Philanthropy is not about money. It’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help. - Timothy Pina
We give back to local communities and initiatives around the world in many ways. Sometimes that looks like sharing our wisdom by sitting on the board of nonprofits with powerful missions, supporting subsistence entrepreneurship through our businesses, or finding innovative ways to make a difference.
Check out where we spend our time and money below.
Ben Parker and the late William Ruck-Keene established Tongabezi Lodge in 1990 in Livingstone, Zambia. At the time, Ben’s wife Vanessa was a volunteer teacher in Livingstone. In 1995, members of the Tongabezi staff asked Vanessa if she would start a pre-school to teach their children to read and write.
On the condition that it would remain small, she agreed and Tongabezi Lodge donated the money to build one classroom for 15 students who lived within walking distance. Vannessa named the school Tujatane which means “let’s all hold hands together” in the local language Chitonga.
Despite the initial wish to keep it small, growth was inevitable. Today, The Tujatane Trust School is an award-winning school and accomplishes everything Vanessa originally hoped it would except remain small. 280 students are enrolled in a multi-classroom school with an art room, music room, sports grounds, library, and canteen. The school has also cultivated a very talented, beautiful and authentic children’s choir that performs at various events throughout the year.
When our wedding planning arm Love From Mwai by Exalt Africa plans and designs destination weddings in Livingstone, we often book the choir to sing during the wedding ceremony, which is always a crowd favorite and something our clients esteem as one of their top favorite elements of their wedding. We also make monetary donations to the trust school each year.
