Kenya – Kenya Tourism Concern is a registered NGO in Kenya whose objective is to promote the positive aspects of tourism be they social, economic, cultural, political or environmental, and minimize negative impacts on the local people.

Kenya Tourism Concern engages in advocacy efforts on behalf of voiceless and highly exploited indigenous people located in high tourism areas of Kenya.  Kenya Tourism Concerns activities focus primarily on youth who are affected by the tourism industry in a variety of ways including sex tourism.  Kenya Tourism Concern assists homeless youth by offering them education and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS.  Through their targeted intervention efforts, they sponsor our youth vocational training as an alternative to prostitution and other harmful employment.  Kenya Tourism Concern also advocates for conservation efforts and protection of the environment and wildlife.

Grants

• July 2008 – $5,000 health education and vocational training for young women to give them alternatives to prostitution, increased self reliance, income generating activities.  GPA funded Kenya Tourism Concern because of their innovative approach to addressing community issues associated with the tourism industry.  Also a factor was their focus on providing education and training to young women who have few other alternatives.  GPA hopes to learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of the tourism industry in Kenya and share innovative solutions with other grantees.