“If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor”
As we watch millions of Americans take action against not only the recent incidences of racism but also the historic unequal justice shown to the African American population, we at Escape To, are urging for a change in the travel industry. It is important that we as an industry not only listen and learn but also take action against systemic racism and reflect on what we as an industry are doing to propagate this discriminatory behavior.
The travel industry does not do enough to be inclusive towards the African American population in our marketing materials such as the lack of diverse representation in ads for yoga retreats or study abroad programs, which further cultivates this implicit bias that should not be allowed to exist within an industry that thrives on teaching people to be open, understanding and respectful towards other people and cultures. We as a travel industry need to do better and we as a company, at Escape to, need to do better.
In light of this Escape to has set up a $5,000 grant, Fairkonnect's Cultural Experiences Travel Grant, to assist five black students and travelers in being able to join our yoga retreats, vegan tours or our intern & volunteer abroad programs when they are ready to travel. It is one small step towards change but we hope it’s a step towards a more inclusive future and industry.
For more information on Fairkonnect's Cultural Experience Travel Grant, please contact prachi@fairkonnect.com.
To apply for our travel grant, please fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.