15 DAyS - STA Travel
15 DAyS - STA Travel
15 DAyS - STA Travel
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4<br />
‘PLANETERRA IS A LABOUR OF LOVE AND<br />
A DREAM THAT CAME TOGETHER IN 2003<br />
BASED ON OUR BELIEF THAT PEOPLE AND<br />
THE PLANET SHOULD BE AS IMPORTANT<br />
AS PROFIT IN THE TRAVEL BUSINESS.<br />
WORKING TOGETHER WITH TRAVELLERS<br />
LIKE YOU ALLOWS US ALL TO GIVE BACK TO<br />
THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT PROVIDE<br />
US WITH UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES<br />
THROUGH THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF SHARING<br />
THEIR CULTURE.’<br />
Bruce poon tIp, founder,<br />
plAneterrA<br />
A perfect pArtnerShIp<br />
<strong>STA</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> has embarked on a responsible travel journey, partnering with Planeterra; a non-profit travellers’ organisation<br />
focused on global community development and sustainability. This new partnership will not only change the face of <strong>STA</strong> <strong>Travel</strong><br />
but enables you to connect with community and conservation projects around the world, helping you travel with purpose.<br />
Planeterra works with local partners to develop projects and direct donations to fund needs such as tools, materials and other<br />
items that keep projects going. They also develop volunteer programs so that people can visit a project, live onsite or with a<br />
local family, and contribute to the wellbeing of the community.<br />
Since 2003, Planeterra has developed over 25 projects spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas – and now with <strong>STA</strong><br />
<strong>Travel</strong> as a partner, there are close to 80 volunteering projects. This is the launch of a totally new type of travel experience; a<br />
credible, authentic and real opportunity for you to give back directly. <strong>STA</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> has committed US$1 million to the partnership<br />
with Planeterra to develop these new volunteer travel programs and support communities around the world.<br />
In addition to this investment, our goal this year is to raise US$120,000 to support the building of a community tourism<br />
training centre on Koh Phra Thong Island in tsunami-affected Thailand. The centre will be accessible to communities throughout<br />
southern Thailand, providing a way for them to increase income and sustainable tourism in the area. Want to help at our<br />
volunteer project? We wholeheartedly welcome your involvement on Koh Phra Thong (see pages 14-16 in our Voluntouring<br />
brochure) and any donations made towards our project will be doubled by us, up to US$30,000 annually.<br />
There are a whole host of volunteer options to get involved in across the globe. Why not combine your stay in North America<br />
with a volunteer project in Central America? Help with endangered Sea Turtles in Costa Rica, get involved in a Jaguar and Puma<br />
Research Project in Mexico or learn Spanish and volunteer in Panama. You can also have a crack at voluntouring, where a small<br />
stint of volunteering is mixed into a group tour (see our Voluntouring brochure for more information).<br />
Our perfect partnership with Planeterra enables us to provide you with much more than travel. We’re passionate about offering<br />
you a chance to experience the real world. What you gain from giving back is seriously priceless.<br />
To view our entire range of meaningful travel options, make sure you pick up our Voluntouring brochure, packed full of<br />
volunteer and voluntour options the world over.
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