Staff Interview with Elly Rohrer

What inspired you to create Human Connections?

I created Human Connections in 2014 after having lived and worked in Nayarit, Mexico for several years. By then, I’d developed meaningful relationships with community members and knew that opportunities for cultural exchange with international visitors could be beneficial for all involved.

What lessons did you learn as the Program Director at Investours, and how do you use those lessons in your work today?

The most important lesson I learned is to start by asking questions. Especially in the social sector, people with good intentions make critical mistakes by assuming they know what is needed by a community without ever asking that community for input. Investours was a start-up organization designed by Harvard University students, most of whom had never traveled to our part of Mexico. Their model was not adapted to take into consideration local realities, and because of that it failed. This experience—as challenging as it was at the time—brought to life a lesson that should probably have been obvious in the first place: the community knows what they need and what would work better than an outsider does. 

You grew up in Switzerland and upstate New York. How has that experience influenced your work?

That’s a good question. I’m not sure, to be honest! I think living between two countries probably made me a bit more adaptable and helped me understand some intercultural nuances. Living in Mexico, though, is what has really influenced my work. I’ve been here about as long as I’ve lived in Switzerland or New York, and very much consider Mexico home.

You have experience living, researching, and working in Latin America. What initiated your interest in Latin America?

In college, I waitressed at a sports bar where I had the opportunity to befriend colleagues who were refugees from El Salvador. Learning about their story, their family, their culture, their challenges, and their optimism was fascinating to me. I wanted to learn more, and ended up traveling to El Salvador to do just that. That travel experience was the beginning of my love story with Latin America.

Can you tell us about your role as the Executive Director at Human Connections?

My job is extremely varied, which is something I love about it, actually. Some days I’m engaged in a public speaking event to discuss our work with a curious audience, some days I spend on hold with the bank, and some days I find myself in a partner’s home deepening our relationship. I am grateful to so often be working directly with people, and for having many opportunities to practice creative problem-solving, learning as I go.

What challenges do you face in your role and how do you overcome them?

I experience plenty of challenges! I’m the first person in my role at this organization, meaning I need to define what appropriate solutions look like. That responsibility is a challenge, as I don’t have someone who can make decisions for me. I overcome this by surrounding myself with great advisors and gathering as many insights as I can from my staff and community members. 

Why should participants choose Human Connections?

We are an organization centered around real, trust-based partnerships with local families (this is why we’re only in one physical location). This model allows us to offer visitors opportunities to interact authentically with our community, inviting them into our partners’ homes and workplaces to share in exchange. Since we are a nonprofit that is equally as committed to our partners as we are to our visitors, all participants can rest assured that their experiences are ethical and impactful in our community. There are a lot of study abroad providers out there, but I think this is one thing that really sets us apart.

Are there any projects in the works at Human Connections that we can expect to see in the near future?

We are an organization always in flux. We maximize our opportunities for growth as they arise, and hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of ethics through continual self-assessments. Our priority is to fully represent the tenets of responsible tourism in all of our programs, and to offer the highest quality of experiences possible to all.  

Why is traveling and living outside of one’s comfort zone important?

Growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Travel expands your perspective. Pushing yourself to experience new places and new ways of living helps you appreciate the world’s diversity and understand that there are multiple correct approaches to every situation. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel—and we like to use the term “responsible travel” as its definition resonates with us (see the 2002 Cape Town Declaration)—is travel that enhances the wellbeing of the host communities, while also being memorable for the traveler. This requires understanding the social, environmental, and economic impacts of tourism, and thinking critically about how to harness the industry’s power for good.