What inspired you to work for your organization?
The Malagasy people. When I decided to start TSAP Travel, I had no idea whether or not we would get customers to travel to Madagascar to share their skills and knowledge with the local community, but what I did know was that Malagasy people wanted us.
They wanted something to shift or happen within their community. Having spent years watching other organisations take from their society, research, resources, and more. They wanted an organisation that would actively listen to and supports them.
TSAP Travel is on a mission to leave a legacy in Madagascar. We don't want them to become reliant on Western support but rather help them access information and knowledge, and give them the resources to succeed independently. We want to empower them to live the lives that they desire.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical workday in Madagascar is usually an
- 8 am start. I start breakfast for the team. Usually porridge or pancakes, cereal if we've got milk in!
Once breakfast is made, I wake up the volunteers (aka changemakers), and we enjoy breakfast and complete our morning stand-up. This is so we all know what everyone will be up to throughout the day.
- 10 am, we all head out on our individual projects/research whilst some people stay behind in some planning or employability practice.
- Around 1 pm, lunch happens. This might be at the house, but often, it happens on the road, as we pick up a pastry from Casa Mofo or some samosas on the road.
Then work continues into the afternoon, usually with those who spent the morning at home heading out and the others heading back to enjoy a relaxing afternoon. - By 4:30/5 pm, the teachers (including me) are heading out to support our local Malagasy English teachers and aid in an English class. The others stay behind to prepare dinner and hang out.
Luckily, we often head back to a ready-prepared dinner that we get to enjoy. We’ll either play some card games or have deep chats that changemakers in a developing country have. - Before bed, cleaning up the kitchen or leaving it for the next morning.
Why do you do what you do?
I believe everyone should have the opportunity to live their best life and achieve great happiness. I want to help people achieve that.
I've discovered that I can ignite change, deliver impact, and leave a legacy through TSAP Travel. The feeling of gratitude, the warmth I feel when someone says a sentence in English and I understand, when I see people achieving their dreams, it truly is a dream come true for me.
What is your favorite part of your job?
That's a hard question to answer, and there are two answers.
It’s watching changemakers experience the beauty and the culture of Madagascar for the first time. This experience is easily one of the best parts of the job, as many people don't know what to expect. When they get to experience the sunsets, meet our local staff, and build friendships, it's lovely.
Another main one is when students participate in English classes, and you get to see their English language skills improve. It's incredible to see the joy on their face but also to see that our hard work as English teachers is paying off.
Chloe on the boat in the Indian Ocean.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I get to use my educational experience in this role in many ways, specifically when we are working on our Inspiring Entrepreneurship project. I completed a Master’s in Entrepreneurship and started TSAP Travel by myself.
Meanwhile, I get to use my project management experience through managing changemakers who join us from outside of Madagascar.
I also decided to become a qualified English teacher in 2020 and use that qualification daily in Madagascar.
I have found through my experience building and working at TSAP Travel I have used a variety of the transferable skills that I have picked up within education and other work environments.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Challenges I often face are not feeling good enough. I am twenty-four and trying to do my best to help others achieve their dreams, which can be challenging.
Meanwhile, as a new company, we have and are continuing to build, which can be a difficult challenge. Between recruiting volunteers and building trust amongst clients, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it, and I’ve accepted all the ins and outs.
To overcome these challenges, I surround myself with people who believe in me, even when I don't. Together as a team, we help each other achieve great things.
In terms of recruiting new volunteers and building trust, I do this by being vulnerable, honest, and transparent about how and why we do what we do here at TSAP Travel.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Currently, I am working on developing our four core projects;
Access to Education - We are working on developing our English language offerings and identifying people in the community who would benefit from re-entering education to better their chances at employment in Madagascar.
Inspiring Entrepreneurship - We will be launching a business-in-a-box programme later this year. So we're working behind the scenes to get it set up and recruiting changemakers to support it. We are also looking at hosting The Diary of a CEO podcast in French to inspire the Malagasy people, alongside holding women in leadership events.
Eco-brick Project - We are focused on continuing to deliver our community beach cleaners across the island of Nosy Be. We're focusing on completing a sustainability audit on the island and educating the locals on sustainable practices alongside an innovative refuge system.
Sunset Strays - We are launching a dog association to support local people in better practices in looking after their canine companions. We will be making dog food more affordable delivering education and training classes.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
To have more confidence, 99% of people want to help you, and often, it's worth asking for help in the airport, a popular cafe, or a hotel when you're not sure about something.
I remember landing at my first international airport. I didn't know where I was going or if I had to re-check my bags, and just asking a couple of simple questions I felt relieved and was able to continue on my travels with peace of mind.
Standing on Ambatoloaka beach, taking a break from the beach clean.
What makes your organization special?
TSAP Travel is on a mission to ignite change, deliver impact, and leave a legacy. We work hard to make sure that our projects can continue without us being present in Madagascar, and every year, we test this with a new project.
Currently, our Access to Education, Eco-brick, and Inspiring Entrepreneurship project continues in some way without the international team being present in Madagascar. Meaning the Malagasy people can be self-sufficient and make a living. We actively listen to the community and update and innovate our projects accordingly.
Meanwhile, for our changemakers, we design bespoke projects that align with our four core projects and community needs. When we recruit volunteers we actively communicate their goals with the Malagasy people to ensure that they will bring value to the country in the form of research and knowledge.
We actively don't participate in conversations about marine projects, as we purely focus on community development, which we have seen have knock-on effects on areas such as conservation.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
We operate a smaller organisation, meaning they won’t feel lost in a sea of other changemakers. Volunteers will directly be able to see and experience the impact they are having on the local community.
Not only will changemakers work closely with Malagasy people, but they will also get involved in various cultural immersion activities, enabling them to gain an in-depth understanding of Malagasy culture.
Meanwhile, we offer bespoke projects, meaning volunteers can really tailor their experience to anything they want. Changemakers work closely with the Malagasy community to ensure their projects' support and the continuation of aiding the Malagasy community.
We also include an employability programme throughout our projects, meaning people will be ready to embark on their next adventure after joining TSAP Travel in Madagascar.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
Our goal is for Madagascar not to need us anymore. We want to see them flourish independently, and we have realised through research that we can be the catalyst for change.
We can start projects and leave them to be continued by Malagasy people with a little bit of financial support from us.
If we're dreaming big, I'd eventually like to see a business incubator in Madagascar where the country is actively investing in start-up projects innovated by budding entrepreneurs from the country.
Are there any developments with your organization that you would like to share with us?
We are currently focusing on developing a lifestyle range. So, even if it's not the right time to join us physically in Madagascar, you can still ignite change, deliver impact, and leave a legacy by purchasing one of our lifestyle products.
We are taking raw materials from Madagascar, paying a high price for them to support the farmers. Then, by using those raw materials to create a variety of products, such as candles, lip balms, etc.
The profits from those products are used to support our community development efforts in the country.
What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?
The location we are based in is one of the most beautiful and unique parts of the world, where very few people typically visit.
The projects we focus on community development projects, meaning you get to meet a variety of Malagasy people and get to hear firsthand the impact you are having on communities.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
We are on a mission to ignite change, deliver impact, and leave a generative legacy on people around the world.
We actively work towards our mission every day. We've started in Madagascar and support a variety of individuals, young and old, to achieve their dreams and aspirations.
As an organisation we place a high focus on listening and learning from others to ensure we are enabling people to live a life that aligns with their purpose and goals.
Chloe, Djamel, and Freya in Nosy Iranja, enjoying an outing on the island.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I speak a lot about a 'Madagascar feeling.' Not everyone feels it or gets it but those that do, leave Madagascar feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the world and achieve their dreams.
I also hope that people realise how much of an impact they can make, even if it is just on one person. I want them to realise how powerful and capable they are.
Finally, the Western world tends to make a lot of noise, and everyone has an opinion on what we should be doing. I would love people to walk away from our programmes, ready to live a life that aligns with their purpose.
How do you help support participants?
We support participants in a variety of ways.
Pre-travel Meetings & Support - as the programme lead, I meet everyone before they join us in Madagascar, meaning they have a friendly face when they land.
Visa Support - we provide visa support so volunteers know what to expect and how to get a visa either prior to arrival or when they arrive at the airport.
Translators - we try to ensure that there is always a translator present, either in the form of a staff member or a local friend to make life easier when in Madagascar.
Employability Programme - we include an employability programme for all of our participants in the form of practice pitching and interviews, CV and cover letter writing, and more.
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would do what I do now. I get to stick in everything in Madagascar, even though there are projects where I have more expertise. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of all of the projects and developing my knowledge and skill set.
I fell in love with Madagascar a long time ago and it's a country that I think I'll continue to support and invest for the rest of my life, in a variety of different ways.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Participants often ask me what Madagascar is like, and I always tell them that it's a country like no other, even though I haven't travelled too much. Others who have traveled more always say they love it and it's so different, with amazing people.
I also like to share that the people are so friendly and always want to help. They love meeting people from England and love to practice their English with you. Honestly, I've never met poorer but happier people who have an incredible desire to learn and better themselves.
Meanwhile, 95% of the flora and fauna can't be found anywhere else in the world, making the country even more magical. It's also important not to forget that we get to spend our time swimming in the Indian Ocean, snorkelling with turtles, and seeing incredible sea life.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Even though Madagascar stole my heart many years ago, just experiencing this culture in-depth has taught me so much. From learning how to live with less and appreciating what I have not to let go of products too soon just because they have a stain or a small hole.
Beyond the smaller habits, learning about religion and mora mora, aka a slower-paced lifestyle, can and has impacted my life. Madagascar has changed my life.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
I think learning a new language is important because it demonstrates respect to countries and to the people where it's their first language. It improves your ability to learn new things, improves memory, and enables you to grow more respect for people who speak multiple languages.
I've really enjoyed learning a new language, and it's improved our work in Madagascar immensely because I've been able to communicate with the locals more.
TSAP Travel's first ‘Women in Leadership’ event, Chloe presenting.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
As an organisation that focuses on people and community development built by a mutual relationship, a few things differ for us. We don't align with organisations that carry out conservation, wildlife, and marine projects. Whilst these projects can be beneficial and influence research efforts around the globe, it’s not our focus.
TSAP Travel believes that tackling problems within the community will have an impact on conservation. For example, by supporting individuals to earn more money, they will be able to purchase better cooking equipment and, as a result, will stop using coal. This will reduce the amount of mangroves being cut down and result in a positive conservation influence.
Meanwhile, we don't take part in construction efforts that happen in Madagascar because we believe the local people are better placed to work on construction projects. So, we actively enlist locals to support with construction projects such as house and school builds where necessary.
We believe minimal intervention but support and resources can empower a community to grow and flourish organically.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
Ethical global engagement, to me, means organisations engage with countries around the globe in a variety of ways to ensure that sustainable development goals are achieved.
By engaging with countries in an ethical way that supports their development, we will create a world where people get the opportunity to live their life to the fullest.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
In the future, I would love to see a world where all education up to the age of 18 is accessible (either for free or paid for via a tax system).
It would also be good to see more business education accessible to people around the globe. Instead of limiting people's success by making it inaccessible, I think it would be great to see it encouraged.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
It is important to us that the host communities want to participate in knowledge exchange programmes and are keen to both learn and teach. It's prevalent that we can work together to create projects that are mutually beneficial and have longevity.
I think it's paramount that the programme and the host communities know how to communicate effectively and are able to innovate and develop projects together.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel means immersing yourself in the country. Learn and use the language when communicating with locals, ask questions, and be inquisitive.
Try new foods and work hard to understand how you can respect the culture of the country you're in.
I think meaningful travel can be achieved in many different ways, but I think making friends with and getting to know locals results in a meaningful experience that leaves you with memories for life.