Kwayera Archer-Cunningham
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NEW
YORK - The Caribbean may be missing an important
opportunity by not fully tapping into the growing volunteer tourism or
"voluntourism" market, according to veteran community development expert
and nonprofit advisor Kwayera Archer-Cunningham.
With
more than 25 years of experience as a nonprofit
leader, Archer-Cunningham, who travels frequently between her Jamaica
and New York offices, said many tourists are traveling to the region
with a desire to have a positive impact and make a difference in
addition to having fun.
"Unfortunately,
too often there are not enough avenues that are visible for visitors to
figure out how they can help before they leave and go back home," she
lamented.
"Many
people have great intentions. They want to figure out how they can make
the region a home away from home, not just by enjoying the beach, but
also volunteering for an hour or helping a school - whether by
contributing towards the cost of a computer or a smart board," said
Archer-Cunningham, who specializes in community and organizational
development, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship.
Archer-Cunningham
believes that the hospitality industry, especially hotels, should be
encouraged to establish strategic partnerships with local and regional
media to increase awareness of the social and philanthropic needs within
the destination. "We need broad communications channels so that people
traveling to the Caribbean - either single or multiple destinations -
receive the information and access they need to make decisions about how
they can contribute their time, dollars and energy," she commented.
According
to Carrie Kahn, National Public Radio's international correspondent,
more than 1.6 million volunteer tourists are spending about US $2
billion each year.
Archer-Cunningham's
firm Global Ase facilitates social transformation by creating strong
relationships between the people who want to help and people who need
help.
About Global Ase
Global
Ase is an international firm established to assist leaders,
organizations, corporations and communities who are working for social
good. The organization, with locations in both the Caribbean and the
United States, is dedicated to focusing its efforts on those who believe
the world can be a better place for all, with an emphasis on building
social, cultural and economic partnerships.
