Making Travel Matter with Travel Elevates
2025 Travel Elevates Global Impact Grants
Proudly published in Lake Oswego Lifestyle Magazine as part of our ongoing community travel column.
At Travel & Cruise Desk, we believe in the power of travel to transform lives. Through the non-profit initiative Travel Elevates, we proudly donate 10% of all BEYOND Planning & Service fees to support projects that uplift communities worldwide. Each year, Travel Elevates handpicks and funds a number of projects that are making a meaningful difference in education, economic development, and conservation. They recently announced the eight recipients of the 2025 Travel Elevates Global Impact Grants.
Empowering Communities Through Education
Education remains a cornerstone of sustainable change, and several grants this year focus on expanding learning opportunities:
Uthando (Love) South Africa (South Africa): By equipping women and youth with professional sewing skills, this initiative addresses poverty, gender-based violence, and unemployment while promoting eco-friendly production.
Sewing for Empowerment & Sustainability with Uthando (Love) in South Africa.
Transforming lives through education in Zambia with Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy.
Community Learning & Digital Skill Labs with Make a Miracle in Peru and Colombia.
Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (Zambia, Africa): Funding will support two new science labs and a home economics building at Nakatindi Primary & Secondary School, improving access to quality education for 1,200 students.
Children in the Wilderness (Tanzania, Africa): This initiative will construct a new classroom, renovate facilities, install solar energy, and provide specialized teacher training, impacting 500 students and their communities.
Wild Impact (Tanzania, Africa): Addressing overcrowding and sanitation concerns, this grant will renovate and expand classrooms and add restroom facilities at Mbirikiri Primary School, benefiting 569 students.
Memorable Travel Group (Costa Rica): A newly launched CSR program will provide English and IT training for at-risk students in Sardinal, paving the way for future tourism careers.
Wild Impact’s Mbirikiri Primary School renovation in Tanzania.
Make a Miracle (Peru & Colombia): This initiative will establish digital learning labs, offering coding workshops, job assistance and internet access to support long-term education.
Fundación Grupo Punta Cana (Dominican Republic): This program will create alternative careers for former fishermen and marine biology graduates through sustainable fish farming and conservation training.
Life is Good Playmaker Project (Haiti): Focused on helping children heal from trauma, this program will train 400 teachers and caregivers, benefiting 1,000 children and funding critical renovations to the community learning center.
Fostering Economic Growth & Sustainability
Travel Elevates is also supporting projects that provide economic opportunities and promote sustainability:
Life is Good Playmaker Project – Training Center for Joy & Healing in Haiti.
Why This All Matters
These projects highlight the impact responsible travel can have on communities worldwide. Every client who plans their journey with Travel & Cruise Desk plays a role in this mission. Even if you don’t book with us, you can learn more or donate directly at tcdsk.com/te. Thanks to your support, we continue to create lasting change.
We were also recently honored to be named the 2025 Dee Denton Business of the Year by the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce and to receive several accolades in the Lake Oswego Review’s “Best of” awards, including Best Travel Agency. These recognitions reaffirm our commitment to ethical and impactful travel planning.
As we move forward, we’ll share updates on these projects. When we travel with purpose, we don’t just explore the world — we help shape its future.
