The Regenerative Travel Impact Awards spotlight organizations transforming education and inspiring positive change. Here, we celebrate the five finalists in the Education category, each uniquely addressing global challenges with innovative solutions.
WINNER: Time + Tide: Empowering Girls Through Digital Literacy in Zambia
In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 8% of girls complete high school, with literacy rates among women stagnating at 35%. Addressing this, a Female Empowerment Programme by the Time + Tide Foundation in Zambia integrates digital literacy into its Girls Clubs. Partnering with Mwabu, a Zambian digital learning organization, the program piloted an app in remote Liuwa Plain National Park, achieving transformative results.
Baseline literacy scores of 27% jumped to 53% after just two terms—a 100% improvement. Compared to earlier cohorts, who saw an 11% literacy increase per term, digital literacy quadrupled progress to 48% per term. This success inspired expansion to South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi, where literacy scores rose from 48% to 70% in two terms.
Beyond academic success, the program targets high school graduation, equipping girls with language skills essential for employment. This initiative is not just about education—it breaks cycles of poverty and empowers the next generation of African women.
Learn more about the Girls Club’s work here.
Secret Paradise Maldives: Education for Sustainability
Secret Paradise Maldives combines education and tourism to preserve the Maldives’ fragile ecosystems. Their Educational Hub offers comprehensive resources on marine life, coral reefs, and citizen science, empowering both tourists and locals to engage in conservation. Complementing this, a Sustainability Journey Hub guides tour operators in adopting eco-conscious practices, broadening the industry’s positive impact.
Training programs for local guides, launched at Ecoboo, equip communities with skills to lead responsible tours. Tour features like Impact Insights highlight participants’ contributions to sustainability, fostering informed, conscious travel.
Beyond tourism, Secret Paradise empowers its team, with tour leader Fayaz Hussain earning a Climate Friendly Travel Diploma scholarship. Collaboration through Travel4Impact extends their influence globally, solidifying Secret Paradise’s commitment to sustainable tourism and education.
To learn more about Secret Paradise Maldive’s education initiatives, click here.
The Island Foundation: Transforming Education in Indonesia’s Coastal Communities
Operating in remote Indonesian islands, The Island Foundation (TIF) redefines education through its Learning for Sustainability Framework, blending participatory and outdoor learning to nurture 21st-century skills. Across 13 Learning Centres, over 550 students and 3,000 alumni benefit from this innovative curriculum.
Teacher training amplifies impact, with over 1,500 educators empowered to implement student-centered methods. Community engagement extends learning into homes, involving parents and village leaders in mangrove planting and environmental stewardship.
In 2023, TIF expanded to Lingga, addressing severe educational inequities. With a 114% growth in enrolment and a 50% increase in Learning Centres over three years, TIF is creating an equitable and sustainable education model for Indonesia’s underserved communities.
Click here to learn more about the Island Foundation’s work.
SAGG Eco Village: Regenerative Education in Action
Located in the Himalayan foothills, SAGG Eco Village, founded by Fayaz Ahmad Dar, is a model for sustainable living and regenerative education that hosts retreats, camps for youth, day trips and farm stays. The Village aims to restore not just the environment but also the social fabric of Kashmir, which has been deeply affected by political instability, economic challenges, and a disconnect from cultural roots. Through its Village Academy, SAGG equips Kashmiri youth and farmers with practical skills in permaculture, organic farming, and ecological entrepreneurship. These training programs empower participants to build livelihoods that restore the environment and support local economies.
SAGG Eco Village also fosters cultural preservation by integrating traditional Kashmiri crafts, farm-to-table meals, and eco-friendly practices into its curriculum. This holistic approach bridges the gap between modern sustainability techniques and rich local heritage.
Community involvement is central to SAGG’s mission. Locals participate in decision-making and workshops, ensuring the eco-village remains a shared and inclusive initiative. By combining environmental restoration with cultural and economic empowerment, SAGG Eco Village offers a replicable model for transforming communities through education and regenerative principles.
Learn more about SAGG Eco Village on their website.
What are the Regenerative Travel Impact Awards?
The Impact Awards celebrate people and projects that embody the spirit of regeneration—improving people’s lives, our communities, and the world around us.
We search the globe for inspiring changemakers working to solve our biggest challenges and inspiring positive action, both inside and outside of travel.
Our judging panel was handpicked based on their exceptional expertise, achievements, and diverse backgrounds. With their collective knowledge in marine ecology, social entrepreneurship, travel journalism, sustainability, visual storytelling, tourism policy, hospitality, and impact investing, the judging panel is well-equipped to identify innovative ideas that have the potential to advance regenerative travel.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Email Address
*By signing up for this newsletter I consent to receive the weekly newsletter from Regenerative Travel including travel guides and inspiration.
Discover our Regenerative Travel™ hotels
Rubondo Island National Park, Lake Victoria, Tanzania
Africa
Safari
