The appeal raised more than $750,000 (US$601,000) in total, and is helping to rebuild a school, provide skills training for women, support a health post near Everest Basecamp and rebuild the heavily damaged Langtang Trekking route in Nepal.
The Intrepid Group has agreed a new partnership and A$90,000 (US$72,000) donation, made through The Intrepid Foundation to child protection charity Forget Me Not.
Intrepid said the partnership reinforced the company’s commitment to end orphanage tourism and would help to reunite thousands of children with their families.
There are 16,886 children living in orphanages in Nepal, yet 80% have at least one parent who could care for them. Many are taken from their home with the promise of a better life, “only to be mistreated and abused”, Intrepid said.
Australian-based charity, Forget Me Not carries out rescue, recovery and reintegration work, educating rural communities and parents about the dangers of child trafficking and reuniting children with their families in Nepal.
James Thornton, CEO of the Intrepid Group said, “We believe every child deserves to grow up in a safe and supportive environment. In partnership with organisations like Forget Me Not and Rethink Orphanages, we are actively lobbying the government to make Australia the first country in the world to declare visits to overseas orphanages as illegal.”
The adventure travel company has removed visits to orphanages from all itineraries and has been working with child protection experts to educate travellers about the reality and implications of visiting and supporting overseas orphanages.
“We are urging Australian travellers and the industry to end orphanage visits and volunteering overseas. Travellers often think they are helping, but children are not a tourism attraction.
“The best way to help is by supporting organisations that work to keep children with their families - that’s why we have partnered with Forget Me Not,” Thornton added.
The $90,000 donation comes from the Namaste Nepal appeal - launched by The Intrepid Foundation following the devastating 2015 Earthquake.
The appeal raised more than $750,000 (US$601,000) in total, and is helping to rebuild a school, provide skills training for women, support a health post near Everest Basecamp and rebuild the heavily damaged Langtang Trekking route in Nepal.
Established by the founders of the Intrepid Group in 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has raised more than A$5.6 million and supports more than 100 community based projects and initiatives in areas of healthcare, education, gender equality, human rights, child welfare, sustainable development, environmental conservation and wildlife protection.