The Third International Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference is jointly organized by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and the Monteverde Institute (MVI).
The Center for responsible Travel is:
- A policy-oriented research institute with headquarters in Washington, DC and office at Stanford University to ensure high academic standards.
- An entrepreneurial non-profit organization dedicated to travel as a tool to reduce poverty, empower local communities, promote biodiversity conservation, and enhance visitor experience.
- An international network of experts providing interdisciplinary analysis and innovative solutions through consultancies, research and field projects, publications, documentary videos, conferences, courses, and training and educational workshops.
Founded in 2003, CREST seeks to fulfill its mission of transforming the way the world travels through two broad categories of field projects, research, and programs:
- Those that strengthen ecotourism and responsible travel to realize their social, economic, and conservation benefits.
- Those that assess the impacts of conventional and mass tourism on both host communities and conservation.
CREST’s research reports, studies and documentary videos are available at www.responsibletravel.org. Findings from past Travelers’ Philanthropy conferences and more information about CREST’s Travelers’ Philanthropy program and partners are available at www.TravelersPhilanthropy.org.
Monteverde Institute is:
A member-governed Costa Rican not-for-profit association dedicated to education, applied research, and community engagement. Founded in 1986, MVI from its inception has facilitated place-based, experiential learning in education abroad, grounded in the environmental, social, economic and cultural realities of Monteverde communities, while at the same time promoting research and community development activities relevant to Monteverde. Through the participation of international students, faculty, researchers, and the local community, MVI’s programs and projects have evolved to be both locally focused and globally relevant – a unique interplay between a world community and a particular locale.
“Education for a Sustainable Future” is the core theme of all of MVI’s programs.
At MVI, we believe that sustainability requires consideration of environmental, social, cultural, economic, and technical factors equally. The complex and multifaceted issues faced in Monteverde and around the world call for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary study and professional practice. The cornerstone of MVI’s approach is its synergism between international study, applied research, and community engagement.
Areas of focus. The Monteverde Institute has several areas of focus that reflect the complex issues faced by the Monteverde zone and around the world. All of our programs, whether they be a study abroad program, an applied research project, or community forum, reflect these areas:
- Water
- Ecotourism
- Conservation biology
- Community Health
- Land use and sustainable development
- Spanish language and culture
To learn more about the Monteverde Institute, please visit www.mvinstitute.org
