Celebrating Women鈥檚 Month: Top female-led experiences with Contiki Cares

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is the world鈥檚 leading youth travel company, offering over 350 annual trips for 18-35s, and bringing together travelers from all corners of the globe to discover new cultures and a little part of themselves along the way.

At Contiki, we believe firmly in the importance of travelling sustainably and consciously, and that鈥檚 what is all about. It鈥檚 our commitment to protecting the communities we visit, the wildlife we interact with, and the planet we all share.

We build travel experiences into our trips that give something back. From learning about local cultures and ethical experiences, to funding for local communities, our aim is to leave places better than we found them – and to empower our travelers to do the same.

We鈥檙e proud that so many of the experiences we offer are led by such inspirational men and women across the globe. To celebrate this March and the International Women鈥檚 Day theme of #ChooseToChallenge, we wanted to share a round-up of our favourite Contiki Cares female-led experiences. These are just some of the brilliant women who challenge the status quo and are creating change where it matters.

The Dhonk Centre 鈥� India

is the female-founder of The Dhonk Centre, a cooperative that provides former poachers and their families with skills, training and alternative employment to tiger poaching. Community is at the heart of Dhonk, and Divya has created a real opportunity for growth in her home of Ranthambhore. Now, its members have an alternative, ethical means to provide for their families through the creation of handcrafted products that preserve Indian artistry and culture.

Not only does Divya鈥檚 work challenge the traditional role of women in India, it uplifts those around her. She鈥檚 been successful in creating a network of micro-entrepreneurs and changemakers with a strong focus on education and employment opportunities for young girls and women. When you visit Dhonk you can support this network by investing in their products, interacting with the local community and learning more about the great work of Divya and others.

Visit Dhonk on .

Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco – Peru

Founded by in 1996, the (CTTC) is a traditional weaving centre in Cusco, Peru. It鈥檚 been pivotal in its preservation of Peruvian culture, offering employment to local men and women to maintain the importance of this 10,000-year-old practice.

Nilda was determined to maintain her own cultural heritage while also seeking employment opportunities for the locals 鈥� in particular, women and young girls – and this is something she鈥檚 successfully achieved. Today, CTTC is female managed, operated, and founded, and its focus is on keeping indigenous traditions alive by teaching the younger generations how to weave. CTTC also provides a place where local weavers can sell their crafts, creating revenue streams for the community in multiple ways.

Visit the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco on .

The Iraq Al-Amir Women鈥檚 Co-operative – Jordan

was established in 1993 by the Noor Al-Hussein Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to combat employment disparity amongst the women of Jordan. Its aim is to teach and equip Jordanian women with new skills and business opportunities, and to ultimately achieve their own financial independence.

is entirely managed and run by local women and has also provided handicraft training for more than 150 women from local villages. Handicrafts sold in the gift shop and online provide them with income, which has in turn allowed the community to continue growing; merchandise expertise is another skill that鈥檚 enabled the Co-operative to expand its offering to food services. When you visit, you鈥檒l have an opportunity to meet these women, learn more about their craft and show support through purchase of products. Crucially, this ripple effect of women helping women has begun to change the lives of both families and single women across Jordan.

Visit the Iraq Al-Amir Women鈥檚 Co-operative on .

Uncle Nearest – USA

Premium whiskey brand Uncle Nearest launched in 2017 in Tennessee and is now the fastest鈥恎rowing independent premium whiskey brand in American history. And there鈥檚 a fascinating story behind how it came to fruition.

As a writer, Fawn Weaver set out to learn more about the story of Nathan 鈥楴earest鈥� Green, in the hope to create a film around his largely unknown involvement in the creation of the American whiskey brand, Jack Daniel鈥檚. In doing her research she soon discovered that Nearest Green, a former slave who worked on the distillery, was actually the master distiller at Jack Daniel鈥檚. Weaver鈥檚 brand both honours the legacy of a and establishes one of her own. Her team is comprised exclusively of women, including members of Nearest Green鈥檚 family, and she is also the first African American to lead a major spirit brand. You can learn all about the story and support the legacy when you visit the distillery.

Visit Uncle Nearest on .

Flourish Forever – USA

Founder and high school student Siena Mills created to combine her passion for people and the environment. Cognisant of the fact food insecurity can affect many communities throughout the USA, she wanted to find a way to tackle this head on 鈥� namely by addressing some of the barriers to accessibility, like income and education.

Siena saw community gardens as a great way to provide support on both an individual and collective level. And so, Flourish was born. The family-run organization in Los Angeles, California, focuses on community empowerment, equality, and resilience by providing much-needed access to fresh, affordable food. Siena and her team are working towards creating even more thriving community food gardens and introducing healthy eating habits across the USA. You can visit this project with Contiki鈥檚 trip, or read about our other

Visit Flourish on .

Head to the to discover more great experiences and stories like these, and Contiki Cares for more information on our other travel experiences