International Women’s Day 2016: #PledgeforParity
Wait. Gender parity still isn’t a thing? Nope. Which is why this year, the theme for International Women’s Day, happening on March 8, is #PledgeforParity. Why? Well, because the World Economic Forum has predicted that the global gender pay gap won’t close until 2133 — that’s right, it’ll be another...
Building safe cities for women
Photos by Stephanie Simcox ActionAid Australia is a global justice organisation working to empower women to fight injustice and claim their human rights. In 2015, ActionAid launched its Safe Cities for Women campaign, calling for cities in which women can move about freely and access essential public services like transport,...
The Seven Women of Kathmandu
Words by James Shackell | Photos by Ben McNamara Our taxi pulls up outside some rusty wrought iron gates. Inside is one of Nepal’s philanthropic success stories: a tiny business that’s slowly changing the lives of local women. It’s called Seven Women, and it began in 2006 as a grassroots...
Meet: Mahsa, our local expert in Seville
Most of us would assume that a motorcycle accident that left you with two broken legs would destroy any chances of you ever again wanting to climb atop a bike. But for Mahsa Homayounfar, an Urban Adventures partner operating in Seville, Spain, it made her want to hop back on...
The story of Hanh from Vietnam
By Michael Brosowski | This story originally appeared on the Blue Dragon blog. Every morning, millions of people wake up far from home, in slavery. Children in factories and on farms. Youth forced to beg and steal, or sell on the streets. Girls and women in brothels. “Hanh” (not her...
Meet: Olga, our local expert in Moscow
Olga Sitnik is the owner of Moscow Urban Adventures, as well as the director and co-founder of ExploRussia. Despite running two tourism businesses, she actually doesn’t have a background in the tourism industry — which is the way she likes it, instead viewing travel from the traveller’s perspective. Her business...
Making a new home in Istanbul
The future of Syria may be uncertain, but the future of Syrian students and families doesn’t have to be. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Shannon Kay is the co-director of Small Projects Istanbul (SPI), grassroots NGO with a mission to provide access to formal and supplemental education for Syrian newcomers to...
Lighting up lives in India
Pollinate Energy is a social business dedicated to improving the lives of India’s urban poor. With a focus on sustainable solutions such as solar lights, Pollinate Energy helps families living in India’s tent slums to reduce indoor pollution from kerosene and wood stoves, enjoy better quality light, and save money. They...
Our local expert: Nikki in New York City
For International Women’s Day on March 8th, we’re talking travel to some of our female guides around the world. Today we head to New York City, to talk to our local expert, Nikki. She is the winner of our 2016 award for Guide of the Year, as well as an avid solo...