Join El Fuego del Sol for the most important GeoTourism experience in 2009. Haiti is the poorest county by far in this hemisphere. Right now, you can book your trip to help improve this terrible situation, meet and help people living only a two-hour plane flight from Miami, but who live in a country with some of the worst conditions in the world. Grupo Jaragua, a Dominican NGO is creating opportunities for community building, reforestation, and solar cooking with Haitians and Dominicans who are ready to work to help themselves and their community. El Fuego del Sol is ready to bring you to where you can make a difference. Visit www.elfuegodelsol.com for more details about EcoTourism Fair 09.

El Fuego del Sol is now debuting our Blog site: Ideas del Fuego. This will carry on the excellent concept of this comments page for years into the future. Links are up a www.elfuegodelsol.com. You can participate in our Geotourism Ecovillage in many ways. Stop by, see some new ideas and share your ideas that are ready to catch fire!

If we are chosen to be one of the finalists for the BID funding, we will continue with our Open Source design concept. We will encourage our fellow Changemaker community members and other interested individuals to help us create program specifics for our financing request. El Fuego del Sol is being created as a diverse ecovillage to be enjoyed for generations to come, and we are looking to our community to assist us in designing our initial goal structure. We are active in recycling, solar cooking, educational programming, tour-operation, renewable energy demonstrations, alternative building methods, micro-lending and permaculture. We will follow the BID guidelines for the types of projects that the BID prefers to finance. Then, we will include the community, in specifics as to what percentages of financing (and therefore priority) to designate for each sub-project. For example, does the community think we should initially focus more on recycling or renewable energy? This inclusive and innovative design structure will incorporate the Changemaker community, encourage more interested folks to join Changemakers, and provide more active involvement from those who have already voiced their support through this process. El Fuego del Sol was honored to be the only project to receive more than 60 nominations during the initial phase of GC 09. We receive emails every week asking how our supporters can stay involved in this year’s challenge. We think including an Open Source component for our design phase would do just that.

I want to see the travel & hospitality industry embrace diversity. As a Featured Commentator for "The Power of Place" I offer this guidance to Geotourism Challenge applicants. Questions for Geotourism Nominees http://www.slideshare.net/srains/universal-design-the-seven-principles

I’m wondering what the interest level would be among the entrants in this competition to form a Geotourism industry network. It seems that projects that have been working in the field for years would have so many great ideas to share with projects that are just getting started.

Programming successes would also be very helpful to exchange, as would products that have benefited each project by being included in their work. Visitors to each project need activities and interactive experiences to make their time most rewarding for everyone involved. I’d be interested in sharing this type of information directly with other projects in the world.

I wonder if the organizers of this competition at National Geographic and/or Changemakers would be open to the idea of an Entrants Only page where industry information could be exchanged. I’m also very interested in contacting the other projects directly so see their thoughts on creating this type of network. Also, does anyone know of a network like this that is currently in effect. Some type of open-source Geotourism industry network service that would be a place to share successes, problems and solutions with other Geotourism projects around the world. Please comment on this idea here, and I’ll also post this in the general comments.

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Kevin Adair

Thanks to everyone who nominated El Fuego del Sol in this competition. We were honored to receive the most nominations. By our count, now with the nomination period closing, we have a total of 60 nominations! The comments have been so kind and inspiring. Please continue to participate here at Changemakers! The comment process is now open, so please continue to comment here to help us design and create our community. Wherever you are in life, there is a place for you at El Fuego del Sol.

Thanks again!

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Kevin Adair

Kevin, El Fuego del Sol GeoTourism EcoVillage looks like a great program; keep up the good work! The organization I'm working with - WAVES for Development is considering some building projects in Peru and the work you're undertaking is inspiring - from solar ovens to micro-lending. We're also part of the changemakers community: http://geotourism.changemakers.com/en-us/node/22786 Let's work together!

Well I was able to log in and nominate EFdS. Hooray! I'm not sure if the two entries I tried yesterday worked or not, since there was no error message, just a blank window after I hit the submit button. Powers That Be: if you have duplicate entries from me, from my end, it looked as if only one actually went through.

I love the concept of giving people the tools to help themselves, and applying sustainability on a community-wide scale.

We are pleased to have participated in the GeoTourism Challenge since its inception last year. Our 08 entry had several excellent comments that I think would contribute to the current discussion. So, it seems a good time to bring a few of the questions and their answers forward into this forum. They are also available in the archives. -KA

by William B. Niccolls on April 2, 2008 - 06:45
Overall_Great concept: "Learn, live, and work in harmony with your culture and your surroundings while sharing it with others."
Possible Links for Ideas for Expansion_With regard to operating or expanding your EcoTourism center, you might examine the components and the content of visitor centers of the US National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/). For example: the Visitor Center at Bandelier National Monument. http://www.nps.gov/band/
DEFINING “integration” and your concept_Perhaps you could clearly define your concept of “integrated” at the very beginning. That is, at the outset, let the reader know what you are doing._You are providing a constructive, synergistic blend of 3 self-sustaining components, each designed to be “eco-friendly”: a visitors center, housing, and a small, local business – learn, live, and work in harmony with your culture and your surroundings.
IMPLEMENTING Integration of the 3 sub-projects_How do they stand alone individually?_(Advertising? administration? employment? training? financing? ownership?_How are they integrated in actual operations?_On-site? Off-site?_i.e.: Purchases, Deliveries, Advertising, etc.
Eco-Friendly Achitecture_Can you include a description of the eco-friendly components in your construction? Eg: Architecture, materials, energy efficiency, waste management, feng shui (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_Shui).

We are pleased to have participated in the GeoTourism Challenge since its inception last year. Our 08 entry had several excellent comments that I think would contribute to the current discussion. So, it seems a good time to bring a few of the questions and their answers forward into this forum. They are also available in the Changemakers archives. -KA

Benefit of local (part-) ownership of project
by roberthaas on April 13, 2008 - 04:30
Hi Kevin,
Sounds like a wonderful project, covering as well a lot of aspects for sustainability and sensible energy use.
Could you detail if there is any financial participation in your project by local people from DR, or are all principals from overseas (presumably US) or are there provisions to make local ownership possible in the future?
The background of my question is simple. Selling a piece of land for development gives the locals an initial benefit, they can make that work positively for themselves. But the longterm financial gain of the land ownership would be lost. However when bare land is turned into a prosperous business, it would offer the locals significant longterm and ongoing benefits = a far superior return on their land, as opposed to just sell as bare land.
I do understand, they get a return as it is (sun ovens, fair trade jobs, chance to set up their own businesses to offer services to the project...). But wouldn't it ulitmately be better, if the locals had a fair and significant ownership share in the project as such.
I assume it will be hard for locals to come up with the necessary money to buy into it at this stage. But then with some willingness if the project plans and allows for it, it could surely be incorporated in some inovative way._Your competition entry doesn't specify anything, but maybe you could tell us if there is a provision for what I outline above?
Many thanks for your answer.
Robert Haas

I love all of the work that you are doing in the Dominican Republic, but I had trouble with the process of nominating you. Could the Changemakers site be made more "user-friendly." It took me many attempts, and nominating your project is of the utmost importance!

Patty Sosa

I love all of the work that you are doing in the Dominican Republic, but I had trouble with the process of nominating you. Could the Changemakers site be made more "user-friendly." It took me many attempts, and nominating your project is of the utmost importance!

Patty Sosa

El Fuego del Sol is a tourism attraction, and a really beautiful paradise, wonderful place to live.
I have been living at El Fuego del Sol since the project started, in 2005. It is a great place for children, family and any kind of person . We have 10 beautiful horses to ride, a beautiful view of the hole city from the EFdS mountain, my brothers and children are taking Eco classes from Karim who is really a phenomenal teacher and great person.

I have been working at El fuego de sol for 4 years, now I am the General manager of EFdS site, and I am also through the employee ownership program I am now a partner and company stock owner.

Love hosting groups for to learn about ecology and Dominican culture.

Kevin Adair and I we have been in 250 meetings to try to finance the project, we’ve been in every banks, but they all say the same: this is a wonderful project and the country needs it , but we can’t finance this project because there are no projects like this in the Dominican Rep. We need to finance the project from somewhere else.

By financing this project many people will be happy and benefit from it, creating jobs, giving more Eco classes, and having more people around the world come to visit this wonderful paradise.

My dream is to get finance, and make of the El fuego del sol the most beautiful paradise for people all around the world.

El Feugo del Sol es una atraccion turistica y un real paraiso, maravilloso lugar para vivir. He vivid en Este lugar desde que dimos inicio al pojecto en el 2005, es un gradioso luga para ninos y atultos, tenemos 10 bellos caballos para cabargarvista de toda la ciudad desde la Montana de Efds.

Mis hermanos e hijos estan tomando Eco-claces de la profesora Karin, quien es una excelente persona.
He estado trabajando en Efds desde hace 4 anos, actualmente soy el gerente eneral del mismo y tambien socio.

Kevin y yo hemos assisted a unos 250 reuniones,tratando de encotrar financiamiento para nuetro projecto,hemos reunido con todos los bancos e instituciones governmental, pero todos nos han dicho lo mism: este es un projecto mirabilis,es lo que el pais nesecita, pero no lo podemos fimacial por que no hay ni ha avido otro projecto como este en la Rep. Dom.

Al financial este projecto muchas persona seran beneficiado, contentos, porque crearemos Fuentes de trabajos para muchas personas.

Mi sueno es encontra un financiamiento, y hacer de Efds el paraiso mas maravilloso, para persona de todo alerted del mundo.

I am Kevin Adair’s father, and Treasurer of El Fuego del Sol. I am working with Kevin to help design and promote the project. I spent nine days at the El Fuego del Sol in 2008. I stayed in a cabin, and was impressed with the beauty of the surrounding area.

We participated in the Higuey Bookfair. We set up our Sun Ovens and cooked rice and meat on site, and gave samples to everyone who visited our site. The food tasted exceptionally good.

Over 25 people signed up with interest in the Sun Ovens program that includes building and selling the units at-cost to nonprofits who help needy families.

I met the Site Manager Elvin Mejia Grullon and his family. Later, near Chicago I met Karim Johnson, who now resides at El Fuego del Sol, and conducts a school there. Elvin’s children, and other local children attend.

The 2nd annual Global Activism Expo was held in Chicago’s Northeastern University, April 2009, sponsored by WBEZ radio. I participated with Kevin. Over 3000 visitors attended. People came by all day long. Both of us were busy full time talking about the Sun Ovens, and the CarefulLoans program allowing investment of small amounts in the Dominican for profit, and GeoTourism.

My wife Caryl and I have supported Kevin unconditionally in this venture. With outside help, the Sun Oven project can become a great help to the needy in the Dominican and in Haiti. It can reduce production of carbon dioxide, and allow growth of trees. The CarefulLoans program can help a struggling economy while providing a small profit for the investor. There has been success with the GeoTourism program, including a visit from a University of San Francisco group who helped deliver Sun Ovens to the border region with Haiti.

I am proud of my son’s efforts to better the lives of the people in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

En higuey REP.DOM existe un lugar llamado el fuego del sol, ubicado en Santana bella , es un buen lugar donde vivir ya que puedes disfrutar de sus maravillas.

Pues en el fuego del sol puedes disfrutar de la naturaleza, los arboles, Montanas donde acampar, Flores, hay un patio grand donde puedes correr, caminar. Es un lugar tranquilo, ademas puedes aprender de la naturalza con las class que reparte nuestra profesora karim, hay Buenos caballos y un sin fin de cosas sorprendentes, te aseguro que si vienes a el fuego del sol no querras irte jamas.

fosnia

I think this is a great idea! A lot of people nowadays don’t get out very often, and when they do, they end up wasting their time and money; at least compared to what they could be doing. I’ve been to El Fuego del Sol and the place definitely lives up to expectations. There are a lot of things to do and there are local citizens living close by that are very involved in events held onsite. El Fuego Del Sol is also a very beautiful vacation spot. It just needs a little financial help to keep things solid, and to be able improve some things so more people can benefit.

A number of people have mentioned that they had trouble posting here. Here is a message we received Saturday, May 16. (Thanks, Sheri!)

Kevin, Here is what I wrote and posted for my comment,..............I didn't see it go up on the site??

I am the founder of "Compassion in the Himalayas" , a humanitarian project which began in 1996 addressing the nutritional, medical and financial needs of Tibetan refugees in exile.
The first question one is faced with in dealing with an overwhelming response to poverty and need, is where can I do the most good in this long chain of need? How can my resources, skills and vision generate any contribution of lasting value?
In examining the EFdelSol project, and the scope of it's vision, I think this project is incredibly important and vital at a time when the DR is experiencing more and more stark contrast between the dollars flowing into luxurious resort development and the widening misuse of natural resources and stark poverty of the average person. I believe with the scope of this vision including all the elements of being a developing leader in the Dominican in EcoTourism, and sustainable energy practices, and cultural preservation, this project will make a huge impact. Not only in terms of it's own production, but even more importantly, it can become a leader and model for other sustainable environmental and economical practices to follow suit. I agree, the Dominican with its incredibly rich cultural heritage, history, and center of economy in the Caribbean, should emerge as a leader in EcoTourism, and environmental sustainability. This will have an incredibly positive effect on the local population as well as the environment, which needs to be protected.

Sheri Winkelmann

El Fuego del Sol presented, for me, an alternative to mass tourism in the Dominican Republic. The site is somewhat of a community center. Here visitors can get an immediate glimpse of life in the Dominican Republic. The residents of the community are welcoming, and eager to share their experience and lend a hand.

I chose El Fuego del Sol as the primary location for the outdoor classroom programs based on its mission and its relationship with the community. Here, I can utilize the culture and current knowledge of the residents to build a foundation for our programs. Then we provide programming that reinforces current knowledge, or introduces new technology or concepts that enhance what they are doing making it more sustainable and/or ecological.

We are in the process of mapping out and designing hiking trails and lab stations on the site. As we continue to develop, our events will include not only ecology, conservation, and English language assistance, but also local history and culture.

All these things will be available for tourist to take part in as participants as well as volunteers. Our goal is to have tourist and residents working, learning, and experiencing together. When this happens everyone walks away richer.

I am excited by the opportunity that the the GeoTourism Challenge presents for so many intitutions, including El Fuego del Sol. This challenge gathers some of the most worthy endeavors in the world, challenging them to share with the world their best thoughts. I look forward to more comments.

Karim Johnson

Hi Kevin,

I first wanted to express how impressed I am with how much El Fuego del Sol has expanded and evolved over the last three years. For full disclosure, I should begin by letting other readers know that you and I briefly worked together back in 2006 when you first acquired the property and launched the resort and the Sun Oven factory, and I subsequently published stories on EFdS in my work as a journalist and editor. I've also spent years raising awareness about sustainable development and a greener approach to life. It has been my interest for years to find a way to be a larger part of this amazing project, and I'm very excited that it looks like that time has come.

What I think is most unique and special about what you are doing at El Fuego del Sol is the opportunity for people to not only experience sustainable technologies and permaculture as an "eco-tourist", but, depending on what they are looking for, to actually participate in the creation of it themselves. There is such a greater awareness these days of the need for renewables and permaculture, and there is a lot of talk about creating ecovillages, but not nearly as many opportunities to actually do the work and learn the practices. This is personally what I am looking forward to most when I come down.

So, I'm curious...what are you going to do with the practices you develop at EFdS? Any plans to export them?

Charles Shaw
Chicago/SoCal

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Featured Commentator
Geoturism Challenge 2009
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Comentarista
Desafío del Geoturismo 2009

The Outdoor Classroom program has brought a rich new structure to our project. I’m looking forward to see the future work of Karim Johnson at El Fuego del Sol. We are constantly working to create connections with other similarly minded groups. We are working through direct outreach, though local and international networks that we are co-creating, and through competitions such as the GeoTourism Challenge to spread the word and market the program. Should we be honored with financing through the BID or similar developmental organization, we would have the funds available for a direct marketing campaign to the local and international tour operators. We believe that the path to success is to do something that is crucially needed in an area that is dramatically underserved, and the financing and partnerships will eventually make themselves available. As you can see from the global map of this competition, we are currently the only GeoToursim project in the DR reaching out directly to the international community to form a greater connection.

There are many other GeoTourism sites to visit here, and we hope to create an easily accessible network to bring the visitors to our site and many of the others. I envision a GeoToursim Challenge 10 years from now when the DR and Haiti have as many site-location flags as Costa Rica has now. But for that to happen, we have to show the local and the international entrepreneurs that it is possible to find financing for cultural and ecological projects here.
The banks here still do not know what to make of us, because we don’t fit in any of their categories. However, we believe that we are an excellent fit for a development group like the BID. We hold full title to our property, with a high equity-to-value ratio. We are now working successfully and have a long-term plan toward reasonable expansion. We don’t intend to be donation based long-term. We intend to continue to be financially sustainable as we create benefits for the social and ecological environments. We are thrilled that the BID is co-sponsoring this Challenge this year, and we are hoping to talk with them

I agree that it is important that when tourists travel to tropical countries like the Dominican Republic, it is important for them to see more than just the beach. I think it is a great goal to have tourists visiting the Dominican Republic to come away not only with a tan, but also with an understanding of the rich culture and history of the country. In a country with such a significant wealth gap as you describe, it is important to use tourism to pump revenue into the economy. This project can be sustainable if it can economically (as well as culturally) benefit the Dominican Republic in the long term. It will be important for you to be able to market these off-the-beaten-path tourist destinations to the wide range of tourists to the country. Many people who visit the Dominican Republic only plan on seeing primarily the beach; as long as you can draw them to these other sites, they will come out satisfied.

I think this program has really touched on something that is important to all tourist destination. It is great that your focus is on keeping some of those dollars that tourists spend in the Dominican Republic. If there are millions of tourists visiting each year but only taking away from the island and not giving to it, that hurts more than it helps. I think the Outdoor Classroom program sounds really interesting and could draw people. You mentioned what types of partnerships or relationships you want to develop but I am curious about how you plan to develop these. What's your plan to get others interested? How will you market yourself? Also, you listed some unique tourist opportunities but I would love to hear about those in more detail. You said that many local residents do not necessarily understand or appreciate the Dominican Republic's rich history and culture but how have you changed that or how do you plan to change that specifically? I think overall this program sounds really great and could do a lot for both the visitors and the residents.