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People in Action, Inc. Featured Entrant in the National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers Geotour |
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Grenada May 22, 2008 – The National Geographic Society and Ashoka’s Changemakers have introduced the first Geotourism Challenge to identify and showcase innovators in tourism development, management, and marketing. The one-of-a-kind online collaborative competition, at www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge, will raise awareness about how tourism can help sustain, enhance and preserve local culture and environment.
People in Action is a featured entrant in this initiative. PIA has chosen the ground-up participatory approach to the development of a geotourism strategy starting from the community's stakeholders. Ground up Geotourism can fuel the power from the people, “For the People, By the People and With the People”, to collectively map their assets, needs and resources; brainstorm and vision their independent development empowering them towards their sustainable future. We realize that institutional ownership of development is often an inefficient in its delivery of effective solutions to community; community has an intimate relationship with the assets but lack an understanding of their potential and direction. Our recent intervention for the preservation of the Grenadian Dove within the development of what will be a Four Season’s Resort, has opened new development of a Geotourism Code, developed by NGS,CSD, which we offer as a measure for organizations and companies geotourism efforts. PIA looks forward to moving ahead with National Geographic Society, Center for Sustainable Destinations on the geotourism strategy development for Grenada that will encourage an exploration of our country’s rich natural resources; our heritage, culture, environment, aesthetics and people. The rediscovery of PRIDE OF PLACE and POWER OF PEOPLE!! The Geotourism Challenge is Changemakers’ 15th collaborative competition and draws on Ashoka’s 27 years of experience in identifying leading social entrepreneurs around the world. To date, the competitions have sourced more than 2,000 local innovations on various themes from more than 125 countries. People in Action is honored to be part of this global movement to create social change through the tourism sector. Anyone can participate and comment on entries. Everyone is invited to improve all entries through online collaboration. A panel of expert judges will choose approximately a dozen finalists who demonstrate innovation, social impact and sustainability. Judges include: Keith Bellows, VP, National Geographic Society, Editor-in-Chief, NG Traveler; Susan Berresford Past President, The Ford Foundation; Leonard Cordiner, CEO, whl travel; and Nachiket Mor, President, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth. The finalists will have the opportunity to present their innovations at The Geotourism Challenge Summit this fall. Three winners will be chosen by online voting and receive $5,000 each. ### About National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 8,800 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com or visit the Web page for the Center for Sustainable Destinations at www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/. About Ashoka’s Changemakers Changemakers is building the world's first global online “open source” community that competes to surface the best social solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. Changemakers focuses on thematic, collaborative competitions, inviting innovators from around the world to profile and collaborate with a global community of investors, thought leaders and enthusiasts. To date Changemakers has launched 14 successful collaborative competitions and attracted more than 2,000 high-impact solutions from more than 125 countries. Changemakers builds on Ashoka’s 27-year history identifying and selecting leading social entrepreneurs and its belief in “Everyone a Changemaker” global society. Get involved. Find out more about how to nominate, enter, comment and vote in our collaborative competitions at www.changemakers.net For more information please contact: Delyse Sylvester Director of Communication Ashoka's Changemakers 250-551-0570
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