| Film Crews in Peru with Leap Local's Volunteers |
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Leap Local’s volunteer projects in Peru have attracted interest from two international documentary film makers. They were attracted to Leap because of its unique relationships with local communities. This led to Leap working with Imaginative Traveller to improve conditions for local communities and provide volunteer opportunities for tourists, in a community led way.
The local community of Cachiaccata became known to Leap through its founder Louise Norton’s extensive network of contacts in Peru. The Cachiaccata community asked Louise about the possibility of getting support to build composting toilets. Imaginative Traveller contacted Leap to build a volunteer program in Peru at around the same time. Leap and Imaginative Traveller together became the organizational vehicle through which the project could be realized. The project is in the early stages, but is already adding value with the construction of eleven bathrooms by our first two groups of volunteers from August and October 2006. The first film crew, from Revelator Pictures, is making a documentary about the people who live and work in the Sacred Valley and on the Inka Trail. They filmed a group of volunteers and local people working on one of the composting toilets. These facilities are built by volunteers and local communities working side by side, using local materials and techniques. The film crew interviewed both tourists and locals from the community of Cachiccata and joined in the start of a celebratory fiesta at the end of the week’s building. One volunteer, Margaret McGarry, commented to Klever Marca, the Local Leap manager: ‘I talk of this summer's experience often to friends, family, and to my students… I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to come and work in your community. I learned a lot from you.’ <>The second documentary maker, Tori Hogan, whose project can be seen at www.beyondgoodintentions.org , is taking a round the world trip to document when aid organizations work well. Leap Local director Louise Norton talked to her about the importance of local involvement in every stage of the bathroom project. She said:“The suggestion for building composting toilets came spontaneously from the women of the community, which until now had no sanitary facilities. Meetings were held to plan the design of the bathrooms and how and where to build them.” At the request of the local people, a bathroom is being built in each house, starting with the people who helped in the construction of the first bathrooms. Tori was shown a bathroom by a community member who said: “I am really proud of my bathroom. Things have been much the same here for the last couple of years but these bathrooms are the biggest thing that has happened recently.” The tourists each make a greatly valued donation that covers materials and other costs of the project. Both documentaries are expected to be finished at the end of 2007. They will be shown on PBS in the US and Revelator Pictures will show its film at film festivals internationally. We actively support media which helps inform tourists about their trips abroad, which we hope will help achieve more sustainable tourism which is less environmentally and socially disruptive. We look forward to welcoming more volunteers for community led projects in 2007, in collaboration with Imaginative Traveller.
Leap Local The volunteering projects are one part of Leap’s responsible tourism activities. The organization is also finalizing a web-based system that is being designed to help direct revenue from tourism back into the local communities. This is expected to be fully launched in early 2007, though a beta version is available now at www.leaplocal.org. Bookings for volunteer projects go through Imaginative Traveller, though information is regularly updated at Leap Local’s website. Imaginative Traveller Clients of Imaginative Traveller can take part in the bathroom project before a two-week tour of the jungle and mountains of Peru. They stay in the community campsite, which has warm showers, and are cooked for by professional cooks from the community. As well as improving hygiene facilities in the community and learning local natural building techniques, they have a great chance to get closer to local people and see rural life in the Andes. More information on www.imaginative-volunteers.com Add this page to your favourite Social Bookmarking websites:         |
