How a street kid changed the course of G Adventures

A packed room of media from around the globe joined G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip in Cusco, Peru where we witnessed first-hand how travel and social enterprise tourism can create self-determination and economic independence far beyond charity.

A street kids home and drop in centre was the first of a number of initiatives that have changed the course of tourism for this global adventure travel powerhouse

“Street kids in Peru would wait for our passengers to give them chocolates and pens late at night, and it wasn’t until I met a particular child from the street did my thinking really evolve in this space,” Poon Tip said as he launched his narrative on why G Adventures have taken the notion of tourism for good beyond charity.

He went on to describe his seminal experience with a young boy who took him to his home in a very sketchy neighbourhood in Cusco. What he found was a tiny apartment full of kids and one woman, Luz Marina Figueroa, who looked after them all.

G for Good Peru - Meeting and greeting at Cusco Youth Drop-in centre (1)

The place was run by volunteers who supported street kids to do their homework, have a meal, and be somewhere safe. Their prime desire being that no child should grow up thinking that they need to beg to get a pen or a piece of chocolate.

Figueroa said Breaking the cycle of begging and child labour was her primary motivation.

However, they relied on the kindness of landlords to let them stay in vacant premises but as soon as they were rented they were on the move again, forcing them to move house every few months.

This was the turning point for Poon Tip and marked the evolution of the business from travel adventure company to a social enterprise with its foundation partner, Planeterra ensuring internal “policing” of all their CSR (corporate social responsibility) decisions.

Bruce Poon Tip with Luz Marina Figueroa

G Adventures went on to run an appeal to their customer base to raise enough money for the street kids to have their own home.

“What was interesting to me was what I learned about myself and our journey as an organisation, (and it was a defining moment ) but I was blown away by how much our customers were willing to do whatever they could to raise the dollars required,” Poon Tip said

And so the adventure company started a dialogue with their customers that had nothing to do with their trips.

A street kid was the catalyst for turning a travel adventure company into a true social enterprise.

As travellers become more discerning and have the desire to give back and travel for good, this seems to be well and truly the future of travel.

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