{"id":8519,"date":"2017-03-01T23:12:01","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T23:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=8519"},"modified":"2026-04-30T23:18:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T22:18:58","slug":"from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"From Ata\u00faro to Raja Ampat: a homestay adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe data-src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/230431952?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" src=\"about:blank\" class=\"lazyload\" data-load-mode=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the waves crashed over the bow of the boat soaking us again and again, I huddled over my camera gear desperately hoping that it would survive the storm. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.co.uk\/search?q=raja+ampat&amp;newwindow=1&amp;safe=off&amp;source=lnms&amp;tbm=isch&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjc04L5lrbSAhVDJcAKHQw8C2wQ_AUICCgB&amp;biw=1280&amp;bih=622\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">quick google of Raja Ampat<\/a> returns stunning pictures of heavily forested limestone stacks bursting out of blue skies and sparkling seas: we&#8217;re drifting in a sea of fog with no land in sight, the rain is torrential and I&#8217;m shivering in my wet clothes. I look up as the outboard motor on our boat fails again. This is not what I had been expecting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"pull-right\">Blue Ventures&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">volunteers<\/a> will now get to spend part of their expedition with a homestay family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;m in Raja Ampat, a remote province of West Papua, Indonesia, to document a community exchange between Ata\u00faro Island, Timor-Leste, and the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stayrajaampat.com\/ultimate-raja-ampat-guide\/news\/raja-ampat-homestay-association\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raja Ampat Homestay Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (RAHA). We&#8217;ve been helping set up a new homestay association on Ata\u00faro where our volunteers will spend part of their expedition time. Homestays are an important part of our strategy to diversify and strengthen alternative livelihoods for coastal communities, ensuring the economic benefits of tourism go directly to community families, rather than resorts or international investors. For volunteers and tourists it provides a richer cultural experience, and the chance to really understand the lived experience of their host community. We&#8217;ve worked with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Sarteneja-Homestay-Group-144961045714847\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarteneja Homestay Group<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Belize for 6 years and are delighted to be building this model into our expeditions in both <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/madagascar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Madagascar<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/timor-leste\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Timor-Leste<\/a> this year.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 249px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 448px; height: 253px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/dcim100goprog0120178-jpg\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8528\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/G0120178.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO5 Black&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROG0120178.JPG&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485834037&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPROG0120178.JPG&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Reef Manta Ray surface\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/G0120178-635x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/G0120178-745x419.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/G0120178-444x249.jpg\" width=\"444\" height=\"249\" align=\"left\" title=\"Reef Manta Ray surface\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/249;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Manta!<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 447px; height: 253px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/cimg2161\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8526\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/CIMG2161.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;EX-Z32&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485936574&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.6&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;64&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Typical homestay accommodation\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/CIMG2161-635x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/CIMG2161-745x419.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/CIMG2161-443x249.jpg\" width=\"443\" height=\"249\" align=\"left\" title=\"Typical homestay accommodation\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 443px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 443\/249;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Typical homestay accommodation<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 535px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 539px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/20170131_131403\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8524\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/20170131_131403.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,960\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GT-I9060I&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485868443&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3.31&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00105263157895&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Welcome to Raja Ampat Homestay!\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/20170131_131403-595x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/20170131_131403-745x447.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/20170131_131403-891x535.jpg\" width=\"891\" height=\"535\" align=\"left\" title=\"Welcome to Raja Ampat Homestay!\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 891px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 891\/535;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Welcome to Raja Ampat!<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">So, why visit Raja Ampat? Well RAHA are renowned leaders in the homestay game. Running since 2008 they now have over 70 homestay members covering many of the remote islands in this incredible region. The waters of Raja Ampat are part of the coral triangle and offer some of the very best diving and snorkelling to be found in the world. The people here are subsistence fishers and share many similarities to the communities we work with on Ata\u00faro. The homestay association has offered a way to access the international tourist market, and over the past few years they have learnt a great deal about what works and what doesn&#8217;t. They were eager to share those lessons with their Timorese soon-to-be friends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\">What&#8217;s striking about that lesson-sharing is how directly it pushes against the broader pattern of where digital-era income tends to settle. Most of the consumer money moving across borders today routes through platforms whose owners and tax addresses are nowhere near the places where the activity actually happens \u2014 international booking portals, streaming services, <a href=\"https:\/\/batman-news.com\/\">online casinos real money<\/a> is wagered on from every continent, gig-economy intermediaries that take a cut on every transaction. A homestay association is the inverse of that arrangement: a tourist&#8217;s payment lands in a household on the island they&#8217;re visiting, with no offshore platform in between. RAHA&#8217;s value to the Ata\u00faro group isn&#8217;t only the operational know-how; it&#8217;s the demonstration that a small association can carve out a sliver of the global tourism economy and keep it local.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally the motor was fixed, the fog lifted and we arrived\u00a0at\u00a0Yenbesar village\u00a0to the sound of traditional drums beating. As the rain continued to pour down we were greeted on the jetty by Pak Makusi\u00a0<\/span>&#8211; a community elder and homestay owner &#8211; who welcomed our group with wonderful enthusiasm and warmth. We were presented with beautifully crafted gifts and processed down the jetty towards the village with the drums beating behind us &#8211; a quite incredible experience despite our bedraggled state. After some quick welcome speeches and with some food and drink to warm us up, we headed to our homestays to get changed before the first workshop session began that evening.<\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 396px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 597px; height: 400px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/_mg_0069\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8523\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/MG_0069.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 70D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485967128&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;33&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"_MG_0069\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/MG_0069-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/MG_0069-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/MG_0069-593x396.jpg\" width=\"593\" height=\"396\" align=\"left\" title=\"_MG_0069\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 593px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 593\/396;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Estevao, Joao and Ollie during the workshop<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 298px; height: 400px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/x13a2473\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8538\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2473.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Martin Muir&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485823200&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;MUIR&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"X13A2473\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2473-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2473-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2473-294x196.jpg\" width=\"294\" height=\"196\" align=\"left\" title=\"X13A2473\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 294px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 294\/196;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Where the workshops took place<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/x13a2378\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8537\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2378.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Martin Muir&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485768723&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;MUIR&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;640&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0166666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"X13A2378\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2378-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2378-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2378-294x196.jpg\" width=\"294\" height=\"196\" align=\"left\" title=\"X13A2378\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 294px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 294\/196;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Drumming was never far away!<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 502px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 506px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\/gp012579-00_03_12_28-still003\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8534\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_03_12_28.Still003.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,902\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486059842&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"GP012579.00_03_12_28.Still003\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_03_12_28.Still003-633x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_03_12_28.Still003-745x420.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_03_12_28.Still003-891x502.jpg\" width=\"891\" height=\"502\" align=\"left\" title=\"GP012579.00_03_12_28.Still003\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 891px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 891\/502;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Yenbeser Village, Gam Island<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the next 3 days the Timorese exchange participants partnered with the Papuan homestay owners through a mixture of personal reflection sessions, group learning activities and even participatory theatre! The majority of the time though they just spent together in their homestays, learning from each other and building genuine friendships. It was amazing to see the cohesiveness of the group grow so quickly &#8211; the Timorese were quick to articulate their hopes and expectations, RAHA were incredibly open, welcoming and generous.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I think the biggest success of this trip is seeing the Timorese participants learn and be inspired to create a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. We are excited to continue this journey together.<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/team\/oldegar-massinga\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nOllie Massinga<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\nBlue Ventures\u2019 Community Conservation Coordinator<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While rain clouds were never far away, thankfully the sun managed to make the odd appearance too. I took advantage of these moments to snorkel on the beautiful coral reefs just off the shore and even managed to squeeze in a dive organised by one of the homestays &#8211; a truly magical experience as I had my first encounter with oceanic manta rays. The waters here are teeming with life, and homestays provide a clear and measurable link for the communities here between protecting the environment and the economic benefits that tourism can bring.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/from-atauro-to-raja-ampat-a-homestay-adventure\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 464px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 468px; height: 468px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2582.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8539\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2582.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Martin Muir&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485883485&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;MUIR&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;47&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"X13A2582\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2582-357x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2582-483x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/X13A2582-464x464.jpg\" width=\"464\" height=\"464\" align=\"left\" title=\"X13A2582\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 464px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 464\/464;\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 427px; height: 468px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8532\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,837\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486059827&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002-682x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002-745x390.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002-423x222.jpg\" width=\"423\" height=\"222\" align=\"left\" title=\"GP012579.00_01_20_13.Still002\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 423px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 423\/222;\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8535\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,900\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1486060217&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005-635x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005-745x419.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005-423x238.jpg\" width=\"423\" height=\"238\" align=\"left\" title=\"GP012579.00_05_53_01.Still005\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 423px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 423\/238;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">This is me snorkelling over the reef off Yenbeser<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 460px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 278px; height: 464px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2396.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8530\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2396.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO3+ Black Edition&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPRO&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1358624713&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.77&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;138&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPRO&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"DCIM100GOPRO\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2396-357x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2396-483x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2396-274x274.jpg\" width=\"274\" height=\"274\" align=\"left\" title=\"DCIM100GOPRO\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 274px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 274\/274;\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/IMG_7875.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8536\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/IMG_7875.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 600D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485945307&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_7875\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/IMG_7875-536x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/IMG_7875-725x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/IMG_7875-274x182.jpg\" width=\"274\" height=\"182\" align=\"left\" title=\"IMG_7875\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 274px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 274\/182;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Ollie exploring with his homestay host<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 617px; height: 464px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2521.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"8531\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2521.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;HERO3+ Black Edition&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPRO&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1358687425&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.77&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;220&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0166666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;DCIM100GOPRO&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"DCIM100GOPRO\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2521-476x357.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2521-644x483.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2017\/02\/GOPR2521-613x460.jpg\" width=\"613\" height=\"460\" align=\"left\" title=\"DCIM100GOPRO\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 613px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 613\/460;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Oceanic manta!<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I make my long way back home I&#8217;m proud of the work my colleagues Greg and Ollie have done to build the Ata\u00faro Homestay. As they start to welcome our volunteers into their homes I think they have a real chance of success &#8211; \u00a0not only for the individual homestay families but also collectively. By taking the lessons learned from Raja Ampat and joining together they can\u00a0become a political force, securing land tenure rights and driving tourism policy, empowering a previously disenfranchised community. Homestays might seem like a small first step on this journey, but the key messages the participants articulated this week were about transformation, possibility and hope for the future &#8211; first for an individual and a family, then a community and finally a whole island.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out more about Raja Ampat Homestays at <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stayrajaampat.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">www.stayrajaampat.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or volunteer with Blue Ventures and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/timor-leste\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">experience an Ata\u00faro homestay for yourself<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We would like to extend our thanks to <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.73-ltd.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">73-ltd<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WWF International<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for their support of this exchange programme.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Homestays offer a way for coastal communities to diversify and strengthen alternative livelihoods, providing a clear and measurable link between protecting the environment and the economic benefits that tourism can bring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":8527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[624,587,471],"tags":[650,531,566,649,480,483,481],"class_list":["post-8519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indonesia","category-timor-leste","category-volunteer-expeditions","tag-alternative-livelihoods","tag-community-exchange","tag-diversifying-livelihoods","tag-homestay","tag-networking-communities","tag-sharing-learning","tag-supporting-partners"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - 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