Monthly Impact Stories

During the visit, participants learned practical skills in local governance, gaining tools to strengthen collective leadership and decision-making. Cooking classes provided fresh ideas for improving both flavor and food presentation, and the family operating Zapotal’s sugar cane mill returned home inspired after visiting a more organized mill — taking note of its clean image and green, welcoming space. One young participant shared how valuable it was to learn about quality service and client care, seeing firsthand what professionalism looks like in rural tourism. For many of the youth, this was their first experience leaving home, helping them grow in confidence while proudly representing their community.

We are excited to share a meaningful milestone from Corleone, Sicily — a town often overshadowed by negative stereotypes, but now proudly reshaping its image through community-based tourism. In collaboration with our partner organization Addiopizzo, a new community-led tour was developed using a participatory approach. For the first time, locals came together to craft an experience built on their own stories, history, and identity — reclaiming Corleone from external narratives that often reinforce prejudice. This initiative has already shown real impact. A first test group of 11 travelers explored Corleone on an e-bike tour and gave enthusiastic feedback.

We also saw firsthand how locals are taking charge of their island’s future by prioritizing eco-conscious development and keeping investments—especially in real estate—within the community. Instead of selling land to foreign buyers, they are choosing to rent, preserving local ownership and preventing the rapid changes seen in other parts of the country. Their commitment to sustainability and self-sufficiency is truly remarkable! 🌿🏡

In the indigenous community of Talamanca, we have made significant strides through several impactful initiatives. Our technical training in organic agriculture equips community members with the skills to cultivate sustainable practices, enhancing food security. Additionally, we provided economic support to purchase essential materials and inputs, empowering them to implement these agricultural techniques effectively. Furthermore, our training in sales and operations prepares the community for forging new alliances and attracting customers, ultimately fostering economic growth and sustainability. Together, these efforts promote self-sufficiency and improve the overall quality of life for the community.

After understanding the community needs, we focused on a three-day training of full organic agriculture practices to four native women which aim to produce and diversify healthy food. We have done a special training with Lucas, to learn about sales and operations and even practice to make sure all the stages were learned the right way. On the last day, we focused on English classes with Osiris, which was able to proudly show us her great skills, so we end up creating a script with the complete information for the tours done at Tsiru Ala Chocolate Farm.
We have deeply enjoyed that our involvement can improve the quality of life of this indigenous community in Costa Rica and that youngsters are learning fast and are super involved in their family projects.

In the rural town of Zapotal, Costa Rica, we support a small project featuring charming pink chalets nestled in the cloud forest. Just four days after our coordinator's September visit, Fressy celebrated a major win with their first direct booking: the Monteverde Institute, a national non-profit, confirmed bringing students to the community next year.

V Social has been working closely with the community to reduce dependency on intermediaries, helping them take control over their bookings and tourism activities. Additionally, we donated hot showers for visitors and facilitated skill-building sessions, including social media, video editing training, and two days of intensive operations and sales training with Fressy. We're optimistic that more young locals like Marco will secure jobs and stay in Zapotal.

We will continue training Marco and Fressy to enhance their skills and connect them directly with agencies, helping generate income and commercial alliances for the community.

Camila (right), a young leader at the neighborhood Museum Isla Maciel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, embarked on a journey with V Social to bring more benefits to her neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Supported by the public German exchange program ASA, she participated in a six-month exchange program, spending half of her time in the cultural hub Berlin together with her exchange tandem from Germany, a young person called Sophia with broad experience in anthropology and audiovisual production.

Camila shared: “During my project phase in Germany, I was fascinated by how independent cultural institutions operate, their interactions with artists, and their feedback mechanisms. It was surprising to find a community museum with a similar origin story to Isla Maciel. I also valued observing how these institutions engage with their communities and remain active. While community-based tourism was less common, the ASA seminars were invaluable, offering insights into dynamics related to colonization, decolonization, gender perspectives, and local community work globally. The most memorable part of those three months was the connections I made and the friendships I formed. Beyond the valuable knowledge gained, I left with lasting relationships and a deep sense of inspiration.”

In the heart of San Vicente de Caguán and Miravalle, former signatories of Colombia’s peace agreement are leading a transformative initiative: the Caguán Expeditions project. Through tourism, they’ve been building bridges of resilience within Colombian civil society, offering a new narrative after years of conflict.

This month, the project reached a significant milestone with V Social’s donation of a professional rafting boat. This gift is more than just equipment; it’s a symbol of hope and progress. It enables them to enter the sports league professionally, marking a new chapter in their journey from violence to peace.

The transition to a generation of young leaders is crucial for the longevity of a rural community. Creating spaces and opportunities for young people to strive is a clear focus for Yunguilla for this reason. In March 2024, Lizbeth, a young leader, aged 24, participated in the international tourism fair in Berlin, representing her community and gaining confidence in closing contracts with international tour operators to guarantee a constant visitor flow and income for her community.

V Social has financed the flight tickets from Ecuador to Germany and back for Lizbeth in order to guarantee her participation at the fair.

V Social is the first international organization to collaborate with Ranti, aiming to enhance the entire coffee production process from cultivation with local farmers to serving tourists. This inaugural school is fully funded by VSF, reflecting our belief in the significance of Ranti's program in empowering the younger generation with skills and opportunities beyond traditional tourism employment.

We strongly believe in peer-to-peer learning, which is why we organized a study trip for our new Community Based Project partner in Costa Rica: Isla Venado. Just as last year, V Social kicked off his activities with an exchange program to The Osa peninsula in Costa Rica, known for sustainable practices in many areas. By facilitating the sharing of insights and lessons learned from local experienced entrepreneurs at the Osa Peninsula, the exchange aims to empower the invited islanders to collectively envision and construct robust infrastructure that will not only cater to the immediate surge in tourism but also lay the foundation for sustained growth and prosperity in the future. This holistic approach ensures that the impact of the project extends far beyond the initial influx of visitors, contributing to the long-term sustainability and development of Isla Venado.

This meeting experience included a workshop marathon and two visits to local CBT organizations—Esopetera y Pirza & Ecorrieles. These visits provided invaluable insights into the learning journeys of communities committed to sustainable tourism practices that prioritize the well-being of their people. The cohesion among our invited group was immediate, and together, we enriched our understanding through the collective expertise of the international Community-Based Tourism community.

Our collaboration culminated in a significant two-day event, "Palabrendo: el turismo indigena y comunitario en America Latina," crafted in partnership with Travolution, generously sponsored by Chec, Colombia's largest hydroelectric energy provider, and hosted by the indigenous “Resguardos” of the region. This event served as a platform for robust discussions, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of innovative approaches to indigenous and community-based tourism in Latin America.

Our coordinator Ifi calls it a training marathon, which we are thrilled that we were able to accomplish it. Our coordinator Ifi traveled from the Pacific to the Atlantic to reach our beloved community in Talamanca, Costa Rica, and to meet wonderful people.

Our focus was on capacity building and training, and we were well aware of what the community needed, as they were the ones who had requested these four different workshops. Introducing these four distinct workshops on the basics of administration and accountability, basic English proficiency, and agroecology, triggered a transformative wave of change within the community. This equipped its residents with vital life skills for their projects, bridged communication barriers, promoted sustainable agriculture, and catalyzed self-reliance.

The leadership of indigenous women within the Tierra de Yaqchas Project has significantly bolstered the development of their culinary-focused tourism products, aiming to revive ancestral memories and local traditions. Thanks to the great support of our donors, V Social was able to procure kitchen equipment for the nine projects offering gastronomic experiences. Additionally, this support was complemented by specialized training in traditional and ancestral cuisine, emphasizing the use of local and organic ingredients, with consideration for vegetarian, vegan, and celiac menus. More than 80 women have benefited from these provisions, along with a group of pottery artisans. Each initiative is closely aligned with the communities' specific needs and integrated into the broader tourist offerings of the Sacred Valley. This community had been grappling with a persistent crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic and ongoing social unrest in Peru, which restricted access for tourists to this remarkable destination. With these investments and the subsequent reopening of tourism, we are actively contributing to the revitalization of this project.

V Social has donated three ecofilters to the houses where food is prepared, with the objective of reducing plastic use, fostering a better economy, and making our travelers more conscious of the value of clean water.

The filters support the Muyuche women's project, as well as the visitors that come to their homes to eat. The filters benefit directly an average of five people per family, as well as numerous visitors indirectly.

V Social enabled more than 15 people from diverse backgrounds—including doctors, environmentalists, public personnel, biologists, farmers, and local entrepreneurs—to learn from a specialist, Cynthia Castro, about reducing the gender gap in Latin America. Despite some initial difficulties, V Social was able to conduct a virtual workshop.

Cynthia is passionate about human rights, a dreamer and a social entrepreneur. She opened a discussion on the vital role everyone plays in achieving gender equality and improving relationships in Cuba. Men shared their experiences with the difficult societal expectations of being a "real man."

Participants acknowledged that gender inequality is a global issue, and one that will take a long time to fix. This workshop was one effort to think of solutions to unlearning social rules and creating a world of freedom.

Gerwin, a German V Social volunteer, is supporting the La Boquilla project in Colombia. Previously, he traveled with Viventura where he visited V Social projects in different countries. After he retired in 2021, he decided to dedicate his time to helping out with social projects. His role involved handling administrative matters and leading an English course for tour guides.

Ronnie Monsalve, the leader of Ecotours La Boquilla, expressed his gratitude for volunteers like Gerwin. With his help, the administration of the project improved, and the guides were able to offer their services to more people. Approximately 4,000 tourists visit per year, and 90% of them do not speak Spanish. Learning English is a fundamental objective for the project, as it means they do not have to outsource translators, and therefore can continue to grow.

There were two study groups, one open to the whole community and one exclusively for members of Ecotours La Boquilla, almost all local guides. In total, more than 20 students were able to learn from Gerwin in the six months that he volunteered with the project. The exchange of cultures and bonds of trust that were established meant that the learning was mutual.

V Social was instrumental in connecting Gerwin with the project and supporting Ecotours La Boquilla by financing some activities and equipment to make sure the project was a success.