Partners, Sponsors & Awards

Introduction

The unique private sector / community based ecotourism development model we are following can and is already producing tangible results for the Pang Soong Nature Trails attraction.

The significant challenge before us then is to prove the viability of CBET or community based ecotourism as a means of protecting the biodiversity of the remaining forest, alleviating rural poverty, and stemming the tide of rural migration to the city slums.

These goals cannot be accomplished alone. As such we heavily depend on the input, shared resources and physical support from our diverse array of sponsors and partners. Each has joined this initiative because they believe it is a viable one worth their faith, time and contributions.

Partners

At this stage our partners are locally based and listed under Our Local Partners. We welcome interest from domestic or global institutions with common objectives who feel there would be mutual benefits to be derived from a partnership with the VWB Initiative.

Sponsors

Private Sector - We must use all the resources available to us, and enlist the assistance of our more responsible, progressive and CSR orientated private sector colleagues, as partners in support of the goals we have set for this initiative.

This assistance can be provided either by direct contributions to fund the VWB Eco-English programme, or by taking one of Track of the Tiger’s ‘team building programmes’ with a CSR component that benefits project.

Another venue of support is to work with us on custom designed volunteer programmes for their staff. Programmes will also provide a dividend for the company in that they will have a refreshing and re-motivational affect on those employees who take part in them.

Note* There is a growing trend being followed by some major multinationals that allow staff to take a given number of ‘paid days off’ to attend volunteer programmes supported by the company.

Educational Institutions, NGO’s, Non Profits – Can work with us in a number of areas particularly in providing sponsored interns, access to scientists who can help with baseline studies, capacity development courses for the villagers that will assist them in acquiring the skills to work on and manage their own ecotourism attraction, and to develop value added non tourism related second revenue streams.

Institutional and industry sponsorship or grant funding is extremely helpful to projects like the VWB Initiative in that they help financially and perhaps more importantly show that we have (a) met the stringent criteria of the donor agency, (b) can show other potential donors the transparent and detailed accounting of the monies spent.

In 2006 we were fortunate enough to be awarded a US$ 10,000 grant by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Foundation. That grant was used to fund the construction materials cost, and village labour workforce payment to build the main interpretive trail surface – a 3km long, 80cm wide concrete based walkway complete with steps, bridges, railings etc. Track of the Tiger T.R.D. covered the cost of design and supervision. Grant Fund Expenditure Report.

Respected Scientists and Academics – We are developing strong relationships with many experts in various scientific fields who are contributing to the design of the educational curriculum, and to establishing baseline studies related to the biodiversity and to the socio-economic effects of ecotourism and voluntourism on the local community.

Schools and Universities

Schools and universities, both amongst our client base for field studies programmes, are a natural partners for us.

Our Eco-English programmes provides them with an excellent opportunity to combine filed studies programmes with community service, focused on building the capacity of local students to work in ecotourism and biodiversity conservation and contribute to addressing the serious environmental and socio-economic problems we all face.

They are also invaluable as fundraisers for individual projects (research based) for that will expand the research opportunities available to clients along the Pang Soong Nature Trail (Example: The construction of various hydrology research devices).

Awards are of course recognition for work well done, or a concept well implemented. They serve to help promote the project or initiative to the world audience.

Track of the Tiger T.R.D. was fortunate enough to be awarded the SKAL Ecotourism Award 2006 for concept and implementation of the VWB Initiative / Pang Soong Nature Trails project.