Founding Principles - Responsible Photography Holidays
The founding principles of Responsible Photography Holidays are based on offering very small group photography holidays through working in partnership with local people who benefit directly. We partner small businesses, local communities, income-generating and conservation projects. Please take just a few minutes to read the information on this page, starting with our founding principles. These principles are what 'responsible photography, and most important, sustainable travel' have always been about to Gail Ward, who founded Responsible Photography Holidays. Gail had the idea during a visit to a community project in the Australia Outback in 2002 and after careful planning, the first Responsible Photography Holiday took place in Morocco, a Country Gail knows very well.
Founding Principles of Responsible Photography Holidays- encourage respect, understanding and positive experiences between our different people and cultures
- make sure local people are involved with and benefit economically from Responsible Photography Holidays
- share knowledge and experience to help develop and promote sustainable community based income generating, conservation and educational projects
- help preserve our environment and natural resources
- respect and raise awareness of International Human Rights
- Plus,
as one of our clients pointed out, we must not overlook our 'very small
group' photography holiday ethic - which is central to what we do and very important.
©Gail Ward/Responsible Photography 2005    ©UNWTOProtecting Children in Tourism - EPCAT UK
EPCAT UK - End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the
Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes. EPCAT UK are a leading
children's rights organisation that works with it's International and
European partners to protect chldren from sexual exploitation in travel
and tourism. Did you know that British Nationals can be prosecuted for
crimes committed abroad. EPCAT UK works with the police and Travel and
Tourism Industry to safeguard children regardless of where they live.
To find out about the legislation and to learn more about the work of
ECPAT UK click on the links below. Code of Conduct - more EPCAT UK - more |
The Millenium Development Goals our world leader's signed up to in 2000
The
8
Millenium Development Goals form a blueprint agreed to by the
world's leaders at the Millenium summit and supported by leading
development institutions. 2008 was the half way mark for the 2015 target
and many Countries are failing to deliver their promised commitment. In
September 2010 there was a summit of World Leaders on the progress
of the MDG's
as the 2015 looms ever near. Gail was invited to exhibit images and stories showing how the Millenium Development Goal's have been changing people's lives. In Rwanda, a Millenium Development Village
demonstrates how finance
has been used to develop sustainable projects that have made a huge
difference to peoples
lives and is an example of just how important these goals are.
In Ethiopia, more children are in school. Both Ethiopia and Rwanda are
in the 20 Countries who have made the most headway to meet MDG targets,
but there is still a long way to go. - eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- achieve universal primary education
- promote gender equality and empower women
- reduce child mortality
- improve maternal health
- combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- ensure environmental sustainability
- develop a global partnership for development
Gail Ward/Responsible Photography |
Tourism
has a responsibility to build an Industry that impacts positively on
local people and protects children from exploitation
  
The Cape Town Declaration
In
2002, 280 delegates from 20 countries involved in, or associated with
tourism, agreed that Tourism should, in a nutshell, 'maximise positive
impacts and minimise negative impacts' and identified a set of
principles. Gail's view is that ' the declaration mustn't be seen as
an opportunity just to paste a few words on websites or promotional
material, nor to gain business by alluding to being 'responsible';
there has to be evidence of true commitment and practice'. - minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts
- generates
greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well being
of host communities; improves working conditions and access to the
industry
- involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances
- makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity
- provides
more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful
connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local
cultural, social and environmental issues
- provides access for physically challenged people
- is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence
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Responsible Photography Holidays - statement about Social Media.We
are careful and responsible with 'people' photography. We try to make
sure that anyone who is happy to be photographed, especially from the
communities we stay in, receive copies of any photographs taken by
Responsible Photography Holiday clients. We do not encourage sharing
photographs from your photography holiday, especially photographs of
people, on facebook, flickr or other social media websites and
especially on websites, forums or competitions where your copyright is
not recognised or protected. Please check very carefully the photography
policy of competitions and websites before posting photographs as many
operate 'rights grabbing' terms and conditions which allow the competition or website to use and distribute your photographs.
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©Gail Ward 2008-2012
