Travel Foundation in association with travel portal Travel Weekly, organized a charity vote that was an initiative that enabled the use of safer and cleaner fuel in Kenya’s Masai village.

The union was formed in an attempt to test the travelers knowledge on safe travel and make them aware on the same. The readers were asked to cast their vote for the tourism project they would like to see receive £5,000 funding next year.

The funds will be offered for the enhancement and spread of clean travel in Masai village. The women of the village will be imparted training and equipment enabling them to create a new fuel source – cow dung briquettes.

The project is aimed at protecting the poor and vulnerable women of the village from the dangerous encounters with elephants by allaying their find for firewood. Also the briquettes made by cow dung could also be sold to tourist lodges and provide a source of earning to the villagers.

Sue Hurdle, Travel Foundation chief executive said: ‘We are delighted to be able to extend funding to the winner of the project vote – the Masai cleaner fuel project.

“This simple but hugely effective initiative brings so many benefits to local communities that have done so much for tourism in Kenya. It helps to protect the environment, prevents harm to women from wildlife whilst searching for fuel, and it provides a new opportunity for the women to increase their income from tourism, helping to lift them and their families out of poverty.

“All of the four shortlisted projects were worthy winners and we will continue our support in each of these destinations in the future.’

The project is named Masai fuel project and it is executed by Dr Cheryl Mvula from Tribal Voice Communications.

She said: “Winning this grant means that 1,000 more Masai villagers will benefit from our alternative fuel/ livelihoods initiative in Kenya.

“The women will also potentially have an important new livelihood stream selling surplus briquettes to neighboring safari lodges and camps in the Masai Mara.”

There are also a number of projects running simultaneously. These include  a fish-farming education project in Tobago; training whale shark guides in Cancun, Mexico; and supporting the lacemaking trade in parts of Sri Lanka hit by the 2005 tsunami.