Justin, responsibletravel.com's co-founder, came across The TESFA Fund during his trip to Ethiopia in 2006.
Justin says: "The first part of my trip involved a very remote trek. We saw no tourists at all. By the third day we’d reached a tiny community of about 50 households – our 'lodge' below. The nearest rough road was about 30km away. Although the people are desperately poor people rushed out of their tiny fields to offer us food they had grown. I discovered that through tourism they had – for the very first time ever – been able to save some money ($500). This is pretty much a lifesaver for them as even in a good year for the rains they only just have enough food. If the rain fails they are in serious trouble. Off their own backs they decided to use some of their savings to set up a micro credit programme to loan money to other members of their community so they can start trading in grain and diversify their incomes to reduce their risk. In essence tourism had given them a chance they’ve never had before.
TESFA is exceptionally well run. They have 3 camps about 60 km apart, with remote communities in each that cannot be contacted by phone. They have no vehicle to coordinate clients and bookings and rely on getting a lift from a local charity’s car. It means they waste days of time and have their (local) manager stranded for days at a time. Most big donors won’t fund vehicles – despite it being the very thing that the community need most. For this reason, we decided to buy them a motorbike, which would make the world of difference to them, mean they can take more bookings, and literally change lives.
Donate online to TESFA via TravelPledge here Project name 
Locally owned and managed ‘lunch-stop’ business in Ethiopia.
The big idea To fund and manage the start up of a small community-run business that provides tourists with a traditional place to rest, eat, drink and experience Ethiopian hospitality.
Details This project will provide an income opportunity for disadvantaged women in local communities. It will include training in food preparation & hygiene and the construction of a physical lunch facility.
Supporting this project will enable the following:
Introduction of concept of tourism within the chosen community The selection of women to run the Lunch Business via a participatory process with the whole community Training of the women Construction of lunch shelter, kitchen & toilet Purchase of materials for food preparation and serving.
The result will be 20-30 women from 1 community trained and earning income from provision of lunch services to tourists. One lunch stop has been created already and has proven to be a very sustainable business that will continue to earn them income into the coming years.
Delivery
This project will be delivered by T.E.S.F.A. (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives), a well established and respected local NGO.
Project target
| Target: | 44,800 Birr | £2,800 |
| Participatory Stakeholder Identification | 1,000Birr | £62.50 |
| Construction of 1 lunch shelter, kitchen and toilets | 20,000Birr | £1,250 |
| Construction Supervision | 4,000Birr | £250 |
| Materials (Cooking, serving, furniture) | 6,000Birr | £375 |
| Transport | 2,500Birr | £156.25 |
| Cook Training | 4,000 Birr | £250 |
| Business training, money management / book keeping | 2,500Birr | £156.25 |
| Administration costs | 4,800Birr | £300 |
Feedback
As a valued donor to this project you will receive a update on its completion.
Donate online to TESFA via TravelPledge here
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