Scott Dunn Charitable Fund

Scott Dunn has set up a charitable fund which gives us the ability to support a variety of community-based projects in the areas that our guests visit. They are the projects that promote education, community development and conservation to bring real long-term improvements to the lives of many poverty in stricken and remote areas.

As the world we live in is an unpredictable place, we also keep a small reserve in case of major natural disasters. We look to help local people on the ground rather than donating to large international charities. This year following the earthquake in Japan we donated £2,000 to the RQ Centre. They usually work as a non-profit organisation running Ecotourism Centres for children, however in the aftermath of the earthquake they mobilised volunteers to clean houses, schools and public buildings, so that people could return home.

Tusk Trust

Tusk Trust was founded in 1990 to protect Africa's wildlife and natural heritage. Their aim is to link the preservation of Africaʼs natural heritage and the future of its land, culture and people. This integrated approach to consevation involves sustainable development programmes and education in rural communities who live alongside that wildlife. Projects sponsored in 2011 include Pan African Conservation Education, Lamu Marine Conservation Trust, Mokolodi Nature Reserve and Education Centre, Save the Rhino Trust, Lekurruki Conservation Trust, Koiyaki Guiding School and The Maasailand Preservation Trust.

Small Steps Project

Small Steps Project is a humanitarian organisation and registered charity, dedicated to supporting children living on rubbish dumps around the world and raising awareness of unacceptable hardships they face through documentary films. Small Steps locates dumps and provides the communities with shoes to protect their feet and enable the children to go to school and break the cycle of poverty. They also provide mosquito nets, school supplies, clothes, food and water. Partnering with local projects means they can introduce services that will continue to help into the future to often completely neglected communities. The next step for the charity is a medical project to deliver emergency first aid.

TOFT - Travel Operators for Tigers

TOFT was originally formed by a group of like minded Tour Operators, and has now expanded to become a pioneering international campaign to support a more responsible and sustainable approach to tourism in wilderness areas in the Indian Subcontinent. As part of our commitment to TOFT, our money this year is helping to support a park guide through his training course. His name is Jagdish Prajapati and he works at the Bandhavgarh National Park. Local guides have a greater knowledge of the natural environment, and provide a bridge between the tourist, the parks and the local communities.