Everyone deserves the chance to travel. Yet, all too often, seeing the world is a privilege reserved for the global elite. At Elevate Destinations, we bridge the divide. Our goal is to connect local youths to their own environments, as travelers and as stewards.
Through our innovative Buy a Trip, Give a Trip model, your trip purchase creates fun new travel opportunities for local kids. For the first time, they experience nearby natural and cultural wonders. They see the sites, have fun, and make the kind of travel memories that we take for granted. Here’s just one example of Buy a Trip, Give a Trip in action:
The big day:
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
The travelers:
The 6th grade class of Tongabezi Trust School
The excursion:
A visit to the Livingstone Museum for hands-on learning about Zambia’s history, geography and people
The details:
On the day of the field trip, a bus rolled up to the Tongabezi Trust School to take the 6th graders into Livingstone. The outing was a special treat, as most of the kids don’t get the chance to go into town very often.
At the museum, there was so much to do! The kids especially liked the traditional village exhibit, which was both similar and different to some of the children’s home villages. The science lovers gravitated toward the geography exhibit, which tells the story of the mighty Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. Animal aficionados enjoyed the native species exhibit, with stuffed replicas of mammals and birds found in Zambia that tell an important tale about poaching.
Firsts:
- Hearing facts and legends about the famous explorer David Livingstone
- Learning about urbanization, and how it affects both villages and cities
- Meandering through a museum alongside foreign tourists, with a shared interest in Zambia
Quotes from the Road:
“We were all very excited to be able to take the bus to Livingstone. I don’t usually go to the town very often.”
– Emma
“At the museum they have built a traditional village that looks very similar to our village! There is also a big wall with a big picture or mural that shows a more modern life in a town or city like Livingstone or Lusaka. There are a lot of buildings and cars and rubbish.”
– Grace
“Our teacher explained that kind people from outside Zambia, called Elevate Destinations, donated the money for us to go and we are very glad for them being so kind. I think outings are good for us pupils as it is fun and I will remember our day for a long time.”
– Craig
Partner Organization:
The Tongabezi Trust School was set up by Vanessa Parker, who was previously teaching as a volunteer in Livingstone. The school opened on 1 May 1996 and due to its huge success it has been growing ever since. The school provides education to the Tongabezi staff children, as well as children from the local community, in an area where educational funding and materials are scarce. Over the years, it has grown from a pre-school class of 15 children, to a primary school with over 240 students.
