The Tribes Foundation
The Tribes Foundation

Here are some examples of the kind of projects which The Tribes Foundation backs, and which your money could benefit.

All the projects have a link with tourism in some way, and many benefit the wider world as well as local people, through conserving areas of natural beauty.

Anyone can apply to the foundation for backing if their project fits the aims. Many of the projects currently marked for help have been put forward by tourism companies within the relevant countries, who are themselves approached for help by their local communities. Parts of the tourism industry really do want to help improve life for local people affected by their presence. With your help The Tribes Foundation will help them achieve this.

Encourage sustainable use of natural resources

 

PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE & ECOLOGICAL BIODIVERSITY

 

Encouraging all aspects of the earth's diversity is vastly important. Without diversity of people and their cultures, and the environment, our world would be a much poorer place.

Instead of 'western' values being encouraged as the norm, The Tribes Foundation believes that it is good to back local, tribal, indigenous or traditional cultural heritage. This could mean funding projects to save sites of cultural importance (buildings, monuments, forests etc). Projects which encourage pride to be taken in, and gains to be made from, traditional skills, languages, songs, arts, crafts or values could also bring benefit.

Ecological biodiversity is key to a world of infinite variety. Aiming to protect habitats and wildlife (in cooperation with local communities), The Tribes Foundation considers projects which encourage sustainable use of natural resources. This may be through education of local people (e.g. coral is thought to be a stone in some places, therefore reefs are plundered), or backing projects which offer better alternatives than, say, logging or oil extraction (both of which are usually devastating for the environment).

Preserve cultural heritage

 

EDUCATION

 

The Tribes Foundation believes that charity should begin at home. To this end, up to 10% of funds collected are spent in the UK to help with education particularly linked to global cultural diversity.

The need for funds to educate the young in many developing countries is a huge issue. Without education young people stand little chance of escaping the poverty trap into which so many are born. In turn this impacts on wider issues, as protection of the environment is of little interest when basic necessities of life are hard to come by. We back the development of schools, both in terms of buildings and equipment, and also sponsor individuals' education where appropriate.

Bring a more hopeful future through education

 

POVERTY ALLEVIATION

 

The Tribes Foundation prefers to fund medium to long-term poverty relief projects which have a strong element of sustainability and self-help, and which are done very much in conjunction and cooperation with the local communities. For example, teaching appropriate skills to community learning circles with the aim of them tackling some of their issues themselves; helping equip or build rural clinics; initiating tourism projects which can bring money into a community; helping sell locally made arts and crafts; improving infrastructure such as roads and access to water.

Help the poor to help improve their own lives

©The Tribes Foundation