Responsible Travel in Africa

As part of our commitment to responsible tourism, in early 2005 we formed the 'Audley Charity Portfolio', which originally comprised five organisations we chose to actively support.

This has now evolved into an initiative where we have selected charities which involve countries across our range of programmes.

These charities are intended to help a wide variety of causes from wildlife, human rights issues and education, through to the environment and conservation.

Uthando South Africa

Uthando South Africa is a registered Non-Profit Organisation based in Cape Town.

Founded in 2007, the organisation raises funds for a broad range of community based projects which support the most vulnerable sectors of society in some of the most destitute areas of the city.

This year, we are particularly supporting their GCU project. This was set up by Mario van Niekerk. Born and bred in Heideveld (on the Cape Flats of Cape Town), Mario had witnessed many of the community’s problems first hand and felt passionate about helping many of the area’s youth and keeping them off the streets. Hence the Soccer Academy was born.

GCU is not just a football club, it has expanded into a wider range of community activities including rope skipping, tutoring, life skills, a school for dropout kid and mentorships. The Academy offers young people a way out of being trapped into the cycle of gangs and drugs.

The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust (Kenya)

Our close friend and former colleague Ariana Grammaticas left Audley in 2007 to return to her home country of Kenya.

In early 2008 she wrote to us about The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust. Set up by Richard Long, who visited Kenya in 2004, it supports the school and community in the wider Mara area. All the money raised is used to provide this support, and Richard covers administration costs himself.

So far the Trust has installed a borehole to supply fresh water, built five new classrooms, provided bursaries to secondary school for exceptional students and paid the salary for one teacher. Our initial donations helping to fund a water pump for the school, which is in a small local community in Kenya.

This year they have specifically asked whether we could help them with beds and mattresses for their dormitory block. This will mean that children who live far away from the school can still have an education, as they would otherwise not be able to walk the long distances in and out of school each day.