The Local Alternative in Sri Lanka
A New Responsible Travel Map of the Resplendent Isle

Article by: Ethan Gelber, October 2007

So, in the face of such corrosion, can travellers really help? In a word, yes. And it's as easy as spending money wisely and/or volunteering time and skills. Now let's see how you can get the dirt under your fingernails.

The LOCALternative Approach

In 2007, a novel new map called LOCALternative Sri Lanka – A Responsible Travel Map was created. In a nutshell, this map helps connect travellers with conscience to projects with heart. It looks at local initiatives that follow alternative pathways to beneficial ends. It's a map for travellers who seek outlets for nature conservation, biodiversity preservation and community development and demonstrates the capabilities of tourism as a stalwart force in environmentally sound, pro-poor programming.

The map highlights 170 points of interest - pristine and manmade natural areas, unorthodox lodging options, cultural and religious heritage spaces and projects under the guidance of community groups. The map focuses on proactive collective endeavours, whether fostered by small business groups, women, craftsmiths or those united by geography, vocation or environmental, animal or community concerns. Many of these projects are otherwise unknown and, without the map, would be unlikely to attract much attention.

The map highlights 170 points of interest - pristine and manmade natural areas, unorthodox lodging options, cultural and religious heritage spaces and projects under the guidance of community groups

The Sewalanka Foundation, for example, is an organisation that works with poor rural communities to address their development needs. It runs Sewalanka’s Sustainable Tourism Unit which supports the development of community-based organisations able to manage village homestays, guide associations, crafts making and sales, ecotours and other local initiatives. Structures are already up and running in palm-fringed coastal villages near the south-western city of Galle and Arugam Bay in the south-east, as well as around Sinharaja Forest, a Unesco World Heritage Site and Sri Lanka’s richest concentration of endemic flora and fauna.

Volunteering in Sri Lanka

Everyone can do their bit for responsible tourism but for travellers with time on their hands and a craving for direct engagement, volunteering can be a serious consideration.

In a nutshell, this map helps connect travellers with conscience to projects with heart

On occasion, several of the community groups listed on LOCALternative Sri Lanka request skilled and unskilled volunteer support. Below is a brief assortment of such organisations, so why not join the concerned cavalry?

People-oriented groups:

• Responsible Tourism Partnership often has volunteer opportunities with projects linking tourism to surrounding communities.
• Sarvodaya ‘Shramadana’ programs welcome volunteers to villages to work on local projects.
• Sewalanka Foundation accepts volunteers who assist with aid and development projects and build the capacity of local staff. Contact hr@sewalanka.org.
• Woodlands Network currently seeks six-month volunteer commitments from people who can teach English and computer skills to children in the Hill Country.

Nature and animal-oriented groups:

• Animal Welfare and Protection Association shelters animals in need.
• Millennium Elephant Foundation relies on volunteers for community work and daily management of the charity’s primary concerns. Click on the ‘Volunteers’ section of their site.
• Rainforest Rescue International is currently geared to bring in volunteers specialised in conservation or forestry.
• Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society volunteer programs range from animal field research to training, building, forestry and farm projects.
• Turtle Conservation Project has a wide range of tasks suitable for different trade skills, including working with turtles, educating people and promoting responsible tourism practices.