17/01/2024
Welcome to the new page for my business, Travel SPIRIT!
Fair to say, I’m not too good at this social media stuff - but I recognise how vital it is to use all available platforms to enable businesses to grow and, hopefully, flourish so, here goes!
I have a passion for Africa, no other way to put it! It started almost 17 years ago when I visited Kenya to do a month’s voluntary work with an extraordinary young people’s Peer Education project in Mombasa. Kenya became a magnet, drawing me back as often as I could possibly manage, generally, yearly.
In 2013, I was fortunate to start working as a Travel Consultant, creating tailor made safaris for customers across the globe, for a great company, at their office in Nairobi. I was based there for 2 years before returning to the UK and continuing to work for them remotely until towards the end of 2019.
Early in 2020, I decided to set up as an Independent Travel Expert. I had travelled extensively across Eastern and Southern Africa by then, experiencing some of the most extraordinary locations and activities, and wanted to share that expertise. Everywhere I went, I was attracted to, and impressed by, the creative skills of local artisans. Using the limited materials available to them, much of which was salvaged and recycled, they created items of both beauty and functionality……..jewellery, leatherwork, beadwork, glassware.
Brilliant!
I went to Kenya in February 2020, to finalise details for my travel business. I arrived home on 11th March - and just a few days later we went until lockdown! As for so many people, Covid changed everything and all plans for my travel business were lost.
That’s when my plans for Travel SPIRIT! started to develop. Tourism had come to an abrupt end, and I was aware of the impact of this across Africa. I decided to start importing ethically sourced products, from Social Enterprises and Community groups, and sell them here, in the UK. The aim was to showcase some of this brilliant, innovative, and creative work, as well as bringing a flavour of different cultures, especially at a time when travel was so limited. Even more importantly, selling these items could contribute to the sustainable livelihoods of the artisans/communities who created them. Hence, Travel SPIRIT! was born! 😊
Sorry for the long intro, but I just wanted to give some background info 😄
