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ABN FOUNDATION<br />
LAUNCHING OFFICIALLY IN APRIL 2017,<br />
THE ABN FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT<br />
ORGANISATION THAT AIMS TO SUPPORT<br />
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, RURAL<br />
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EFFORTS.<br />
As a company, Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation has always prided itself<br />
on adhering strongly to the principles<br />
of responsible tourism. Since our<br />
inception, we have invested heavily<br />
in many rural community development<br />
initiatives; one such example is our<br />
choice to train and employ young men<br />
and women from villages in hospitality<br />
and English language skills.<br />
In April 2017, we are taking our<br />
existing efforts a step further and<br />
formalising ABN’s philanthropy into a<br />
legitimate charitable body, the ABN<br />
Foundation.<br />
With the aim to support wildlife<br />
conservation, rural community<br />
development and environmental<br />
protection efforts, ABN Foundation<br />
pledges to contribute 5% of every<br />
tour booked with Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation to fund these causes.<br />
By travelling with Assam Bengal<br />
Navigation on the Brahmaputra and<br />
Ganges rivers and to the UNESCO<br />
World Heritage sites of Kaziranga<br />
and Manas national parks, you can<br />
be assured that your support of our<br />
cruises and boutique lodges will be<br />
paid forward to the villages,<br />
forest officials and other NGOs<br />
operating in these areas.<br />
EXISTING AND<br />
PLANNED INITIATIVES<br />
Through Assam Bengal Navigation’s<br />
15-year history, we have been involved<br />
in hospitality and English language<br />
training, women’s empowerment<br />
through the set-up of weaving microenterprises,<br />
talent development,<br />
reforestation programs and education<br />
sponsorships.<br />
The planned initiatives for 2017<br />
include investments in health<br />
and hygiene programs in rural<br />
communities, our fair-trade weaving<br />
unit, more education sponsorships for<br />
employees’ children and flood relief<br />
efforts. Financial contributions to local<br />
schools and the wildlife rescue centre<br />
in Kaziranga National Park will also be<br />
made. In future, ABN Foundation also<br />
plans to organise skilled volunteer<br />
programs.<br />
We believe that working in tandem<br />
with rural communities and local<br />
non-profit organisations is one of the<br />
most effective ways by which we can<br />
foster the growth of sustainable and<br />
responsible tourism in India.We are<br />
dedicated to positively impacting lives<br />
and livelihoods in the communities<br />
along the rivers and national parks we<br />
operate in.<br />
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