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“When you travel in a sustainable way with care and interest for your destination, you also make an important contribution to the economy in the country you are visiting”
Dream now, travel later. A theme that was frequently used in the travel industry during the Covid pandemic. However, whilst we dream about that beautiful holiday, action in the present is necessary. This is why Aves Travels supports ‘La Sonrisa Naranja’.
When you travel in a sustainable way with care and interest for your destination, you also make an important contribution to the economy in the country you are visiting. In Ecuador, countless people live from tourism. Everyone you meet along the way, your driver, your guide, the waiter at the restaurant, the receptionist at your hotel, the craftsman in that small shop where you can buy a nice souvenir… behind all these people there is a family they support and in turn a community where they go shopping. This value chain was completely broken in these recent years. During the height of the pandemic, there was no income and no safety net; one is left to its own devices until tourism fully recovers again. During this crisis, income is needed more than ever before.
I became acquainted with ‘La Sonrisa Naranja’ through this article in the NRC newspaper, written by Arjan Meesterburrie, correspondent in Ecuador.
La Sonrisa Naranja is a medical center in El Barrio Horizontes del Fortin, a development area in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The Dutch foundation of the same name was founded in September 2007 to support the work of doctors Gonzalo Bonilla and Els van der Linden in Ecuador. Both Gonzalo and Els are doctors. The objective of both doctors is to provide medical care to people who cannot afford the desired care under normal circumstances. In addition to medical care, there is a small gym and the foundation organizes activities that develop and strengthen the children and young people. During this crisis, food is also distributed to the poorest families in the district.
Would you like to support Els and Gonzalo directly in their amazing work? Make your donation to:
IBAN: NL53 TRIO 0784 8377 24
attn. Stichting La Sonrisa Naranja
in Rotterdam