By
Rebecca Gibson |
Social impact cruise brand Fathom has outlined four additional social impact activities for travellers on seven-day voyages to the Dominican Republic.
In addition to the range of social impact activities Fathom previously announced – which include building water filters for Dominican homes and helping a women’s cooperative produce artisan chocolates – travellers can now select from four more activities focused on education, economic development and the environment.
“We are thrilled to expand our social impact opportunities by offering these new programs that were created together with our local impact partners to address important areas of need for the community,” said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation & plc. “Fathom was established to give people a way to combine their love of travel with their desire to make a difference. These latest additions to the social impact portfolio will fulfill that promise, giving travellers even more options for getting immersed in the Dominican culture by working alongside its people to create enduring social impact.”
As part of the Home Improvement initiative, travellers will work alongside homeowners and members of the community to help improve living conditions in homes in impoverished areas. This will include pouring new concrete floors and painting houses, fixing broken furniture, cleaning and improving community areas, and planting fruit trees.
Alternatively, travellers can opt to work with disabled patients at a physical and rehabilitation therapy centre. Here they can participate in various activities, ranging from game therapy sessions for children with autism, to helping lab personnel to make and fit cost-subsidised orthopedic devices and prostheses.
Fathom travellers can also assist arts and crafts entrepreneurs at a women’s cooperative. As part of this initiative, the volunteers can help with the paper recycling process, make the goods, or find ways to expand the association’s distribution network and formalise the process for taking products to market.
Finally, travellers wanting to experience daily life in the Dominican Republic can spend a day with a host family in their home. This will enable local families to improve their English language skills and discuss local community assets that could be leveraged for future tourist income, as well as ideas for potential microbusinesses that might expand the earning potential of the families.