Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Corporate Social Responsibility In India


Ola! I am Sanchez and very much interested in travelling all over the world, so I keep savings a little and take one holiday to different nation each year during Christmas. Last year I planned on holiday to India. As low budget tourist, I save on hotel bill by being volunteer in different social works. When I explored India Volunteer Tourism and chance of VolunteerTours in India on the net for some idea, I was happy to see a website www.shaping-lives.org being shown by both as a responsible and trusty Foundation for such work in that country. It was engaged in different types of social work and helping tourists to select something of their choice not just in type but also in a destination they wanted to do volunteer work in. 

It spoke of their Corporate Social Responsibility in India as a travel foundation and besides giving opportunity in children and old age work; they also had animal NGO and chance to volunteer in Sustainable Development Projects in India like water management etc. I was so happy. Even my local agent had heard of them and best part was that they were able to recommend me the city, the NGO and a low cost stay with food and lodgings as well. I really enjoyed my volunteer work and I am going back to India again through Shaping Lives volunteer scheme. My friends would not believe the experience I had until they saw my photos with the children. I also learnt to tie that big Rajasthan head dress from the children.


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Responsible Tourism


You know what….every time some friend or acquaintance would brag that oh! I did some serious Participative Tourism or said y’know, we took a Responsible Holiday this year, I would just yuck! behind their backs calling them ‘pseudos’. Those were the days. All that changed for me in just one holiday where my partner offered to give me a lifetime experience in Responsible Tourism on our India holiday. He kept harping on this Travel with a Soul thing and almost drove me nuts ……. but I am glad I stuck on, coz we spent 3 days on an island on the Yamuna River in Agra just looking after sloth bear. These bear are the so called Indian dancing bears who have been given a safe haven in controlled habitats instead of a life of misery and torture dancing on the roads. The Responsible Holiday was organised to the last detail by a travel agent in India …. and ok guys and girls … yuck me all you want but that trip changed my attitude and I am a hot and proud  member of that pseudo clan today and Participative Tourism is my theme in most parties.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Corporate Social Responsibility Program


Helloooo! I am 20 years old and when my mom and dad offered me a holiday in India, I was delighted. They were willing to let me travel alone on one condition and that was to commit that I would undertake some Corporate Social Responsibility Program which involved Giving Back to Society. Which 20 year old would want to let go a 10 day all expense paid holiday by saying NO! just to avoid Interactive Tourism. Naturally I explored the web and having heard that strange eastern word ‘karma’ many times, I homed on to Karma Tourism. The avenues were fascinating and having discussed my tour plan with our local agent, I followed his advise to select one of the CSR Programs on offer as a volunteer for 2 of the ten days. Migod!! That was perhaps the best decision I took, coz those two days were a combo of fabulous fun and karmic delight spending time with special children. I have promised to do fundraising in College for the Indian NGO and I am definitely forming long term associations with ‘my’ children.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Responsible Tour Operator India

Hi!! When the four of us planned a visit for fun and frolic in Goa, India, we felt that we should indulge in some meaningful social activity and give back to that lovely seaside paradise. We decided to track CSR Opportunities in India for this in addition to Responsible Tourism India which a friend recently returned from India had suggested. Both were wonderful and we realised that the input was not just about CSR but also gave us access to Responsible Tour Operator India. This operator has re-defined and is pioneering CSR work on travel routes. As the trip organiser I sent in my request, and …… options for Sustainable Tourism India flowed in from them. What I liked about the whole thing was that they labelled our holiday ‘ sand and soul’ and that’s when I knew our group had hit a jackpot and whatever social experience this operator organised would be satisfying. As I write this on my return, take it from me, the Goa sands and the CSR soul were absolutely delightful.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Responsible Tours India

Have you ever been to India??? Well I have been there numerous times. The place is nuts. Only God knows how everything keeps running and remain in place and the people have this strange ‘chill’ attitude … they call it ‘chalta hai’ or something like that. Well, so when I thought of participating in some kind of CSR Activity in India or CSR Initiatives in India as some may like to say, I thought I would be drowned out in the ‘chalta hai’ approach. Surprise!!! I hit this Responsible Tours India and magic happens. Its like some organised CSR India has opened up and I get to see multiple options at multiple tourist destinations all in one place. I contacted them and wow! did they not just give me a feel good reply, they organised the entire volunteer program to suit my sight seeing itinerary. I feel so happy and elated that I contributed my bit and will get to see it again when I visit India again.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Corporate Social Responsibility India

As a student of social welfare and member of our college ‘Help Group’, we delegated selection of suitable social projects for visits and volunteer work within our group coming to India. A majority of this selection team wanted all of us to peruse the site which opened up on browsing Corporate Social Responsibility India, Corporate Social Responsibility in India and CSR Companies in India. It became apparent that only one travel agent had a dedicated CSR department and was offering his clients an array of options to visit, interface or even volunteer with grass root level NPOs in the tour circuit we had planned. The Corporate Social responsibility Tour by one of our colleagues also focused onto this agent. We took a chance and threw in our lot for a holiday trip with an exclusive social-cum-rural interaction covering a full day at a place of their choosing. They reverted with location and choice options instead, and I am very elated to state that on return from our sojourn, we are so very satisfied at the opportunity and organisation of our social day. It passed so fast and we made so many friends. India, is truly, beautiful …….

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Socially Responsible Tours In India

Hi! When my friend recently returned form an India holiday, he told me to browse through Socially Responsible Tours in India and Socially Responsible Travel India. I thought as always these two would also be lame duck SEOs with nothing to offer. How totally was I wrong!! The site gave me access to Social Footprints in India wherein I was made privy to a host of NGOs working with normal and special children as well as animal welfare. What a variety of option and with a full photographic display of events and interactions, the link also gave me the single point of contact to facilitate any social work in India. This was perhaps the only travel agent who I could classify in my list of Socially Responsible Companies in India. I chose them to plan my holiday and while the holiday was incredible, I felt ‘karmic’ peace in my brief but planned social visits to charities in Goa and Delhi. Well done! Is all I can say to this travel agent is that …..… you are making a difference !!!