What is Brighter Futures?  
Brighter Futures is a new concept within the Travel and Tourism industry and it has established a totally new relationship between tourists from economically advanced countries and producers in tourism destinations with economic disadvantages.  

At our launch event in the Gambia on 2nd November 2004, the Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, Susan Waffa Ogoo described Brighter Futures as a "Trail blazing venture which will contribute to a large extent to the Government's poverty alleviation strategy".

This relationship is based on trade and not aid. We work with local producers to gain fair prices for their goods and to sell these goods in new ways to the tourism market. Goods are both acquired at and sold at fair prices so that both the supplier and consumer get a fair deal.

The Managing Director is Adama Bah. Adama is Secretary General of the Association of Small Scale Tourism Enterprises (ASSET) and the executive secretary of Gambia Tourism Concern. He is manager of the Responsible Tourism Partnership in the Gambia and has extensive national and international experience in the development of Responsible Tourism Programmes.

Malick Jeng acts as Company Secretary. He has wide experience in marketing and developing tourism programmes and policies and is a former Marketing Director of the Gambia Tourist Authority (GTA).

The programme administrator is Daouda Niang. Daouda has a diploma in Tourism and Business Management and has worked as a travel consultant and in IT.  Daouda has over two years experience of working with the Gambia Tourism Authority (GTA) and managed and supervised the GTA website.

All costs in establishing Brighter Futures have been met by the Directors and private investors from within the tourism industry.  No Government, institutional or charitable funds have been sought or applied for.

We believe that we can achieve this by bringing together modern sales techniques, good marketing and good quality control with the rich vibrancy and unique skills and materials available from traditional artisans and producers. All of our producers and our supporters in destinations tell us that they welcome our attitude to ensure that our customer promise to provide fairness to them and quality to our customers is exactly what they want. They do not wish to be seen as 'charity cases' and want to trade with pride and dignity.  

How will the model work?  
The business model has three distinct parts. Firstly a company based in the country of origin of the source of product supply. This company will source goods from local suppliers, ensure quality and health and safety control, enter into contracts with suppliers and pay them for their goods. Starting with the Gambia, Brighter Futures (Gambia) has been incorporated and has already started to acquire and sell goods, develop local markets and prepare items for international dispatch. We hope to develop Brighter Futures in many other countries starting with Sri Lanka in early 2005.

Secondly an international distribution network has been established with a web based shop showing products for sale and information. This network is operated by Dick Sisman & Associates Ltd.

Thirdly in each country of distribution there will be an appointed agent or agents to handle sales in that country. In the UK this will be Brighter Futures (UK) Ltd. In the USA it will be Sustainable Travel International. Other distributors will be appointed from time to time.

Why should I support Brighter Futures?  
If you have an interest in buying goods traded on the basis of trade not aid then Brighter Futures should be one of your programmes of choice. All products bought and sold by Brighter Futures will be acquired directly from local producers within tourist destinations and our terms of trading are such that we will provide a significant improvement in the income of some of the most economically disadvantaged and socially vulnerable people in the world.  

Brighter Futures not only pays fair prices for goods but pays cash in local currencies for products on delivery and in some cases we even pay money to suppliers to buy the materials they need to make their products. In this way anyone with a skill can produce goods for the Brighter Futures range.

What sort of products will Brighter Futures sell?  
Our range of products will be extensive but will not include food because we do not have the necessary checking equipment or expertise to comply with the rigorous health and safety regulations in developed countries. We are therefore aiming our products at the holiday, leisure and lifestyle market. We sell the following products from our online shop:

	tourist baskets with a range of contents
	local and international games sets such as Awuri and chess sets
	face masks
	wooden carvings
	linen items
	jewellery and jewellery boxes
	placemats
	table cloths
	tie and dye
	wall hangings
	hand made greetings cards
	stationary
	leather goods
	sculptures
	musical instruments
	leather and fabric bags

This is not an exhaustive list and we will add to it over time. We also offer a bespoke service for carvings.

You say that Brighter Futures will support local producers can you give examples?
Not only will Brighter Futures help to improve the economic wellbeing of disadvantaged people, we will also contribute to the social welfare of some very vulnerable people. Here are some examples.

In the Gambia we work with the Kololi Women's skills centre which was founded to help to train young, vulnerable women in skills which they can use to support themselves. We are already working with this centre to develop a range of beachwear and towels in tie and dye and other material

We buy some of the contents of our gift baskets including body polish and loofas from the Faraja Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy skill centre which was established to give school drop outs a chance to earn a living. We also help this skill centre to develop other skills and services.

Although we will not sell locally made food we will particularly seek to work with producers in rural areas by buying products like beeswax and sesame soap produced by members of the Beekeeping Association in the Gambia and the Agricultural Women Farmers Association. This association provides training and support for rural women.

All of these producers in the Gambia are members of the Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSET), the leading pro poor charity in the Gambia. We will work closely and exclusively with ASSET in the Gambia to ensure that all of the goods we buy produce benefits for local people.

As we develop Brighter Futures in other countries we will always seek to help the most economically disadvantaged and socially vulnerable through the development of skills and trade not aid in which we provide long term support.

Who do you sell to?
Our target audience is in two parts. Firstly to the tourist market. We are aware that many tourists are sensitized to the differences in economic and social wellbeing between themselves and those in the destinations they visit. There is a real demand to buy memories and mementos often thwarted by the problem in carrying goods back in overloaded suitcases or simply because local producers cannot accept credit cards or "plastic" payments. We believe that many tourists will support our programme.

We also sell to others who support fairly traded programmes as a conscious lifestyle choice. We do not make a cachet out of fair trade and we do not increase our prices or profitability out of people's sense of conscience or duty. We will always strive to ensure that our goods provide the best possible income for the producer but also the best possible value for the customer.

How do you sell your products?
We sell our products in a number of different ways. Firstly we have our own outlets in the countries in which our products are made.   In the Gambia one of these is the Village Gallery in Kololi where we have a wide range of products for sale to tourists. We have already agreed some other retail opportunities with hotel shops and other outlets in tourist areas.

We also sell online through our shop particularly goods in small supply and individual works of art and batik. All goods can be delivered to any address in the UK and are available for purchase by credit or debit card. We may also look to work with selected retail outlets in the UK. To view our products, click here.

We have already agreed that Sustainable Travel International in the USA will provide products there and we may also extend sales within the EU and elsewhere in the world.

How can I support Brighter Futures?
There are a number of ways to support the initiative. Firstly if you run a travel or tourism related business or interested individual you can become a patrons or friend of Brighter Future. In return we ask that friends and patrons promote the products amongst their staff, friends and customers. We are particularly keen to see references in travel brochures, ticket wallets and newsletters sent to customers.

How do I find out more or express my interest? 
In the first instance requests for further information or expressions of interest should be sent by email to STI.

CONTACT US!

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL

ADDRESS: 835 SW Williams Drive, White Salmon, WA 98672 USA

PHONE: 800-276-7764 US & Canada, 503-488-5500 International

info@SustainableTravelInternational.org

BUSINESS HOURS: 8am-5pm MDT