As we working from delicate areas such as deprived communities and threatened forests, we take the social and environmental impacts of our work very seriously, and we do our best to make sure that every aspect of our operation is sustainable and ethical.We actively promote and support the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals.
We only partner with NGOs who are part of the credibility alliance (this is a process whereby the bona fides of the NGO are checked out, to ensure that the organisations are genuine). All our project partnerships have grown over time, with a view to mutual benefit. By mutual benefit, we mean that all our projects have been developed with the benefit for the community AND the experience for our participants equally in mind.
Our projects have been developed in partnership with established local initiatives or ongoing international support networks. This is to ensure that the work our teams do can and will be maintained throughout the year.
Project plans are developed with our local partners with a long term vision in mind - anything from 5 years and upwards. We also ensure that the work the teams will do is realistic and appropriate, i.e. suitable for our teams, but at the same time is not taking away work from locals.
Our participants' project donations help to ensure that funds are available throughout the year to maintain the work done by teams. These funds are either channeled through our very own charity Sustainable tourism trust, or our partner charities.
Other project partners and supporters include Central Himalayan Rural Action Group,Rashtriya Mahila Kalyan Mandal, Don Bosco Home for Disadvantaged, Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan Mandal, Grassroots India, iVolunteer and Bir Tibetan Society to name a few. We partner with around 30 organisations.
ViaDesh's expeditions work with local operators at all times (drivers, guides, porters etc.), and pay more than a fair fee for their work.
Group sizes are kept to acceptable levels, to minimize our impact on trekking routes and project sites.
We encourage all our participants to offset the carbon on their flights, and demand that all our staff do.
We also keep our Delhi base so as to have a minimum impact on the environment.
We are conscious that there is always more we can do, and welcome suggestions and recommendations. You can write suggestions to jamal@viadesh.com
We are conscious that there is always more we can do, and welcome suggestions and recommendations. You can write suggestions to jamal@viadesh.com
