Our Beliefs and Values

Poverty

LTT understands that poverty to be a state of affairs whereby an individual:-

1. lacks the income necessary to obtain basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, education etc. (usually believed to be $2 per day), with extreme or absolute poverty being where an individual cannot satisfy the most basic needs of life" (the $1 per day)
2. lacks access to primary education (skills), reasonable health care, clean water and sanitation
3. lacks access to power, a feeling of invisibility, of being unheard by social institutions.
4. is vulnerable and lacks the inability to emotionally, economically deal with alterations in their environment caused by factors outside their control, such as civil unrest, earthquake, flood etc.

LTT therefore seeks to work to tackle poverty from all aspects by working in close participation with all stakeholders within the community regardless of their gender, age, HIV status, ethnic origins, and religious beliefs.

LTT are committed to following Pro-Poor Tourism strategies that aim to increased economic benefits through increased local employment by creating opportunities for local enterprises to participate in the market; that create a feeling of empowerment through participation, communication, consultation, and partnership; that improve the occupational and environmental training and capacity building for the community.

Sustainability

LTT will ensure that our business activities meet the needs of the present visitors and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.  We will manage resources in such a way that the economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems. 

Our Cultural tourism packages are a niche market activity aimed to stimulate and educate our visitors through exposure to and debate about culture, specially focusing on the impact of the environment on society's traditions; ceremonies; religious beliefs; life skills; architecture; craft and food.

LTT acknowledge the need to spread the benefits of tourism to the broader community and seeks to establish learning opportunities to benefit the broader society and not just those communities visited.

Education

The Tanzanian Government took steps to meet its pledge of free primary education for all, and has recently completed a 5-year primary school development programme. Whilst this has made a significant impact on the number of students enrolling at primary school, the problems have focused on exclusion (lack of school uniform), lack of classrooms leading to 60 students in one class or only having half rather than a full days teaching. Lack of suitable toilets leads girls to not come to school for 1 week a month. Lack of suitably qualified teachers has forced trainee teachers into the schools without experience. The quality of the education is more susceptible to dropping due to this. Lack of teacher education is seeing teacher leaving the job when they are transferred to other regions.

2007-2012 will see the Tanzanian Government concentrate on secondary schools in order to cope with the higher numbers of students finishing primary education. STATS

LTT believe that one of the ways out of poverty is through education, and so LTT supports projects that assist in the improving the facilities at schools, improved attendance levels for both boys and girls, improved teaching in the areas we operate.

LTT have a long term plan to establish a resource centre where visiting lecturers from University can come on a regular basis to provide suitable teacher refresher courses on English, maths and the sciences

LTT are working with a primary school in Babati to improve the existing classrooms, add 7 news ones, and build 10 teachers houses, toilets and a kitchen so that meals can be provided at school.

HIV/AIDS

LTT understands the devastating impact that HIV/AIDS can have on a family and community and does not discriminate against HIV/AIDS sufferers in anyway.