How about the Indigenous tribes of the Amazon? Have they been neglected?

GOND 2020 FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE

In the thick of the health crisis, Brazil's social inequality has become as evident as ever. Especially as it intensifies the virus spread and hits those unable to practice social distance the hardest. For this reason, we have decided to support some social projects that make a difference and distribute PPE to places that need it most.

Inspiration

Nature has its own way of healing itself, but we are very concerned with the local communities that call our natural havens their home. In Gondwana's almost 20 years, we have never come face to face with such a big and complex challenge. Since our core mission is to offer trips that help protect people, cultures and nature, through conscientious tourism, it feels as if our very purpose is at stake.

For many local people and communities, tourism is the only source of income, and they are suffering a lot right now with the complete halt of tourist activity. These communities are vital for us and for Brazil. What I, you and most of our customers do not share is their daily reality. There is a lack of shelter, food, and basic hygiene supplies. These are the people that inspire us to protect our country's natural legacy - and they are the most vulnerable at the moment.

We know how life-changing our encounters with nature can be. If we stop to think about the last few years, what were the moments when we learned and were inspired? Many of them, I believe, happened while we were travelling. We must continue to provoke people to ponder about the way they inhabit this world through these meaningful encounters. And for that, we need your help now.

There is an opportunity to change the way we experience tourism. This is a call to action for us to preserve the wonderful beauties of our country for our own enjoyment and learning, once the COVID-19 threat is gone. We know that all eyes are on Brazil right now. The contagion curve only grows, the State is absent (especially for the most vulnerable) and we know that many people are willing to help those who need it most. For this reason, we have decided to mobilize our networks and, at first, share about initiatives we are already involved with, that are trustworthy and need a lot of help, of any kind.

The indigenous peoples of the Amazon are suffering tremendously, and we chose this cause as the first to support. Please read more about this campaign here:

https://noscuidamos.foirn.org.br/

Gondwana supports several social projects, but our current focus is to help relieve the pain of those who suffer most from this crisis. We have already made a donation. Can we count on you to join us? Donations must be made directly on the website mentioned above. They accept several forms of payment.

Gondwana endorse the relevance, trustworthiness and importance of this initiative!

Feel free to share this campaign with your clients who have already visited Brazil and would like to help at this time. We are counting on you! If you want to know more about the project, don't hesitate to contact us.

We will continue to let you know about other projects we support.

Camila Barp

Co-Founder of Gondwana Brazil

Brazil

With you! Chile awaits!

A heartfelt message from Ana Saborio - CEO at Horizontes Nature Tours - Costa Rica

We were expecting a shock in our bookings, but we never saw it coming. Just the day before we had spoken to our team, we gathered all of our coworkers and explained to them that the effects of the pandemic should reach Costa Rica in the following days, and we would be confronted with a lack of reservations and a change from our normal.  We told them not to worry and committed to do everything in our power to keep them all in the payroll.  We assured them about our solid financial position and tried to convey to them our best vision of the days ahead.  

But we did not know what hit us.  On a single day, Friday March the 13th, we were hit with a wave of cancelations, postponements and demands for refunds that we never expected.  Even passengers that were arriving that very same day were demanding to go back immediately.  The following 2 weeks had full days of refunds and rescheduling. Fortunately, we had no ill passengers, and our clients trusted us and allowed us the time to organize refunds and claims so that within a couple of weeks we managed to return the money to everyone; even when some of the hotels are still holding our deposits to this date. Business stopped all at once, and life seemed to do so as well.

But for some strange reason, I am at ease.  While we are spending the savings of many years to get passed this pandemic, for some reason I am not in panic.  It´s as if a wave of patience and peace also came with this shock.  I think we needed to stop, a chance to reflect on life and what matters most, a time to think of family and good friends, and the best use of our time.

I am amongst the privileged ones.  First and foremost, I live in Costa Rica. We have a strong health system available to everyone, that created a good plan to protect us. In parallel, our Government implemented a series of relief measures for companies that helps a lot in staying afloat, while keeping all employees at a reasonable compensation level, until better times for our industry arrive. We have plenty of space in Costa Rica to keep our distances, our population densities are very low, we can take walks in the mountains, or visit rivers, and don´t need to be locked down in a small apartment in the city during the pandemic.  As it happens, nature right now is at its best, showing us its greatness every day.  These all helps you reflect, be grateful and find your peace!

My family is very close and serves as my support group.  We form a bubble within which we can socialize.  My niece has a special condition, so one of my sisters and her bubble has to stay separate, which is very challenging, but we understand it is for the best, and it is temporary.

I am 56.  I have worked for what I have.  I have put in the hours and have been blessed with good results.  I have done it before.  I can do it again and do it better.  I can learn from this stop.  

This should not be the end.  This is an opportunity for a new beginning!

Ana Saborío

CEO at Horizontes Nature Tours

Costa Rica