Description
The BOTOCO project proposes an international capacity building program that seeks to expose participants to various aspects of “community-based tourism” & youth work from different countries & organizations from Italy, Spain, Nepal, Vietnam, Turkey, India & Kenya. Through a transnational approach, the project will examine concepts & practices underpinning “community-based tourism” & its potential in the youth field in all targeted local communities & regions. Perspectives on “community-based tourism” will be explored through a holistic concept of protection & valorization of biodiversity, cultural diversity, local development, promotion of human rights. Through a intercultural approach, the project will engage youth organizations & stakeholders to work together to develop & promote CBS as a catalyst for inclusive & sustainable economic growth, youth employment, social inclusion, well-being & poverty reduction, while at the same time protecting cultural values and the natural heritage.

Countries involved Italy, Turkey, Spain, Vietnam, Kenya, India, Nepal.

Specific objectives
To strengthen the capacity of youth organizations & local communities to promote community-based tourism in rural & remote areas.

Excepted results
– Increased socio-professional development of youth workers and young leaders that are equipped with knowledge, key competences and employable tools related to “community-based tourism & sustainable development” through different cultural perspectives, educational approaches and community experiences from different regions of the World.
– Increased transnational cooperation, exchange of good practices and capacity building between youth workers, organizations and NGOs active in the sustainable development field from different World context.
– Developed “community-based tourism” packages based on holistic discovery of cultural diversity, natural products & gastronomy, while being engaged in social & environmental projects where young people can volunteer in local community project.
– Developed E-learning platform to promote the “community-based tourism” packages & reach a wider audience of young people & responsible travellers interested in “community-based tourism”.

Target groups
– Youth workers who work in community-based projects with & for young people & that are interested in community-based tourism and sustainable development.
– A wider audience of youth workers and young people that will be reached through the E-learning platform.

The capacity building programme on community-based tourism & sustainable development
The BOTOCO project proposes an international capacity building program that seeks to expose participants to various aspects of youth work related to community-based tourism.
– N.1 Training course in Italy on “Community-Based Tourism & Sustainable Development”
– N.6 Study visit in Turkey, Spain, Nepal, Kenya, India, Vietnam.
– Open educational resources in diverse European languages (EN, FR, IT), including the e-learning modules and the community-tourism packages developed within the project.
– N.1 Final seminar in Italy.

The partnership
– PRISM Promozione Internazionale Sicilia-Mondo, Italy (Caltanissetta)
– Resource Hub For Development (RHD), Kenya (Nairobi)
– Association for Community Development & Solidarity (ACDS), India (Raurkela)
– Youth Employment and Society Development joint stock company (YESD), Vietnam (Hanoi)
– Campaign for Change Nepal (CCN), Nepal (Kathmandu)
– Asociacion Cultural Y Deportiva La HOYA, Spain (Elche)
– Katilimci Genclik Derneg, Turkey (Istanbul)