Church can be involved in this area.

Not demonizing the wealthy, the financially successful, the business owner, or the entrepreneur. It can also help by providing tools for the poor to find jobs and become more qualified for those jobs.

The Importance of Moral Proximity & Subsidiarity

The two principles are very similar. Moral proximity looks at problems and asks,        “Where am I personally responsible to act given my finite time and resources?”    Subsidiarity looks at problems and asks, “Who is best equipped to deal with them?”

Subsidiarity states that if the family cannot solve the problem, friends, community groups, and churches should step in.

https://tifwe.org/four-principles-of-poverty-alleviation/

 

Community support through a helping hand

Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community. (Anthony J. D ‘Angelo)

Perfection throughout the years to do good for communities and employees is a vision we work hard at.

To obtain all the hard work simple rewards like thank you and big smiles make every effort worthwhile.

With every donation we accomplish new beginnings; schools have funds for new equipment for mental and physical strength. Transport is provided to make every sports and cultural day a memorable one. Food on the table makes standing up in the mornings much easier.

 

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems and at the end of the day by giving back to the community and not receiving.

As simple as leftover food like meat, we makeup meat parcels and provide it to the nearest churches to give to the less fortunate communities. Corporations that care about the lives of people outside the walls of their businesses are more likely to create a positive environment.

Providing housing and fresh meat for employees and their families every week make being a worker worth the while.

KINDNESS THROUGH TEACHING!

 

Opening a stepping stone foundation like a pre- primary school for children whose parents does not have the financial capacity to send them elsewhere. To focus on the child’s educational, emotional and social development.

Helping someone learn can be beneficial to both teacher and student!

By taking the time to help someone learn, you could be positively impacting the future of their education through simple kindness! This impact could be carried on with the student who could help contribute to spreading kindness in their own life.

WE HAVE A HEART FOR ANIMALS

At Wild Hearts Rehab center we believe education is an integral component of the anti-poaching effort. We will maintain an Educational Facility for the local community, general public and youth to learn about the consequences of poaching, the benefits of wildlife rehabilitation and re-introduction and the need for conservation/preservation.

Our focus is on the rehabilitation of injured or orphaned animals and re-introducing them back into their native habitat.

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” (Audrey Hepburn)