Destinations
Regional Travelers' Philanthropy Initiatives
Dogon Country is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is experiencing a steady increase in tourism, with currently averages up to 50,000 visitors per year. Tourism has helped local economic growth and development, but at the same time has lead to environmental degradation such as increased deforestation, usage of already precious resources like water, and proliferation of nonbiodegradable products like plastic water bottles.
In order to preserve and conserve the natural environment, the traditional architecture, and the age-old traditions and rituals of mask dances and ancestral worship, that draw visitors from around the world, travelers have an opportunity to give back to the people and region that welcomed them with open arms and show that they care by making a donation to the Dogon Travelers Donation Fund.
Examples of projects that need your support include building wells and schools, micro-credit lending, midwifery training, and improving agricultural production.
How It Works
The Dogon Travelers Donation Fund connects donors � travelers and tourism operators alike � with community-based projects in villages throughout the Bandiagara escarpment. Donations are not currently collected in Mali. You can select specific projects you want to support online via a Traveler Philanthropy section on our website, www.dogoncountry.com.
Examples of the potential uses of your hard-earned money include:
$25 buys cinema tickets for two, or 40 fruit trees or school supplies for three children for one quarter.
$65 buys dinner for two at a restaurant, or enough fertilizer for four hectares of crops.
$125 buys one ticket to a concert, or allows for two hectares of dune stabilization.
Protecting Your Investment
Our projects are 100% guaranteed. All projects supported by the Dogon Travelers Donation Fund undergo compliance checks to ensure they have a bona fide charitable purpose, generate positive outcomes, and meet applicable laws relating to international philanthropy.
About Us
USAID, Global Sustainable Tourism Alliance (GSTA), the Malian Tourism Board (OMATHO) and Sustainable Travel International are working together to promote sustainable development in Dogon Country through visitor support and the creation of the Dogon Travelers Donation Fund.
Direct beneficiaries include the NGOs Via Sahel, Bilou Toguna and Joliba Trust who manage grassroots projects that are designed to foster self-reliance and enhance the environment and well-being of local residents in the Pays Dogon region of Mali
For More Information
Visit www.dogoncountry.com.
