Phare The Cambodian Circus’ performances are not only original and deeply riveting to watch, they also support the social work of its parent non-profit Phare Ponleu Selpak and its education initiatives in Battambang. 

Amid COVID-19, Phare has been allowed to hold performances in a limited capacity. You can sponsor a Cambodian family to catch a performance, and help Phare keep the lights on on its social mission. Check Phare’s website for latest updates on operations.  

Any donation to Phare also helps bring the arts to underprivileged communities in Battambang, and develops livelihoods in theatre, graphic design and other visual arts. As the pandemic wears on, your donation can also help Phare continue to provide income and relief to its team and community.

Booking an eco-tour could help fulfill Kathy’s audacious dream - to get more shark fishermen to switch to leading such eco-tourism tours for a sustainable income.

Demand from responsible travellers like you encourages fishermen to consider eco-tourism as an alternative to hunting sharks for income.

In the long run, this could improve the situation for the shark population in the region, and result in a healthier marine ecosystem in and around Lombok.

See our story about The Dorsal Effect and its impact.

Terrapuri Heritage Village is more than just a resort — it is a conservation and restoration project breathing new life into centuries-old Terengganu houses that otherwise would have been demolished or would have fallen into ruin. Saving the architecture means preserving the cultural motifs, history, folk tales and values behind it.By booking a stay at Terrapuri, you promote heritage conservation and cultural stewardship of traditional Terengganu architecture. You also provide additional stable income for the local community. 

Amid COVID-19, you can make advance bookings to help Terrapuri to continue its projects and keep its staff employed, and enjoy your stay when travel restrictions are lifted. 

Or consider bringing a taste of Terengganu culture to your homes — shop local crafts and snacks via Terrapuri’s online stores on Shopee and Lazada (Malaysia only).

When you book a tour with Lakoat.Kujawas or shop via its social media accounts, you help to fund local children’s educational programmes like the To The Lighthouse writing club, photography exhibitions, and performing arts productions — activities that are otherwise scarce in rural Timor.

Revenues from the Lakoat.Kujawas tours, artisan food production, and tenun partnerships fund the Lakoat.Kujawas cooperative, which is a source of income for adult members. 

The cooperative is designing a collective savings programme for  Lakoat.Kujawas families.

Meet Dicky of Lakoat.Kujawas

Lakoat.Kujawas is a West Timorese literacy and archive centre that runs a monthly M’nahat Fe’u  Heritage Trail (January to August) introducing travellers to the landscapes and food heritage of the North Mollo highlands. 

The Heritage Trail trips are day trips, but an on-site homestay can be arranged for a small fee.

When the Heritage Trail is on hiatus, Lakoat.Kujawas hosts residency programmes for creative professionals and Timorese food workshops for travellers. 

When you buy something from Mekong Quilts, you support a community of women who have been able to earn a sustainable livelihood close to home, instead of leaving their families behind to find work.  

Consider also exploring the Mekong Delta region with Bernard via Mekong Quilts’ bamboo bicycles; proceeds go to Mekong Plus, Mekong Quilts’ parent organisation, which supports underprivileged communities with micro-financing, scholarships, and health, hygiene and agricultural education programmes. 

Zambawood is a social enterprise. From relaxing at the resort, to visiting the farm and harvesting the produce, to enjoying a coffee at its cafe, you are supporting a platform that gives youth with disabilities a chance to grow their skills. 

With the Philippines easing its travel restrictions, both resorts are ready to welcome tourists and employ and re-employ people with disabilities. 

Its training programme is for youth aged 18 and above who have medical clearance to work, and the duration varies — a barista programme by government agency TESDA for example, is 178 hours. The trainees graduate with a licence that certifies that they are fit and trained to work.

As of March 2022, Julyan’s Coffee Spot has rehired two of the trainees, while there are three trainees awaiting assignment at Julyan’s Garden. Rachel is in constant communication with TESDA and nearby schools for possible partnerships to train more youth.

Before the pandemic, corporate establishments such as GLOBE Telecom’s office in Makati opened their doors to Zambawood’s deaf trainees, who ran pop-up coffee kiosks on their premises. Zambawood hopes to see more corporate partnerships return as the pandemic eases. 

More than 2,000 families are involved in the CBT, which currently employs 93 people from the local community. Depending on the type, service providers receive 60-85% of the cost, with the remainder used for admin costs and reinvested into a community fund.

A visit to Habre’s Nest empowers the local community to protect the environment and the species, while uplifting local livelihoods. 

In addition to hiring locals as patrol rangers and in hospitality roles, Habre’s Nest dedicates 20 per cent of its profits to its non-profit arm, the Wildlife Awareness Trust for Empowerment and Research (W.A.T.E.R.)

Even when COVID-19 hit the tourism industry hard, Habre’s Nest continued to employ its rangers to patrol the forests for poachers.

By signing up for experiences offered through Native, you support the efforts of Orang Asli communities to share about their own cultures, while boosting their livelihoods. 

Native channels at least 40 per cent of its revenues to its Orang Asli partners. Since 2019, it has co-led close to 50 tours with Orang Asli hosts. It has worked with 15 hosts in four communities, and generated RM12,000 (US$2,880) through these experiences for its hosts, plus RM6,500 (US$1,560) for a community development fund. 

Amid the economic slump brought about by COVID-19, Native’s Biji Bumi Durian initiative generated RM30,559 (US$7,355) for 12 growers, from 3.9 tonnes of durian sold. 

Although travel to and within Malaysia is restricted at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can follow Native on their social media platforms to stay updated on their latest happenings. 

With each massage, you’re supporting a sustainable livelihood for people with disabilities. Aside from the blind, My Foot Reflexology also employs and empowers individuals with other disabilities as well as older, retrenched workers who struggle to find work. 

Read our Weekend of Good Singapore guide for more travel tips