Impact Projects
Connecting travel & tourism to the UN SDGs
Yugen Earthside is a Social Purpose Corporation. We donate more than 1% of Gross Profits to social and environmental projects supporting sustainable tourism development. These initiatives are in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Yugen Earthside strives to positively impact SDG #11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities.
From screening trip operators to helping travelers find responsible trips, we want tourism to be a force for good in cities and communities all over the world.
2022 Impact Project Donations
Here are the organizations we supported in our first year of contributing to impact projects.
These projects are incremental to our Climate Impact efforts which earn us a net zero certification.
Center for Responsible Travel
The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is a global non-profit that “promotes responsible travel where local communities thrive and steward cultural resources and biodiversity.”
We donated $50 which was generously triple-matched by CREST board members for a total impact of $150 supporting SDG #11 – Sustainable Cities & Communities.
We only count the $50 donation toward our annual donation goal.
Galapagos Conservation Trust
In honor of where the highest number of customers booked trips in 2022, we donated £75 ($91) to the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), a UK-based non-profit focused on environmental and wildlife protection.
The GCT supports SDG #14 – Life Below Water and SDG #15 – Life on Land with its work to “protect the vulnerable ecosystems found on Galapagos by conserving species, restoring habitats and driving sustainable solutions.”
Women in Travel CIC
The bold mission of Women in Travel CIC is to “Empower Women through Employability & Entrepreneurship in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality.”
We donated £125 ($153) to Women in Travel throughout the year to support the social goals of SDG #5 – Gender Equality and SDG #10 – Reduced Inequalities.
We do not count the $153 toward our annual donation goal as the company received event access and mentorship in return.
How it Works
Research
We conduct research to understand the biggest problems tourism causes (or can cause) in the countries where we offer tours.
Partner
We partner with local organizations and NGOs doing reputable, verifiable work to help combat those problems.
Donate
We donate a percentage of our profits to our partner organizations. We will be completely transparent about the amounts and partners.
Examples of Projects
Below are examples of the types of projects, in line with the SDGs, that we may donate to in the future.
SDG #5 – Gender Equality
- Training more female tour guides in destinations
- Empower entrepreneurial women through grants
- Contribute to gender training programs
SDG #6 – Clean Water & Sanitation
- Reduce water scarcity by investing in water flow restrictors to ensure no shortages for locals
- Donate to wastewater management projects
SDG #7 – Affordable & Clean Energy
- Supporting solar panels & green energy projects
- Investing in local organizations focused on renewable energy
SDG #9 – Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
- Build more charging stations for electric vehicles
- Help repair roads to ease access for locals and tourists
SDG #10 – Reduced Inequalities
- Pay for training to help locals achieve higher management positions, i.e. in hotels
- Donate to educational programs to uplift women
Do you have an impact project suggestion?
You are our best resource! What problems did you see on your travels? Do you know of, or have you worked with, an organization doing amazing work toward sustainable tourism development? Let us know!