Vayando in Costa Rica

"Vayando is an effective approach to help bridge the last mile of tourism, bringing tourism dollars directly to the local level."  - John Tucker, Deputy Director of Micro-Finance of the United Nations

REDESIGNING TRAVEL TO PROMOTE ENTREPRENURIAL DEVELOPMENT 

Vayando  is a startup social enterprise that connects curious travelers with micro-entrepreneurs in emerging economies around the world. 

We provide  an online marketing platform for micro-entrepreneurs that have interest and motivation in sharing local knowledge, activities, experience, and skills to connect directly with curious travelers visiting their areas. Travelers get an immersive experience connecting with local people and learning about their livelihoods while entrepreneurs gain opportunity - via a direct business transaction - to build their own small business. 


Travel to developing countries is growing at double the rate of established northern markets, and by 2030 will account for 60% of the tourism sector, or some 1 billion travelers annually. More and more, travelers are looking for unique experiences and to connect locally. Our goal is to utilize growth and diversification in the tourism sector to unlock economic opportunity for tens of thousands of entrepreneurs towards the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid. 

Many entrepreneurs can double their monthly income with just two or three bookings per month, and by sharing what they are already doing as part of their livelihood strategy. Activities marketed include farming, animal husbandry, agroforestry, beekeeping, fishing, shopkeeping, local food preparation, the arts, cottage industries, handicraft production, coffee harvesting, public health outreach opportunities, environmental conservation initiatives, community development efforts, and cooperative level production. The possibilities are endless.  

Vayando was founded and is being developed by a hardworking group of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. Read more about how Vayando came about here . 
 
HOW IT WORKS

Vayando coordinates with in-country field-partner organizations - such as Peace Corps, the Rainforest Alliance, and Care International - to identify motivated and reputable entrepreneurs in the communities where they operate and work with them in creating an online profile. The majority of entrepreneurs we market have little to no access to the internet, but they do have a marketable skill and also own a basic cell phone.

Travelers browse through online profiles in the country they are traveling and book experiences with these individuals, or the cooperatives they are members of. Bookings are easily confirmed and managed through an integrated online and SMS based system. Payment is made securely via mobile money. Vayando's platform is free for entrepreneurs and they only need to be able to receive and send text messages.

THE ASK! 

Vayando is currently piloting in Costa Rica  and Rwanda, with a 100 country goal on the horizon. Last year we ran a successful crowdfunding campaign for our efforts in Rwanda, and are looking to raise additional funding to focus in Costa Rica.

We are seeking $5,000 to cover travel and general operating costs for our Country Coordinator in Costa Rica, Jaime Posa. Funding will also go to help cover her travel and medical insurance. 


Jaime is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from El Salvador currently completing her MA in Sustainable Food Systems from the University for Peace  in Costa Rica. She's been a huge asset to our introduction and expansion in the country. The Huffington Post and Facebook recently published great pieces about Jaime's work. You can learn more about her here and here . 

For the last few months Jaime has been traveling around by bus, moto, and hitch-hiking working to identify early entrepreneurs to market on Vayando and to establish field partner connections - with organizations such as the Peace Corps and Rainforest Alliance - needed for us to scale.

Your contribution will help us create a new form of immersive travel and put micro-entrepreneurs on the tourism map. Even small contributions go a long way. Any support in helping us grow and expand in Costa Rica is greatly appreciated!

$1 says keep up the good work! $5 covers a meal! $20 covers a round trip bus ride! $50 covers an overnight! $100 gets the ball rolling putting an entire new community on the Vayando platform! 

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING!

Vayando went live in December 2014 and we have been actively marketing and booking.

With her first few bookings, Maritza  - an organic hillside farmer - paid off all outstanding debt and is now saving to build a new greenhouse. She's interested in building her market gardening operation and diversifying into hydroponics. Maritza is a go-getter and says that she always "wants to have work to do. I want to be an independent woman.”  Vayando is an excellent opportunity for her to sustain her livelihood and invest in the growth of her business. 


Don Pancho  - a small-holder coffee farmer - grossed $410 on his first booking. Money he said will be revinvested back into his farm and go towards tuition for his four children's education. Don Pancho knows coffee, and was recently elected to the National Coffee Council in Costa Rica, a nine-member group that advises on all things coffee in the country. Visiting him is a unique introduction to coffee production in the region. 


Here's what folks said about visiting Don Pancho:

“You really got the feeling Don Pancho was excited we were there. He was so patient and really thoughtful when answering questions. We discussed agronomy, use of child and immigrant labor in the coffee industry in Costa Rica, and how his farm was helping to put his kids through school.” ­​­ K​atharina, Traveler and Customer

“I liked how it was like visiting a family, getting to know Don Pancho and their lives and business. Really nice experience!”​­­ A​ndrea, T​raveler and Customer


OUR VISION AND SOCIAL IMPACT GOALS

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, over 383 million travelers visit low and middle income countries each year. This number is expected to hit 1 billion by 2030, and account for nearly 60% of the tourism market. Vayando is an innovative new model for travel and works to bring these tourism dollars directly to the local level.

Currently, many skilled locals are excluded from the tourism sector and are looking for opportunity to sustain and grow their small business. Two major obstacles to growth include 1) a lack of access to financing and working capital, and 2) insufficient access to markets. Vayando addresses both. 


Vayando's social impact goals are an 1) increase in working capital at the entrepreneur level through bookings and 2) increased access to new markets for entrepreneurs and associated producer groups. With two to three bookings per month, more marginalized entrepreneurs can double their monthly income. Financial impacts are increased by entrepreneurs gaining exposure to new markets and better access to additional financing mechanisms. The growth of small business has a ripple effect creating jobs and reducing poverty in the communities where they are operating.


By tapping into just 1% of tourist visits in Vayando’s 100 country goal we estimate a combined annual income of over $35 million USD for Vayando's micro-entrepreneurial partners. With current and projected growth in travel to Vayando's target countries, however, the potential benefit is much greater. To have a sustainable impact - and be a viable business model -
Vayando captures an industry standard booking fee for each transaction, added on to the booking and not deducted from the entrepreneur's earning. Being for-profit means that we are responsive to our customer and client needs and not dependent on financial support from donors. 

To increase social impact, at least 50% of Vayando’s profiles will be female entrepreneurs. Empowering women economically has proven to have a higher impact across various scales. At the household level, it has shown to significantly improve nutrition, education, and healthcare for children. Further, female entrepreneurs act as role models for the next generation of women business leaders in their communities and work to break down discriminatory stereotypes across all levels. Vayando is working with Peace Corps and other organizations to promote ongoing vocational and business development trainings for entrepreneurs.

SOME RECENT RECOGNITION




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FROM ALL OF US AT THE VAYANDO TEAM...

A HUGE THANK YOU AND SAFE TRAVELS!