What is travel2change?

Travel2change is a nonprofit organization connecting travelers, local communities, and organizations to create change through purposeful traveling. Our community inspires with ideas, travels to experience projects, and interacts to share insights.

What does travel2change do?

… provides a platform for connecting travelers, local communities, and organizations to create change through purposeful traveling
…creates awareness about problems in local communities through our idea challenges
…supports our community members in developing their ideas into realizable projects and facilitates collaboration between travelers and locals
…enables travels to experience the winning ideas and provides ongoing support
…fosters interactions among travelers, local communities, and organizations to create and exchange knowledge

Guiding principles for our community

Principle #1: Inspiration
We aim to inspire. Your creative thoughts and ideas can be the inspiration for action and positive change. Be a motivating force through positive interaction and optimism.

Principle #2: Collaboration
The interactions between travelers and local communities will ensure our initiatives make the strongest impact. We want to hear and respect all voices and work together towards common goals.

Principle #3: Transformation
Together we can transform challenging issues in local communities into sustainable, beneficial solutions. Together our travel2change community will experience first-hand the impact we can have on our world when we dedicate our efforts to make a difference.

Principle #4: Diversity
We welcome input from travelers, locals, and organizations and recognize that the best ideas and projects capitalize on the unique strengths of travelers and local communities alike. Ultimately, our projects will benefit a multitude of local communities from every continent and culture.

Our process

Generate ideas: Generate ideas that will have a positive impact on the lives of local communities. The first idea challenge focuses on water. Submit your idea now!

Travel to realize ideas: We want to make the best ideas happen. We will send you on a free trip and provide support to realize the projects. Let's travel2change!

Share your experiences: Interact with travelers and locals to share your thoughts and experiences. Together we seek to learn for the next idea challenge!

Your benefit:

Submit ideas that you would love to work on during your travel. If your idea wins, we fund your adventurous and purposeful trip and provide support for your project.

Submit ideas that benefit your community. If your idea wins, you receive our support and help from travelers. You can also host any idea submitted by travelers or organizations.

Submit ideas that your organization works on. If your idea wins, you receive our support and help from travelers. If traveling is necessary, we will fund the trip of your project leader.

Why does travel2change exist?

Did you know that tourism is the major export producer for 83% of the world’s less developed countries and also for 1/3 of the world’s poorest countries? However, not everyone in local communities benefits and for some the costs outweigh the benefits. Together with you we want to rethink travel. We want your ideas regarding how we can travel to positively impact lives in local communities! We believe that traveling can make a difference both in the lives of travelers and in the lives of local communities. Travelers benefit from adventurous and purposeful traveling and local communities receive support in creating change for social, health, or environmental problems. Through connecting travelers and local communities we aim to ignite cycles of positive change. So inspire with your idea today!

Our team

We are a group of passionate and ambitious people who love traveling, volunteering, and are interested in making a positive difference. We established our non-profit organization in Austria, but are working and acting globally. Our motto is "Let's rethink travel and realize your ideas!"

Thomas KohlerFounder of travel2change "The idea for travel2change emerged from my windsurf trips to Mauritius. While my friends and I had all the means to perform this sport, the local youth did not although they were in the perfect setting for it. This experience triggered the idea of combining an adventurous purposeful travel experience with an effort to benefit local communities. Inspired by the power of collaboration enabled by technology, we came up with the community-centered approach of travel2change. We hope you become part of it!"