Shared value with rural Shared value with rural communitiescommunities

Richard HearnRichard Hearn

From chance to enterprise

• The Indian Himalayas

• Response to cry for help

• Team of complementary skills

• Funding, private v institutional

• Creation of committees, co-operatives, SHGs

• Business structure; community to holding company

Community development

• Community tourism structure

• A growing role for women

• Inter-village relations

• Training in hosting, guiding, food & hygiene, housekeeping & accounting

Local economic benefit

• Guesthouse ownership and business equity

• Direct & indirect employment

• Local suppliers

Project to product

• Community need & will to engage

• Base line survey

• Market possibilities

• Product design for market

• Route to market

Growing niche of purposeful travel

• Fostering village life & traditions

• Cultural exchange at the core

• Slow journey, deep immersion

• Desire to repeat experience

• Sense of privilege

Shared value at the heart of the business

• Social enterprise

• Enlightened self interest

• Community benefit fundamental to company profit

The ProjectsBinsar Sanctuary

• Kumaon Hills, India

• Loss of traditional livelihoods & depopulation through economic migration

• 2006 - 5 villages, 5 guest-houses

• 2011 – 6th guest-house

• Walking holidays

The ProjectsSaryu Valley

• Kumaon Hills, India

• Regional Govt policy to generate micro-enterprise in remote hills - partnership

• 2009 - 2 villages, 2 guest-houses, 1 tented camp

• 2012 – 3rd & 4th guest-houses

• Walking & special interest holidays

The ProjectsThar Desert

• Rajasthan, India

• Individual entrepreneur with social concerns

• 2011 - 1 village, 1 guest-house, 1 mobile camp

• 2012 – 2nd guest-house

• Holiday, living/understanding desert life

The ProjectsSirsi Spice Gardens

• Karnataka, India

• Loss of traditional revenue, spice plantations

• 2010 - 1 village, 1 guest-house

• 2012 – 2nd guest-house

• Relaxing holiday, cooking courses, gentle exploration

The ProjectsKettuvallam on the backwaters

• Kerala, India

• Group of villages by-passed by thriving tourism market

• 2011 - 4 villages, 1 house-boat

• 2012 – 1 guest-house

• Relaxing holiday, journeying by boat from village to village

The ProjectsMeket & Tigray

• Highlands, Ethiopia

• Working with existing NGO, TESFA

• 2008 - 4 villages Meket, 4 guest-houses

• 2010 – 4 villages Tigray, 4 guest-houses

• 2012 – raising standards & developing 2 guest-houses

• Walking & trekking holidays

The ProjectsOl Donyo Wasin

• Northern Rangelands, Kenya

• Working with NRT conservation trust

• 2012 – building 2 guest-houses with Samburu communities

• Walking & discovery holidays

Future challenges• Step-up to international business

• Recruitment

• Better & stronger administration

• Training & standards

• No deflection

• Work in common with other environmental, conservation & socially focused businesses

& provide economic benefit & provide economic benefit to the host communitiesto the host communities