Mountain climber and Yale University graduate, Chris Baker, is the founder of One Seed Expeditions, which transforms the concept of travel into a vehicle that gives back to the region being visited. It all began after a visit to Nepal and his connection with Kiva.org, a non- profit organization whose mission is to create a lending alliance to alleviate the yoke of poverty.
With the help of the Internet, and a worldwide network of financial institutions, Kiva lends money to help create business opportunities. For Chris, this manifested itself by learning how he, aided by a Nepalese financial institution, could create trips that simultaneously assist the population of that region.
In 2010, Baker’s love of mountain climbing induced him to select a business that would combine his passion for Nepal and climbing. He had help and joined forced with friends, Bishnu Thapa, and Tek Bahadur Dong. Their unique mix of mountain guiding, ethnographic fieldwork, and non-profit skills comprised the perfect start-up team.
A labor of love, it took three years of planning and preparation to bring One Seed Expeditions to the light. The goal is to change the way travel impacts communities by helping one local entrepreneur to launch or expand his or her business.
Currently, three areas of Nepal are available for exploration via One Seed. No matter what your preference, hiking is an exhilarating experience with breathtaking landscape. These picturesque treks take visitors to ancient villages, old monasteries and even to places where you can sample Yak butter tea.
But the true meaning of the hike lies in the people you meet along the way, whose lives have been profoundly affected by your donation.
With One Seed you travel and see the world and invest in its people at the same time.
Check out this video with Bill Clinton describing Kiva.org and all the wonderful things it does for local communities of the world.
Photo Source:
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjXeEvdTHWPE83LGr6sUC6H8UQ_8pqhxAqqgTziiReZVB0Xz0f