Our Commitment to Ethical Travel
At Project World School, our mission goes beyond serving teens and young adults on their worldschooling journey — we are equally committed to ensuring our presence benefits the communities that welcome us.
It’s vital to us that our host countries experience positive cultural, economic, and environmental impacts from our work. We believe in a genuine give-and-take relationship, not one-sided tourism.
Ethics in Action — Cusco & the Sacred Valley
Our Cusco & Sacred Valley Teen Retreat, our longest-running program, is built on years of practicing these values:
- Hiring exclusively local partners and paying fair wages
- Sourcing products locally to support small businesses
- Approaching every culture with respect and curiosity
Over the years, these values have grown into real friendships:
- Kari, a cook at San Pedro Market, has catered our retreats for 5 years, often bringing her mother and young son to share meals with us.
- Cesar, a shaman, guides our groups through the sacred Despacho ceremony to honor Pachamama (Mother Earth).
- Etzon and family, traditional weavers from Chinchero, opened a community weaving center after welcoming us to their farm years ago.
- Ronnie, owner of Ukuku’s Backpacker Hostel, realized his lifelong dream of running a hostel — and we’ve stayed there for 4 years.
- Sabino, a master luthier, teaches Andean instrument-making workshops; many students bring home his handmade creations.
- Alain and family, from Paruro, share bread-making, chicha brewing, and the tradition of cooking cuy — an honor we deeply respect.
- Carlita, a Spanish teacher pursuing a degree in human rights, supports her studies by teaching our groups.
- Nacho, our trusted driver, has been guiding us through the region with warmth and knowledge for years.
The Human Factor
Every relationship we form is personal. We learn about our partners’ lives, share our own stories, and support each other — emotionally, culturally, and financially. This human connection is at the heart of ethical worldschooling.
Where the Money Goes
Unlike many travel companies that mark up trip fees by as much as 50%, only 10% of each retreat budget goes to Project World School operating costs. The rest is invested directly back into the experience and the local community.
Typical budget breakdown:
- Transportation — 19%
- Activities — 28%
- Lodging — 28%
- Food — 15%
- PWS Fees — 10%
The Worldschooler’s Code
Service is a key part of our retreats. We give back through volunteer work — partnering with animal sanctuaries, shelters, and preservation centers — always ensuring our efforts truly help, not harm, the community.
We approach traditions without judgment. For example, during our homestay in Paruro, we help prepare cuy (guinea pig), a dish reserved for special occasions. We honor the culture and express gratitude for being welcomed into the experience.
This is what it means to travel ethically: to respect, to serve, and to connect — as worldschoolers, and as citizens of the world.