Everyone deserves the chance to travel. 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 Travelers:
Located in a remote area in Sri Lanka is a small school of 52 students. Despite being situated near the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya, where around 2000 tourists flock to daily, the school is underfunded, and excursions are a rare treat for the kids.
Along with the school principal, a couple of teachers and two parents joined 15 of the students on this special trip.
Photo Credit: Encounters Asia
The Details:
The excursion began at the entrance of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Polonnaruwa Archeological Site. Sri Lanka’s second oldest kingdom was created in the 10th century and has been relatively well preserved, giving the students insight into what life was like for their ancestors.
The group wandered through the grounds between ancient ruins, learning about the different aspects of this kingdom. They saw a multitude of fascinating sights, including the Royal Palace, the Temples of Shiva, the lotus bath, and the remains of the former Temple of the Tooth.
Photo Credit: Encounters Asia
Following the tour, the students, parents, and teachers went to Priyamali Gedara, a local farmer’s house converted to an authentic restaurant overlooking vibrant paddy fields. They joined in a cooking demonstration and assisted with the preparation of a traditional and hearty lunch.
Words couldn’t express the joy the children felt on the day, and the gratitude the parents and teachers had for this experience.
Photo Credit: Encounters Asia
Partner Organization:
Encounters Asia is a team of passionate travel connoisseurs who craft exclusive journeys in the exotic lands of Asia. In doing so, they also give back to the community and have committed themselves to various causes and initiatives.
Have a read of more Buy A Trip, Give A Trip experiences.
