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THE 2025 GLOBAL AWARDS WINNERS
Alan Spanier Impact Award
for Youth Development in Tourism
Masisebenze Social Enterprises
Gqeberha, South Africa
Masisebenze is an impact-driven and innovative social enterprise generating income for its social impact projects in disadvantaged communities. The awarded initiative provides training and employment opportunities for youth in South Africa.
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Through hands-on hospitality training and work experience in its affiliated guesthouses, catering services, and cultural tourism activities, more than 100 youth have successfully completed its programs, with 85% securing employment or starting their own small businesses. The revenues generated from hosting over 60 organizations and delivering more than 50 cultural experiences annually are reinvested directly into the Masisebenze programs.
STREETS Social Enterprise Award
for Hospitality & Tourism
Anon Co., Ltd.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Anon Cambodia is a Siem Reap tourism-focused producer of eco-friendly handicraft souvenirs including recycled wood sculptures, plant-based soaps, coffee, and local spice blends. Traditional and sustainable craftsmanship ensure environmentally conscious products that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Cambodia.
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Anon has empowered more than 50 local artisans—70% are women and youth from vulnerable backgrounds—through paid job training, employment, and craft-based tourism experiences, channeling tourism income directly into artisan livelihoods.
THE 2025 HONORABLE MENTION AWARD WINNERS
Alan Spanier Impact Award
for Youth Development in Tourism
Elite Cafe Training Center
Kigali, Rwanda
Elite Cafe provides guests with the best-quality regional coffee, along with barista and hospitality skills training for deserving youth. The mission is to foster career opportunities, personal growth, excellence in service while contributing to Rwanda’s sustainable coffee and tourism industries.
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Elite Cafe operates a training café serving specialty regional coffee. This awarded initiative provides hands-on barista and hospitality skills training for underserved groups, especially women and out-of-school youth. More than 700 young people have completed the training, resulting in nearly 500 working with 45 youth having started their own coffee enterprises.
STREETS Social Enterprise Award
for Hospitality & Tourism
Mountain Homestays
Ladakh, India
Mountain Homestays is an innovative community-based tourism initiative that partners with rural communities to preserve local heritage and support livelihoods in tourism. It serves the Ladakh region in the Indian Himalayas.
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Since 2023, Mountain Homestays has empowered more than 150 villagers, primarily women, through hospitality skills training and income opportunities in community-led tourism initiatives. Sixty-five women-owned homestays in rural mountain villages have hosted thousands of guests in solar-powered, low-impact accommodations in remote, accessible destinations.