Santa Cruz Island
Lindblad Expeditions (LEX) has long believed in the importance of supporting the local communities we visit with our guests. While working on community development we apply our philosophy of giving back to the regions we travel while supporting local people through innovative projects. One way LEX has chosen to accomplish this goal is through the support of local micro-enterprise initiatives. In 2007, LEX established a foundation in Ecuador, FUDECA “Fundación de Artesanos Ecuatorianos” Ecuadorian Artisans Fund, with the main objective of supporting the development of skilled artisans. LEX founded “Reflections,” a local gallery in Galápagos, designed to promote traditional craft production in the region and to generate economic growth at the local level. “Reflections,” established as a non-profit organization, aims to create enterprise opportunities for local artisans living on the Galápagos Islands who are interested in making and selling artesian products to the growing tourism sector. Through assistance with product creation and design, as well as a local shop to display products, LEX hopes to encourage more local artisans to take part in this Galápagos Islands initiative. All profits are funnelled back into the community to support additional training and development of local artisans.
One of the most successful community projects is the “Glass Recycling Project”. Launched in 2008, this project is based in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. The project seeks to reuse glass waste by transforming it into jewelery, art objects and glassware which will be sold to the local tourist market. In January 2008, the first groups of artisans were trained in glass handling. From these training sessions, jewelery and other art objects have been created. Another training seminar on glass techniques was held for artisans in summer 2008.
Yesterday some of our guests visited a Glass Workshop in the Vocational School that is located in the largest High School in town “Colegio Nacional Galapagos.” Among the guests was Bruce Beckham Executive Director of Tourism Cares, a Charity Organization that made a donation to pay for part of our last glass training seminar. We spent beautiful moments watching how the already trained artisans demonstrated to us their skills.
I felt, as an Ecuadorian who believes and supports Ecotourism, particularly happy and motivated to be part of this and the other many programs Lindblad Expeditions has created to make the Galápagos a more sustainable paradise. Just take a look at this young girl guest in the picture watching Giant Tortoises in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz. This is the scene I want to see over and over in the future. With hard work, passion and care, just like in the glass recycling program, we can make things right.
Lindblad Expeditions (LEX) has long believed in the importance of supporting the local communities we visit with our guests. While working on community development we apply our philosophy of giving back to the regions we travel while supporting local people through innovative projects. One way LEX has chosen to accomplish this goal is through the support of local micro-enterprise initiatives. In 2007, LEX established a foundation in Ecuador, FUDECA “Fundación de Artesanos Ecuatorianos” Ecuadorian Artisans Fund, with the main objective of supporting the development of skilled artisans. LEX founded “Reflections,” a local gallery in Galápagos, designed to promote traditional craft production in the region and to generate economic growth at the local level. “Reflections,” established as a non-profit organization, aims to create enterprise opportunities for local artisans living on the Galápagos Islands who are interested in making and selling artesian products to the growing tourism sector. Through assistance with product creation and design, as well as a local shop to display products, LEX hopes to encourage more local artisans to take part in this Galápagos Islands initiative. All profits are funnelled back into the community to support additional training and development of local artisans.
One of the most successful community projects is the “Glass Recycling Project”. Launched in 2008, this project is based in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. The project seeks to reuse glass waste by transforming it into jewelery, art objects and glassware which will be sold to the local tourist market. In January 2008, the first groups of artisans were trained in glass handling. From these training sessions, jewelery and other art objects have been created. Another training seminar on glass techniques was held for artisans in summer 2008.
Yesterday some of our guests visited a Glass Workshop in the Vocational School that is located in the largest High School in town “Colegio Nacional Galapagos.” Among the guests was Bruce Beckham Executive Director of Tourism Cares, a Charity Organization that made a donation to pay for part of our last glass training seminar. We spent beautiful moments watching how the already trained artisans demonstrated to us their skills.
I felt, as an Ecuadorian who believes and supports Ecotourism, particularly happy and motivated to be part of this and the other many programs Lindblad Expeditions has created to make the Galápagos a more sustainable paradise. Just take a look at this young girl guest in the picture watching Giant Tortoises in the wild in the highlands of Santa Cruz. This is the scene I want to see over and over in the future. With hard work, passion and care, just like in the glass recycling program, we can make things right.
