Bridge the Gap Villages Fiji Launches Funding Effort for Responsible Tourism

Feb. 18, 2013 - PRLog -- Indianapolis, Indiana - February 18, 2013 - Bridge the Gap Villages, an Indianapolis based firm, announces a crowd source funding effort for the first responsible tourism project in Northern Fiji.

Bridge the Gap Villages Fiji is an ecotourism and sustainable development adventure travel destination on Vorovoro Island in Northern Fiji.  Travel guests can explore and relax in the natural beauty of an untouched Fijian island, and they can experience Fijian culture in a way not available anywhere else on earth.

Bridge the Gap Villages is the vision of Indianapolis small business owners Jimmy and Jenny Cahill. The Cahills experienced Vorovoro, Fiji first-hand in 2009 as Project Directors for a now defunct ecotourism venture. The time  on Vorovoro changed their lives. They left the island two years ago with a commitment to the local Fijian community to develop a business model that would help the local community and be truly sustainable.  

Bridge the Gap Villages Fiji has a unique business mentoring program designed to enhance small business development in the local community. Bridge the Gap Villages Fiji  guests have the opportunity to work in a cross- cultural village community. Visitors stay in traditional bures and are encourage to create lasting impact by taking part in initiatives with local schools and villages.  

As an ecological responsible tourist destination, the island features rainwater harvesting, permaculutre, and solar power.

In 2009 the local Fijians asked the Cahills to assist them in developing their beautiful island into a tourist destination that was economically sustainable, preserve the native culture and conserve natural resources. The Cahills responded by starting Bridge the Gap Villages and have been working on the business plan ever since.

"We believe tourism is a powerful tool with the potential to address poverty, environmental degradation, cultural breakdown, and empower women in positive ways," says co-founder Jenny Cahill. "Tourism can, and should, provide mutual benefits to native communities and island guests."

StartSomeGood is a peerfunding site - a platform for social entrepreneurs to gather a community and raise the funds needed to create change. This is often referred to as “crowd funding” but StartSomeGood avoids this definition. StartSomeGood’s goal is to be the best platform for social entrepreneurs to launch and grow the innovative ventures to improve our communities and our world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uPfSHz4Wjk