Travelers' Philanthropy Handbook - Center for Responsible Travel

which was completed in 1993. From the beginning, the mission of the Center was to serve as aneducational resource to support conservation at Selva Verde. However, it was not clear how theCenter would be financed or what programs it should offer. In addition to the library, the Centerhad volunteers teaching English and a scholarship program, financed by visitors that underwrotethe costs for local youth to attend high school.Most of the funding to cover the initial, very modestoperations of the Center came from Holbrook Traveland Selva Verde Lodge, either through company orguest donations or donations in kind. In 2002, one ofthe Center’s Directors, Polly Hunt, decided to offercultural and educational activities to U.S. travelers,especially groups of high school students andteachers. And a marriage made in heaven was born.Holbrook was working with many educational groupsand the Center began generating enough income tosupport its operational costs through such offerings as:local dance classes, service activities in the Sarapiquiarea, etc.Kids environmental education camp, Costa Rica.Credit: Holbrook Travel• How Do You Select Projects?SCLC offers both “programs” in the form of courses run by the Center for members of thecommunity and “projects” which are community service activities undertaken by tour groups underthe umbrella of SCLC’s Rural Community Tourism.How we selected the programs we offer at the Center: The programs offered at the Center haveevolved over its 15 year history. The library was the initial undertaking because Bertha Carter’sgroup of young naturalists asked for it. The English classes were added because the firstvolunteers and directors of the Center believed the classes fulfilled an important need. Skilledvolunteers from the U.S. and Canada with ESL experience are relatively easy to find so it was asimple program to add. The Scholarship program and After School Program evolved out of theCenter’s work with young people.How we select service projects or other community works: Over time, the Center identified severalcommunities in the area that became the focus of our Rural Community Tourism work. They werechosen because both their proximity and their needs are a good match to the Center’s capacities.These communities have local leaders with whom the Center maintains contact through regularmeetings. One of the only 3 paid employees at the Center is responsible for cultivatingrelationships with community leaders so that we will be informed about local needs andresources.Revenue is generated from travelers from the U.S. and Canada who pay to participate in the widerange of rural community activities offered through SCLC. These include classes in handicrafts,cooking, ‘charlas’ (informal chats with community members), Latin dance classes, school or farmvisits, etc. The classes cost $8 or $10 each, and the revenue is divided between the Center andthe community members who lead the classes. In addition, SCLC also offers extendedexperiences with local families through both home stays and community based tourism, wherevisitors take part in a range of community activities. These run from one day to one week, andcost between $15 and $25 per day. SCLC also offers half ($15) or full day ($20) community48