Tree Planting Project, Peru

At Discover Adventure we’re proud to be doing our bit for the environment by supporting a tree-planting project in Peru. The project aims to reforest the slopes of the Lares valley – an area we trek through – with native queñua trees.

In December 2010, working with an environmental NGO in Peru, we will plant around 16,000 trees over two days. We aim to plant a minimum of 10,000 trees each year for the next five years.

This project will also put money directly into the local economy: the seedlings are bought from a local village tree nursery, and around 250 local people get involved in the tree-planting and are paid for their efforts.

Trekkers on our Andean Trails to Machu Picchu can see the plantations first-hand, and on our last Peru trek-date each year you’ll be able to get your hands dirty and help us plant trees.

Light in Africa Children's Home, Moshi, Tanzania

For several years we've supported a children's home near Moshi at the base of Kilimanjaro called Light in Africa, the home provides education and medical care as well as a place to live. The children and babies who come to the home have often been mistreated, or simply suffered through poverty, before being orphaned - often because of parental AIDS. The children are given treats such as birthday parties and days out, quite a difference to their former lives.

We have also encouraged tour leaders, friends and clients to help with practical work to improve the buildings and facilities, and work with the children, and will continue to support the major developments planned in the near future to assist the disadvantaged groups that exist in the local community.

Our Kilimanjaro groups are able to visit Light in Africa on their free day. The home is always very grateful for any small sums of unspent spending money, which will equate to little in sterling once back home. Good locally-made crafts are available for sale at very good prices in the orphanage's shop, so we encourage our groups to buy their souvenirs here too.