15 May 2023
Intrepid Travel's not-for-profit is taking a new direction in 2023. With the appointment of a new General Manager and a suite of new NGO projects, the Intrepid Foundation will invest in more people and causes than ever before.
The Intrepid Foundation, the not-for-profit entity of Intrepid Travel, is introducing 22 new NGO partners in 2023. The new partnerships bring the total number of Foundation projects to 36, the largest suite of projects in its 20+ year history.
Projects will now span every continent and cover issues that include conservation and wildlife, gender equality, human rights, youth empowerment, climate action, economic development, and emergency appeals. Many of the new partners were sourced by Intrepid's local team members and are primarily smaller, local organisations that would otherwise not receive international attention or support.
In addition to the new partnerships, Intrepid is now making a donation on behalf of every Intrepid traveller on every trip, which will result in more than AU$700,000 donated from Intrepid Travel to NGO partners and contribute significantly to its $2M AUD annual donation target in 2023.
The Intrepid Foundation, which was set up in 1999 and has donated over $12M AUD in the past 20 years, empowers travellers to deepen their impact and support economic, social, and environmental causes through donations, awareness, and education.
In December 2022, the Intrepid Foundation welcomed its new General Manager, Biheng Zhang, to grow the Foundation's global reach and deepen the connection between Intrepid customers, local issues, and partners. Zhang has over 10 years' experience working across corporate social responsibility and philanthropy for many influential organisations.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Foundation has already raised AU$308,000 through its recent Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Appeal, which includes matched donations from Intrepid.
New Partners Include:
- Vun Art (Paired with Vietnam Discovery and other select Intrepid tours)
Vun Art empowers individuals with disabilities by providing job training and employment opportunities in Vietnam. There are approximately seven million people with disabilities living in Vietnam, and of them only 36% are employed. This is largely due to the lack of suitable jobs and the prevalent social stigmas. Donations made by the Intrepid Foundation directly support Vun Art's training programs, transportation and equipment, aimed to expand cultural and creative employment to different abled individuals.
- Gastromotiva (Paired with Real Mexico and other select Intrepid tours)
Organisations like Gastromotiva are supporting the worldwide social gastronomy movement by promoting the transformative power of food through social inclusion and zero-waste. In Mexico, 23.5% of people are living in food poverty. The Intrepid Foundation has partnered with Gastromotiva on its 'Cocinas Solidarias' initiative to provide vulnerable communities with daily nutritious and balanced meals, further generating income by employing alumni of the program.
- Patinaai Osim (Paired with Premium Kenya and other select Intrepid tours)
Patinaai Osim is supporting indigenous Maasai women to create sustainable livelihoods, rising above poverty and gender inequality in a patriarchal society. The Intrepid Foundation's donations directly fund educational and healthcare resources provided by Patinaai Osim to give Indigenous women and girls in Kenya a safe space to access aid and become changemakers in their communities.
- Greening Australia (Paired with Red Centre Explorer and other select Intrepid tours)
The Intrepid Foundation partners with Greening Australia to restore Australian ecosystems faced with complex environmental challenges. Using science-based solutions, Greening Australia provides more than just trees. They support native wildlife, increase biodiversity, improve water quality and sequester carbon on a massive scale to create a future where nature and humans can thrive in Australia.
See the full list of NGO partners at www.theintrepidfoundation.org. Learn more on how Intrepid works with the Intrepid Foundation at https://www.intrepidtravel.com/intrepid-foundation.
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About Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a world leader in sustainable experience-rich travel that has been taking travellers to discover the world's most amazing places for more than 30 years. The company's mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel. The company offers more than 1,150 trips on every continent, each designed to truly experience local culture. With its own network of destination management companies in 28 countries, Intrepid has unique local expertise and perspectives. Globally renowned as a leader in responsible travel, in 2018 the carbon-neutral business became the world's largest travel company to be certified B-Corp. Intrepid Travel is the only global tour operator with verified science-based carbon reduction targets and its not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has raised more than $12 million for more than 130 charities around the world. For further information download the company's 2022 Integrated Annual Report and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or LinkedIn.
About The Intrepid Foundation
The Intrepid Foundation is the not-for-profit arm of Intrepid Travel, the world's largest adventure travel company, on a mission to create positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection. The registered charity does this by carefully selecting local partners who are creating positive solutions across a range of issues impacting the communities Intrepid travellers visit, from inequality and economic development to environmental restoration and wildlife protection. Since its inception in 2002, the Intrepid Foundation has raised over AU $12 million for more than 130 partners around the world. Intrepid Travel absorbs all administration costs so that 100% of donations can go directly to community causes. The company also makes a donation on behalf of every customer and each of its 1000+ itineraries is aligned to a local or global partner. Read the 2022 Integrated Annual Report, follow the Intrepid Foundation on Facebook and Instagram and Intrepid Travel on Twitter and LinkedIn for more information.
