Travelers' Philanthropy Handbook - Center for Responsible Travel

with a secondary school and a hub of elementary schools nearby, good local leadership, andinterest and participation from the villagers.READ contracts directly with villagers to build the library/community centers. The villageregisters and becomes an NGO, and opens up a bank account. Villagers also choose amanagement committee (LMC), and 1/3 of this committee must be women. READ works withthe LMC members and others in the community to build and stock the library, train the locallibrarian, and provide support and monitoring after the center is finished. READ also seeds thelocal business selected to be the sustaining project. Before construction begins, all villagestakeholders have to sign a contract, so their roles and responsibilities are clearly understoodand delineated.The READ library community center benefits most people in the community. Students havebooks to enjoy, teachers have reference materials, pre-schoolers have books and toys, allpeople have access to computers and audio-visual materials, and adults also have access tobooks and information – all in the local language.The sustaining project not only supports the READ Center, but often generates extra money forother community activities – stipends for poor children, jobs, a pre-school teacher – whateverthe community wishes.• How are Your Employees and Your Company Involved in Traveler’s Philanthropy?Myths and Mountains supports READ in numerous ways.ooooooooooStaff volunteer their time to help with local READfundraisers, particularly the large fundraiser heldin Incline Village, Nevada.Myths operates 2-3 READ trips a year to sites inNepal and Bhutan, and each participant donatesmoney to READ in order to travel on the program.Myths president, Toni Neubauer, donates hertime to travel on the READ trips.Myths and Mountains’ actively encourages itsclients to contribute to READ and givesinformation about the program to every traveler.Myths helps READ design trips for special donorson request.With the permission of its travelers, Myths sharesdatabase information with READ.Children at READ Global event, Nepal.Credit: Toni NeubauerMyths regularly donates a portion of its earnings to READ.Myths generates publicity for READ and READ travel through its marketing and PR.Myths includes mention of READ in its catalog and on its itineraries.In countries where Myths and READ operate, Myths operators have also helped the incountryREAD staff to service potential donors and others, guide them around thecountry, and show them READ Centers.39