We go to great lengths on Tourdust to hand pick the very best tour operators from around the world. So you can imagine how very pleased we were  when we found out that two of our operators have been recognised by the 2009 Virgin Holidays Responsible Travel Awards.

Best Volunteering Organisation;  Travel People & Places

We have been working with Sallie from Travel People & Places for quite some time now and so are really excited that their work has been recognised.  Arranging volunteering placements around the world, a huge amount of work goes in to ensuring that  volunteers are matched with the right project. The emphasis of the placements is on skills matching - placing volunteers with skills that will add to the project, not replacing someone who could have been employed locally. Whilst volunteers pay a fee to participate, every effort is made to ensure transparency, so that participants know exactly where their money goes. 

Best for Poverty Reduction; Guludo Lodge

The team at Guludo have been praised on account of the tremendous work the founders have done for their charity, Nema. The foundation works with 12 communities in and around Guludo, providing 550 children with a school meal every day, securing clean water for 12,000 people, 4,400 mosquito nets for mothers of young children and funding secondary education for 79 pupils.

Many congratulations on your success!