The World Within Us Travel & Social Impact Annual Report

THE WORLD WITHIN US International Travel + Social Impact Report

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 01 ABOUT 02 US MISSION 04 & VALUES 06 IMPACT AT A GLANCE THE UN 17 07 GLOBAL GOALS HOW WE GAVE BACK TO 08 LOCAL COMMUNITIES 09 STRATEGY OUR DEMOGRAPHICS 10 OUR 11 DESTINATIONS OUR 10 PARTERNSHIPS TANZANIA 12 EGYPT 14 WELCOME LETTER

SDG 9: SOLAR ENERGY

SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

18 GUATEMALA 20 WHERE WE 22 STAY MATTERS HOW WE STIMULATE 23 GLOBAL CHANGE EMPOWERING PEOPLE 24 THROUGH TOURISM 26 SUPPORTING THE PLANET CREATING ECONOMIC 27 OPPORTUNITY OUR TRAVEL 30 COMMUNITY 31 COVID-19 32 TESTIMONIALS FUTURE 34 COLLABORATION INDONESIA

SDG 14 + 15: LIFE ON LAND AND BELOW WATER

SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION

WELCOME LETTER The past 18 months have been a whirlwind of adventure, newfound friendships, connection, cultural awakenings, and social impact. The World Within Us has grown from a single idea I developed in 2019 to an inspiring and diverse travel community that is growing every day. The World Within Us has connected travelers worldwide, creating lifelong friendships and infinite memories. We developed global itineraries across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America, mindfully curating ethical travel experiences with locally-led activities, indigenous workshops, female guides, and sustainable hotels. Every accomplishment I mention is not only the efforts of myself and team; it is because of our devoted community of travelers. These individuals saw the value of traveling with purpose; they had a desire to explore the Serengeti or the Pyramids of Giza and give back to the local communities. We are incredibly thankful to our travelers and their family and friends, to all that contributed to our social impact programs. Together, we positively improved the lives of so many around the world. We have prioritized the people in each destination, with the goal of creating opportunities for indigenous people to lead, expanding access to solar energy, empowering girls, and putting money into the hands of locals for them to reinvest back into their families and loved ones during the challenging times of COVID-19. Despite the pandemic, we proved that you can travel safely by following the country's travel guidelines and prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our travelers and residents. Together, we have contributed to the local economies that were devastated by the pandemic. Every day, we strive to give our travelers the GREATEST travel experience of their lives, to see the world is within us.

The world is ours,

ABOUT US

OUR FOCUS

WOMEN

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

Provide women with opportunities for leadership in tourism, entrepreneurship, education, and financial independence.

Honor the local traditions, culture, and language. Empower indigenous communities through storytelling and traditions without sacrificing unique values.and beliefs.

Opportunities in tourism that advance sustainable development

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

ENVIRONMENT

Create sustainable income and employment opportunities in tourism, encourage locally-sourced food, and put money into the hands of locals for their services.

Select sustainable lodges, expand access to solar energy, and include cultural workshops that all prioritize the health of our planet.

RIPPLE EFFECT THE WORLD WITHIN US is an international organization committed to improving our world through responsible and sustainable tourism. We design group travel experiences that socially and economically empower local communities. We are also the first international travel company to directly align our trips with the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Local Economy

Health & Sanitation

Women in Leadership & Education

Reduce Migration

Cultural Conservation

MISSION & VALUES

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

■ Create travel itineraries that generate social inclusion and respect to local culture and traditions.

THE UN 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

■ Each project by The World

Within Us supports the advancement of achieving the SDGs by 2030.

IMPACT INVESTMENT

■ Identify small businesses to support local entrepreneurs.

■ Select accommodations that

■ Supports the preservation of

■ Collaborate with grassroots

nonprofits leading sustainable development projects.

have established sustainability efforts, including solar energy, locally-sourced food items, water reducers, plastic-free policies.

■ Provides economic growth

■ Support our partner's ongoing

■ Include carbon offset credits

national heritage sites, and wildlife conversation practices.

opportunities for local community members.

programs that benefit the community and the planet.

into each travel package to minimize each traveler’s carbon footprint.

We build the SDGs into the core of each travel experience. This allows us to contribute to the local economy, empower women and indigenous communities, celebrate local culture, and support our planet. We partner with nonprofits, locally-owned businesses, and female tour guides to create a unique social impact component through travel opportunities. This is how we fuel the mission of travel that empowers all.

WHAT'S 2021 2022+ BEYOND

UPLIFTING

COMMUNITIES

THROUGH

TOURISM Our mission is to ensure that social impact is at the core of every single travel experience we design. Through our community of travelers and partnership efforts, we have positively impacted countless lives and the environment across four countries. This has created a ripple effect, creating a long-lasting impact on the destination and expanding our travelers' hearts and minds.

WITH YOUR SUPPORT SINCE

Countries Impacted

Gender Equality

425

2022

Meals Donated

Solar Lights Distributed

Families Impacted

240

660

644

Lives Impacted

Trees Planted

1.5K+ 850

THE

UN GLOBAL

GOALS In 2015, world leaders came together to agree on 17 Global Goals (officially known as the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs). This global framework showcases our world's greatest challenges and what is at stake if we do not take action. We have the power to create a better world before 2030 by taking intentional actions to end poverty, fight gender inequality, address the urgency of climate change, and so much more. Guided by the goals, it is now up to all of

us,

governments,

businesses,

civil

society,

nonprofits, and the everyday citizens, to work together to build a better future for us all.

KEY GLOBAL GOALS IN EACH ITINERARY

31 33

OUR TRAVEL COMMUNITY We welcome travelers from all over the world, all from different cultural backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, religions, and occupations. Our travelers span the ages of 20 35 years old, all containing infectious energy to adventure, learn more about our world, and celebrate it.

OUR TRAVELERS WERE AGES:

20 - 35

TRAVELING FROM: NEW YORK HAWAII ILLINOIS ALASKA CALIFORNIA WASHINGTON D.C. NORTH CAROLINA INDIANA

OHIO VIRGINIA VERMONT WASHINGTON COLORADO NEW JERSEY PENNSYLVANIA GEORGIA

STRATEGY

ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

Educate our travelers on the SDGs and how our partners' programs help create sustainable development at the local level. The educational approach allows travelers to become advocates for the SDGs and our partners.

■ Local leadership at the forefront ■ Promote gender equality and inclusivity of all people ■ Protect the environment and ecosystem

4. ACTION COMPONENT

Connect the grassroots partnership's mission to the UN 17 SDGs. We select a global goal then focus on a target within the goal, adhering to the indicators within the framework.

3. EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT

Select a local grassroots organization to partner with that focuses on sustainable development projects to empower their community, protect our planet, and build capacity for future leadership.

2. SDG APPROACH

1. CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP

Each trip will have four components

Receive guidance from our partners to see what actions travelers can take to contribute to an active local project, whether it is through extra physical support, resources, intentional purchases or skills exchange.

■ Generate localized economic empowerment ■ Create a Long-term implementation process

WHAT WE OFFER We specialize in small group experiences, for solo travelers, friends, and organizations.

GROUP TRIPS Join our upcoming group trips for 2022. Join us as a solo traveler or with a friend. Be prepared to meet incredible, like-minded people.

SOLO TRAVELS Let's set you up for success! Select a destination and we'll get you all prepared for a solo trip of a lifetime.

CUSTOM FRIEND AND FAMILY RETREATS Have a group of friends or family that want to travel with? Pick a date and we''ll coordinate everything

ORGANIZATIONS AND CORPORATE RETREATS Do you have the desire to include purpose into your workplace offsite? Join us and we can fully customize the experience to fit your needs or social impact focus.

OUR DESTINATIONS TANZANIA

EGYPT

GUATEMALA

INDONESIA

OUR PARTNERSHIPS

NGOs Social Enterprises Tourism Carbon Offsetting

"Social impact is embedded into every travel experience we offer. We owe a big thank you to our partners for inviting us to support the incredible work they do, being a source of inspiration and action to empower their own communities."

- The World Within Us

TANZANIA SDG 7: SOLAR ENERGY Tanzania, known as the "land of safaris" and home to the largest and highest standing mountain on in Africa, should be at the top of your travel list. With 20 percent of Africa's largest mammal population, Tanzania safaris is an opportunity to see lions, elephants, and giraffes in one experience. Tanzania is also home to 120+ indigenous groups, including the Maasai, Datoga, Hadzabe, and Sukuma tribes. Despite this,

ONLY 15% OF THE POPULATION IN TANZANIA

HAS ACCESS TO ENERGY

Families are confined to daylight hours to accomplish what we would consider easy tasks. It makes it more difficult for children to complete their schoolwork, women to complete projects like jewelry-making for financial gain and cooking meals to feed their family. Due to the energy deficit in Tanzania, we decided to coordinate our social impact actions to SDG #7: Access to Affordable and Clean Energy.

We partner with Solar Sister, a nonprofit that empowers the women of Tanzania to lead the solar energy movement. Solar Sister provides female entrepreneurs the opportunity to create, market, and sell solar panels throughout rural regions across Africa. We purchase solar lights that are durable and transportable, allowing for mobility and communal sharing. In 2021 we contributed

360

SOLAR LIGHTS,

180

FAMILIES IN RURAL TANZANIA

Throughout our safari journey, we distributed 360 solar lights to 180 families, providing two lights to each home. Our partner Sababu Safaris, a locally-run boutique Tanzania safari operator, shares our same values of sustainability, conservation, and uplifting local communities. They are immensely supportive of this mission. Rob, the Co-Founder of Sababu Safaris, and Peter, a fellow tour guide of Sababu Safaris, were essential to our goals. They were so knowledgable of the local communities needs and helped us to distribute the lights and translate the local languages. In 2022 we hope to light up more communities in Tanzania through the help of our partnerships, sponsors, and travelers.

SOLAR SISTER

SABABU SAFARIS Sababu Safaris is a boutique safari operator committed to creating unique journeys in Tanzania that change hearts and minds and leave a long-lasting impact on travelers and local communities. The word "Sababu" in Swahili also translates to "purpose." All safari itineraries are mindfully curated to balance the majestic wildlife experience and get to know the local tribes and community.

Everyone should have access to clean energy. More than 600 million people do not have access to electricity in subSaharan Africa, and over 700 million rely on harmful fuels in their everyday lives. Women disproportionately bear the burden of energy poverty and shoulder the harmful effects of climate change.

Their all-inclusive and transformational safaris will take you deep into the isolated wilderness and connect you with the individuals that call Tanzania home. Sababu brings together conservation, communities, and sustainable travel by creating unique and impactful experiences that allow you to immerse yourself in the rich Tanzanian culture completely. In partnership, we put together group trips that make safaris affordable for all solo travelers and friends.

Solar Sister believes women are a critical part of clean energy solutions. Their investment in local women is essential in eradicating poverty, providing green employment in Sub-Saharan Africa, improving the health of millions, and achieving sustainable solutions to climate change. https://solarsister.org/ @iamsolarsister

https://www.sababu-safaris.com/

@sababusafaris

EGYPT SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY Home to one of the oldest ancient civilizations, Egypt is easily considered one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, filled with history, beaches, and culture. On our trips, we explore the bustling city of Cairo, visit the Pyramids of Giza, snorkel in the blue waters of the Red Sea, and visit ancient landmarks in Luxor. Although sightseeing and adventure are significant components of our trips, we put social impact at the core of all that we do.

Included in all travel booking packages is a contribution to sponsor four girls. Before arriving in Egypt, our travelers personally participated in additional fundraising to further scale our impact. With 13 travelers fundraising this past year, we were able to sponsor

Gender-based violence is an issue worldwide, and we want to empower women to live authentic lives free of harassment and discrimination. In Egypt, one in four girls in Egypt are victims of physical violence and sexual harassment. This jarring statistic motivated us to dedicate our Egypt trip to SDG #5: Gender Equality.

YOUNG GIRLS TRAINED IN SELF-DEFENSE

Our partner Heya Masr, is committed to improving the lives, confidence, and health of the youth in underserved areas of Egypt. We decided to focus on supporting Heya Masr’s self-defense training program for young girls from the ages of 8 - 18 years old. Our organization sponsors young girls from Cairo to take self-defense courses learning how to use their voice in a crisis and physical motions to protect themselves from harassment.

60+

to take the course for free, hire five female instructors, and provide self-defense training skills that will be remembered for their lifetime. We also committed to hiring female guides to empower women in the tourism region. Our local Egyptian guide and entrepreneur, Fatma Bayomi, born and raised in Egypt, has a wealth of knowledge in history, culture, and treasures, all while adding in her own unique feminist perspective.

ASHOKA

Since 2003, Ashoka Arab World has pioneered and been the platform for social entrepreneurship across the Arab region, identifying the region’s leading social entrepreneurs across 12 countries. In partnership with Ashoka, we supported their Young ChangemakHERs program that targets young female entrepreneurs in the Arab region to expand their resources, opportunities, and social entrepreneurship-oriented programs. The programs all focus on contributing back to the community, women, youth, or the environment. Ashoka has paved the way for remarkable young women to flourish in social entrepreneurship.

https://www.ashoka.org/

https://www.ashoka.org/en-us/about/arab-world

@Ashokaaglobal

HEYA MASR Heya Masr is a nonprofit organization based in Egypt, empowering youth through confidence building, education, and nutrition efforts. Heya Masr is empowering a young generation of girls now, for a better Egypt tomorrow. Heya Masr empowerment programs target young girls ages 8 - 18 from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in self-defense training. During our travels in Egypt, we sponsor a class to receive free training to scale their program further. The program focuses on building girls' self-confidence to use their voices and physical techniques to protect themselves. Heya Masr organizes these community-based programs hosted by female instructors to increase selfdefense access and create more strong and empowered girls in society.

https://www.heyamasr.org/

@heyamasr

INDONESIA SDG 14 + 15: LIFE ON LAND & LIFE BELOW WATER Indonesia is the world's largest island country in Southeast Asia, and it exudes undeniable peace, tranquility, and exceptional hospitality. The island of Bali, also known as the 'Land of the Gods', has been a popular destination welcoming over a billion travelers in the past decade. On our Bali trip, we explore the lush terraced rice fields, sail to the island of Nusa Penida, practice meditation, swim in the crystal blue waters, and learn local traditions from indigenous storytellers. The nonprofit, Bye Bye Plastic Bag (which originated in Bali by 15-year-old, Melati Wijsen), inspired the youth in Bali and transformed their desire to eradicate plastic into a global movement. Their vision for a plastic-free island spiraled into thousands of other youth taking action in their respective countries across five continents. Their dedication to the environment has led to transformative policies changes, more youth-led social enterprises, and educational booklets given to local communities to learn simple ways to protect their communities and prevent environmental harm. In partnership with Bye Bye Plastic Bag, we will expand their education initiative to the Balinese communities to protect our oceans and keep waterways clean. We also will engage hands-on in a local beach clean-up with fellow young people on the island to eradicate waste from invading our precious oceans.

Due to the rising cases of COVID-19 across Southeast Asia, Bali is among the last countries slowly easing into their international tourism reopening. In October 2021, after an 18+ month hiatus with international borders closed, the island has officially reopened to select lowrisk vaccinated countries. Due to Bali's tourism-dependent local economy, the pandemic has profoundly impacted the livelihoods and employment opportunities.

54%

OF BALI'S ECONOMY IS GENERATED THROUGH TOURISM We hope to be among the organizations that help restore tourism on the island and put opportunities back into the hands of locals and the economy. To support the local economy and stand by our values, we selected a female-owned tour company, all locally-led activities, and eco-friendly luxury hotels.

ONE TREE PLANTED

BYE BYE

PLASTIC BAG Bye Bye Plastic Bags is a youth-led NGO that eradicates plastic bags and removes them as material from Indonesia's islands! The two youth founders native to the island have worked closely with the private sector, hospitality industry, communities, schools, and the government to protect our planet. They empower people to do what is sustainable for the environment through education, campaigns, and political meetings. They also have chapters worldwide leading beach clean-ups and other opportunities to engage youth in fighting climate change. We partner with Bye Bye Plastic Bags to provide education to teach sustainable practices to community members and take action by cleaning up the local waterways with other fellow youth on the island of Bali.

One Tree Planted is a 501C3 non-profit focusing on the environment and global reforestation. One Tree Planted dedicates its efforts to making it easier for individuals and businesses to create a healthier climate, protect biodiversity and help reforestation efforts on every continent. All by planting trees!

One Tree Planted has doubled the number of trees planted year over year. Together with local partners, they plant trees, restore forests that fires and floods have affected, create jobs, build communities, and protect habitats for biodiversity.

https://onetreeplanted.org/ @onetreeplanted

PLANT WITH PURPOSE Plant With Purpose is a nonprofit organization that focuses on tree planting to solve economic and environmental poverty. The organization focuses on addressing the root causes of poverty in rural regions of Africa to equip local leaders with the knowledge, resources, and skills to improve their lands and livelihood. They have led reforestation projects through learning programs, restored wildlife habitats, and provided financial independence while supporting our planet.

http://www.byebyeplasticbags.org/

https://plantwithpurpose.org/

@byebyeplasticbags

@plantwpurpose

TURN TRAVEL INTO IMPACT

FROM HOME

GUATEMALA SDG 4: QUALITY EDUCATION Guatemala is known for its spectacular volcanoes, fascinating Mayan culture, and the colorful colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On our Guatemala trip, enjoy Antigua's cuisine, Mayan history in the towns of Lake Atitlan, and climb the active Volcano Pacaya. Guatemala is considered the "Heart of the Mayan world" and home to some of the largest ancient Mayan ruins. Inspired by the educational work from our partner, Niños de Guatemala, we decided to focus our Guatemala trip around SDG #4: Quality Education to promote lifelong learning opportunities.

amounts of healthy food items used in typical Guatemalan dishes, including fruits, vegetables, rice, flour, potatoes, and cooking items. In two weeks, we were able to feed 66 families.

Despite COVID-19 putting a long-term pause on the operations of Ninos de Guatemala and local schools during the pandemic, our Founder, Anina Monteforte, traveled there with a desire to support the community of Antigua during these challenging times. She announced a fundraiser shared via social media to friends, family, and future travelers to consider donating to a COVID food relief fund.

in the villages of Santa Lucía Milpas Altas. Thanks to Tania’s insight, we targeted families most affected by COVID, including single mothers, families with recent deceased members, and the elderly. We are also proud to have intentionally purchased items through local markets, vendors, and grocery stores that ultimately puts money back into the local economy and small businesses.

She partnered with local grocery stores and market vendors to arrange a basket of food items to provide to various families across Santa Lucía Milpas Altas. With the support of our local guide for Guatemala, Tania, and her incredible family, we were able to purchase mass

During our upcoming trip in 2021, we will work closely with Niños de Guatemala to support their educational programs and local cultural tours. Every night, one of our travelers stays at the Good Hotel, they send a child to school for one week.

$10

PROVIDE ONE BAG OF GROCERIES

66 FAMILIES

GOOD HOTEL

NIÑOS DE

GUATEMALA Niños de Guatemala, a nonprofit based in Guatemala, addresses the issue of quality education within its schools. Niños de Guatemala has 500+ children a year across its three schools in Guatemala. The organization works to offer quality education to its students to be prepared to continue their education. In addition to an advanced curriculum, Niños de Guatemala also focuses on the well-being of each student through the Family Support and Nutrition and Health Programs. These programs ensure that student's mental and physical needs are taken care of allows for students to focus in the classroom and dedicate their full attention to their studies.

https://www.ninosdeguatemala.org/

@ninosdeguatemala

Good Hotel is a social business. 100% of their excess profits improve their community, all of their operation margins go to Niños de Guatemala. Good Hotel provides quality education access through primary and secondary schools in Guatemala. The three schools currently serve 600 underprivileged children who cannot go to school. The Good Training Program includes a bespoke hospitality three-month training course. The training also includes an education program for local community members to build a career in hospitality. After graduating, each student has the opportunity to work full-time at the Good Hotel or closely aligned partner hotel. Good Hotel also prioritized sustainability and the planet. Their entire operations and materials are also re-used and upcycled, including the furniture and items in each room. They also source food locally from each location.

https://goodhotel.co/do-good @goodhotel.co

WHERE YOU STAY MATTERS |

SUSTAINABLE HOTELS, LODGES, AND ACCOMODATIONS

ORIGINAL MAASAI LODGE

FIVELEMENTS, BALI

STEIGENBERGER PYRAMIDS, CAIRO

In Tanzania, our travelers enjoy an overnight stay at the Amini Maasai Lodge, a lodge initially built on land that is considered uninhabitable. Nestled in the natural landscape between Mount Meru, Mount Mukuru, and Mount Kilimanjaro, The Original Maasai Lodge is composed of 16 earth houses in a replicated Maasai village. The rooms are powered solely by solar energy, plasticfree, and entirely operated by local Maasai village members. All of the income generated by the lodge is directly invested back into Africa Amini Alama, a nonprofit that manages a local school and hospital.

In Indonesia, our travelers stay at Fivelments in Bali, a retreat that opened in late 2010 as the first of a new genre of wellness destinations bridging the wisdom of traditional healing cultures with a focus on sustainability. Guided and inspired by traditional Balinese Philosophies, they aim to share their inclusive, universal way of life, which nurtures harmony with the spirit and the environment. The hotel prioritizes energy conservation through low voltage LED lights, water conservation through recycling site rainwater and wastewater, and financially contributes to the Green School Bali for children in K-12 grades to learn about sustainability.

For our Egypt hotels, we select them through the "Green Star Hotel", a sustainability certification and capacitybuilding program managed by the Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA) and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism. The Green Star Hotel rating system is where "Green Stars" are awarded to a hotel based on their environmental performance and annual practices. The certification is directly linked to the UN 17 SDGs, emphasizing SDG #13: Climate Action.

GOOD HOTEL In Guatemala, our travelers stay at the Good Hotel Antigua, which is dedicated to offering guests a delightful stay while simultaneously supporting social causes. One hundred percent of their profits support the nonprofit, Niños de Guatemala. By funding Niños de Guatemala, The Good Hotel can put hundreds of children through school. The Good Training Program also provides local adults three months of study and paid work experience to work full-time at the Good Hotel or one of their chosen partner hotels. This provides both education and employment in tourism.

HOW WE STIMULATE GLOBAL CHANGE PEOPLE

We hire female guides and locals to lead our experiences. Our commitment is to empower women, respect local culture, and learn directly from indigenous people through the power of tourism.

ENVIRONMENT

We support our planet through reforestation, developing partnerships for carbon offsetting, and selecting sustainable hotels. Our commitment is to be intentional about our activities and accommodations to protect our environment.

ECONOMY

We support local businesses, female entrepreneurs, and locally-led activities. Our commitment is to put the tourism dollars generated into the hands of the local community, especially during the challenging times of COVID-19.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE

THROUGH TOURISM QUALITY EDUCATION Expand access. to quality education to promote lifelong learning opportunities and a skilled workforce . Invest in academic initiatives for youth and programs that provide skills-training incentives to indigenous families.

COVID-19 RELIEF Support the communities most impacted by COVID-19 around the world through access to resources and food relief. Provide sanitation products and face coverage to prevent the spread of disease and encourage health, wellbeing, and safety.

GENDER EQUALITY Empower women through incomegenerating opportunities in tourism. Support women-owned businesses, restaurants, guides, and entrepreneurs to unlock women's potential and financial independence. Also, advance women's ability to defend themselves through selfdefense training and confidence building.

PEOPLE HIRING FEMALE GUIDES, HONORING TRADITIONS

FATMA Born and raised in the ancient city of Cairo, Fatma is a bold feminist with a passion for telling her country's ancient history. As our lead tour guide in Egypt, Fatma shares with our guests all the treasures of Egypt. She is fluent in English and Arabic and has two beautiful twin daughters. Her experiences allow her to understand the importance of building confidence in young women and girls, making her a true supporter of SDG 5: Gender Equality.

Empowering the local community in each destination we visit is critical to leading responsible and sustainable tourism. Providing opportunities for women, locals, and indigenous communities to lead travel experiences generates a sense of pride, a passion for storytelling, and financial independence. Also, celebrating the traditions of each destination and respecting their cultural practices is essential to ethically host a travel experience.

TANIA Our local Guatemalan guide, Tania, born and raised a few miles outside of Antigua, comes from a family that all have a relentless passion for supporting their community. As a coordinator for our partner, Niños de Guatemala, she supports children to receive quality education and welcomes travelers to share the best authentic experiences. She is also a big foodie; she knows all the good food spots and where to dance the night away in Antigua!

DENISE & ROB The only exception to our female-only guide rule is Rob! Rob, the Co-Founder of Sababu Safaris, is our local guide in Tanzania. With 20+ years of safari experience, he is deeply knowledgeable about the national parks, wildlife, conservation efforts, local tribes, and more. He is known as "Sababu Solar" in many villages for all he does to support his community to expand access to solar light. His partner in crime, Denise, Co-Founder of Sababu Safaris, is also permanently based in Tanzania with a deep love for the country and people. She supports by building the most memorable and life-changing itinerary.

INTAN Intan is our local Balinese guide during our travels to Indonesia. Intan is energetic with a passion for tourism; she operates a family-owned tourism business and has welcomed thousands of travelers to Bali. She enjoys sharing authentic cultural experiences and laughing with her guests.

SUPPORTING

THE PLANET COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

CLEAN OCEANS Remove waste from our coastline and encourage the reuse of plastic and other items to upcycle and not end up in landfills or our oceans. Promote a blue economy, and preserve healthy marine ecosystems.

Take urgent action to combat climate change. Ensure all decisions value the health of our environment and planet. Support carbon offsetting programs, reforestation, renewable energy sources, and selecting sustainable hotels.

SOLAR ENERGY Expand the access to clean, sustainable, affordable energy across the world. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate climate change. Also, select sustainable accommodations that utilize solar energy to power their properties..

CARBON

OFFSETTING

In recognition of the emissions produced by air travel, The World Within Us is committed to carbon offsetting our travel through planting trees with One Tree Planted, Shagrha, and Plant With Purpose. Because trees use carbon dioxide to build their trunks, branches, roots, and leaves, they are natural carbon absorbers and help to clean the air. About one mature tree can absorb up to 22lbs of carbon dioxide per year.

One Tree Planted is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making tree-planting affordable and accessible. They run hundreds of tree planting events worldwide to plant trees in their local communities. With partners across 43+ countries in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, they have planted 40,000,000+ trees and counting.

Plant With Purpose is an international nonprofit organization working at the intersection of poverty alleviation, environmental restoration, and spiritual renewal. They are committed to holistic, sustainable development through local empowerment, regenerative agriculture, reforestation, and building economic resilience through environmental practices.

Shagrha is an Egyptian-based NGO that coordinates fruit tree planting on rooftops, balconies, and public spaces to decrease the lack of food and green spaces across Egypt. Since April 2016, Shagrha has planted 25,000+ trees in Egypt, supported 1,000 new rooftop gardens, and led 100 community events about urban agriculture.

Sustainable Tree Planting Hotels

Solar Lights

Upcycling

CREATING ECONOMIC

OPPORTUNITIES

SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION Rebuild economies most affected by COVID-19. Support responsible consumption within locallysourced agriculture, sustainable lodges, and locally-led activities. Contribute to economic growth, development, and opportunities that support well-being and provide resources to provide safety for those in the workforce.

INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, development, and local employment at all levels in the hospitality and tourism sector. Create an effective and livable wage standard to improve living standards and reduce poverty.

CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS Build cross-sector partnerships and bridge the gap between the tourism industry, nonprofits, private sector, and travelers to deliver on common goals to achieve the UN SDGs by 2030.

COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the tourism industry, leading to mass unemployment and new travel regulations. As we build the future of travel in the post-pandemic world, we must reevaluate tourism practices to empower local communities and rebuild economies. Tourism-dependent countries have suffered the most to keep their local economy steady and operating. Destinations like the Caribbean islands have rebounded from COVID-19 due to the reopening of tourism in late 2020. In contrast, others destinations like Indonesia have remained closed until at least 80% of the local population is vaccinated. The complete hiatus of international arrivals has caused mass unemployment and relocations to the mainland searching for employment opportunities.

Industries most impacted within tourism:

THE REVENUE LOSS OF 2020

RANGES BETWEEN FOOD SUPPLIERS

ACCOMMODATION

TRANSPORT

RETAIL SECTORS

According to United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data predicts there will be a 75% reduction of tourist arrivals in countries with low vaccination rates, compared to a 37% reduction in countries with 50% of their population vaccinated. To support job recovery in developing countries, local governments and the private sector must build partnerships to advance vaccine access to protect communities from supporting a safe restart of tourism. The main obstacle will be closing the gap to vaccine inequity and ensuring that populations are vaccinated to protect the local population and revive the local economy.

$910

BILLION

$1.2

TRILLION

UNEMPLOYMENT HAS SKYROCKETED TO HALF A MILLION JOBS LOST PER DAY

Yani Aldrich EGYPT March 2021

"My experience with The World Within Us traveling to Tanzania was life-changing. Experiencing the wildlife in their natural habitat in Tanzania was absolutely breathtaking. The local residents and community of Tanzania were soo welcoming, and the food was delicious!! It turned out to be MORE than I could ever imagine! I believe every person should experience the joy that Tanzania gave me!"

"The World Within Us made my first trip to Egypt so special. It was the perfect combination of local experiences, culture, and luxury. I tried things I had never tried before and lived my best lifewith the help of my amazing group of fellow travelers and our incredible local guide. It's a place I hope to show my family and friends, and it was all thanks to The World Within Us. I left with no regrets."

Faith Schultz TANZANIA / EGYPT 2021

Melyssa Vazquez TANZANIA February 2021

TESTIMONIALS

""I had the privelege of going on three trips with The World Within Us and it changed my life forever. Not only did I get to explore three of the most beautiful countries in the world, but I also built life-long connections with friends from around the world. It felt amazing to know that my money and time abroad was used for more than just a vacation. I abgsolutely love how my trips had such strong elements of service, collaboration and cultural immersion. I will most definately be joining TWWU again in the future! "

MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME

HOW YOU CAN COLLABORATE WITH US IN

2024?

Expand our group trips to new countries and regions around the world Launch corporate retreats for private-sector employees Partner with us for university students to travel during summer terms and spring breaks Connect with UN contacts to reach larger audiences and share the power of sustainable travel Collaborate with governments and policymakers to align international tourism with the UN 17 SDGs

hello@theworldwithinus.org @theworldwithinus_ The World Within Us