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Responsible Tourism and Community Initiatives

With Community Anything is Possible!

From the start of Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers, the business has valued the involvement of the community as the business grows. This means that we employ people in our area, we make use of local businesses and we try our best to create and show our community new opportunities. For us, it is also important that tourism brings people together. With our Backpacker and our activities and tours we want to create means on how travellers (from near and far) and local people can meet, interact and understand each other better.

A community park

Since some years back Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers are working with a greening project which is to develop a park located right outside the Backpacker and in the middle of our community. It started as a clean up campaign where Lebo and the youth in the area turned a former dump site to a clean and litter / dumping free space. Trees were then planted and benches were put in the park. A soccer field developed and today young people in the community can enjoy a green, clean park where sports and other after school activities are organised. The park also hosts youth events for the community.

Youth Club

We work together with international and local volunteers to offer the youth in our area a meaningful spare time after school and on weekends. We have with their help formed a soccer club, and with the help of donations coming all the way from Canada they are able to play with good quality soccer boots and jerseys.

Art workshops are also offered to children and youth where a local artist teaches them different art works, beading etc.

Outdoor Library

This is one of our coming projects where we plan to use the park as a facility for kids and youth to practice their reading skills and learn more about Soweto’s and South Africa’s history. We are right now in the process of collecting books, if you have books to donate please contact us!

Fair Trade in Tourism

Since September 2008 Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers and Bicycle Tours is certified by Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA).
FTTSA is a non profit organisation that encourages and publicises fair and responsible business practice by South African tourism establishments. This is done by offering a certification programme that endorses tourism establishments that meet stringent criteria;

  • Fair wages and working conditions, fair operations, purchasing and distribution of benefits
  • Ethical business practice
  • Respect for human rights, culture and the environment

For more information please visit http://www.fairtourism.org.za
By visiting a FTTSA certified establishment You, as a traveller can contribute to a more fair and rewarding tourism sector in South Africa.