We believe in collaboration, we find inspiring innovative organisations to link with.
Our Community Partners
“We believe that through empowered collaboration meaningful long lasting change can take place. We choose to support existing organisations rather than starting our own independent initiatives. Our approach is informed by listening to our partners in Malawi, using our staff to provide cultural insight and committing to long term relationships.”
How we choose who to work with in Malawi
When we arrived in Malawi Kate met a Malawian lady called Chimwemwe. They spent many months visiting a variety of community initiatives and out of around 20 chose to work with 3. We promised them long term commitment in return for business ideas and involvement in Malawi’s growing tourism industry. No quick fix solution, just collaboration and partnership. 12 years on we still work with those 3 communities. We occasionally work with other established organisations for our bespoke expeditions but never start our own projects- we believe in collaboration.
How does ecotourism benefit our community partners?
Quite simply every time our clients are hosted by the communities we work with we pay for this visit. Charged at an average of $20 per person for a day visit and $60 for a homestay visit this money is invoiced to us and we pay- just like a business transaction. #tradenotaid
The Challenges to Ecotourism…
How do you track the impact? Very difficult to do this with ecotourism funds as the relationship is based on trust and transparency- just like any other business transaction. We did a full impact assessment of our ecotourism work in 2017- please email us for a copy!
How do you know the money paid is being equitably divided and used to empower and develop the community you are working with? In short, we don’t. But our relationships and continued collaboration are based on trust and a belief that the organisations we have chosen to work with are doing incredible work within their communities- just like any other business how they choose to spend their earnings is largely up to them and we choose to respect that.
Community Initiative for Self Reliance (CISER)
CISER is based near Mangochi town on the southern shores of Lake Malawi. CISER is spear headed by local Malawian boat builder Joseph Makwakwa. Kate met Joseph in 2008 and instantly struck up a rapport. CISER was the first community initiative RSC/Orbis started working with and the organisation has grown in leaps and bounds over the past 12 years.
CISER youth work across their communities disseminating projects in healthcare, environmental awareness and education. The organisation also spear headed the creation of a village secondary school which is built on Joseph’s land.
Ecotourism
Orbis visitors can book a half day or full day visit to CISER. Accompanied by a CISER guide you can take part in number of village activities including cooking a local meal with a Malawian family, visiting the Fish Conservation programme, time spent at the primary and/or secondary school, playing village sports and assisting CISER youth with the nursery reading programme. $20 per person is paid by Orbis to CISER for hosting you. #tradenotaid
Rainbow Hope Secondary School (RHSS)
7 yrs of collaboration between RSC/Orbis Clients and CISER and Rainbow Hope now provides a quality education for 200+ students- 55 students are sponsored through RSC clients. Visitors are welcome to spend time at the school working with the students playing sports or supporting the admin department. ($20 per person applies) #tradenotaid
How you can get involved?
Sponsor a student: Contact us for more information.
Add an ecotourism visit to your itinerary.
Book onto an Orbis Impact Expedition and use your skills
We are currently fundraising £3,000 to support the completion of a solar plant to provide access to borehole water for the permaculture garden. The Orbis Foundation.
Youth for Development and Empowerment (YODEP)
When we first visited YODEP the young people inspired us by their determination to stand on their own two feet and try and mobilise their community to get out of the grips of poverty. We knew we wanted to work with this group and have been partners through ecotourism since 2008.
Based close to Zomba Town in Southern Malawi, the youth team work across their communities with projects in healthcare, education and mobilising village banking initiatives.
Ecotourism
Orbis visitors can book a half day or full day visit to YODEP. Accompanied by a YODEP guide you can take part in a number of village activities including cooking a local meal with a Malawian family, taking part in the village banking initiative, time spent at the nursery school, playing village sports and assisting YODEP youth across their community projects. There is also a chance to see some traditional dancing. Perfect for a family visit! $20 per person is paid by Orbis to YODEP for hosting you. #tradenotaid
Homestays
The first of it’s kind in Malawi. Spend the night(s) with a local family within the YODEP catchment- village air bnb style! Join a family with thieir family routine in the fields, help prepare the evening meal and sleep in a room in their home (brick or mud building). Go to bed at sunset and rise at dawn to the hustle and bustle of village life. $60 is paid by Orbis to YODEP for hosting you. #tradenotaid (mosquito nets and mattresses provided)
How you can get involved
Book onto an Orbis Impact Expedition and use your skills to assist the YODEP team. Finance skills especially useful.
We are looking for journalists and photographers to take part in our village homestay scheme so we can improve our marketing efforts and increase our numbers. Get In Touch.
Book onto The Orbis Trail Challenge and run with the YODEP village community.
