Sustaining Endangered Traditions
In 2005 we created the Peru Weavers Awards in close partnership with National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa and the non-profit Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco (CTTC). This annual awards celebration honors the remarkable indigenous textile artists of Peru while helping resuscitate a 2,000 year old Andean tradition.
Hundreds of weavers from nine rural communities across the Sacred Valley compete for pride and cash prizes. Each year, more than 30 winners are honored with medals, certificates of achievement and a share of a prize pool which has grown to over $6,000 annually. While these awards act as a positive catalyst in the decades-long efforts of Nilda and the CTTC, their greatest impact may be raising the level of self-esteem of the mostly female weavers as well as the increased respect they now engender in their home communities. Read more about the weavers >
Please watch the following short documentary to learn more about this mold-breaking collaboration:
Cultural Exchange Through the Arts
“The Art Of Giving”
In a partnership with (no name) Art Group, local Kansas City artists join with artists from Oaxaca, Mexico to create artwork featured in a two month long exhibition at Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery followed by a digital exhibition in Oaxaca, Mexico. Wine labels will be created from each work of art and added to a wine bottle. The bottles will be available for a donation to Mattie Rhodes Center and CX Foundation to benefit young Latino artists in Kansas City and Oaxaca, Mexico. Read more >
The Latest! – Thank You From Artist Venancio
Thank you from Venancio from Culture Xplorers on Vimeo.
Young Artist Scholarships
- Near Lima, Peru where we have funded through sponsorships approximately 65 children with art supplies by a sponsorship from Estilo Dance Studio, a Latin dance studio in Philadelphia. Read Blog >
- Near Lima, Peru where we have partially funded an art university education for a qualified aspiring young artist “Lugo”. Read Lugo’s story >
Inspiration Brewing
Who’s not a fan of hand-roasted craft coffees? We certainly are! So, when a chat with a local favorite Kansas City roaster turned into an opportunity to create a signature Culture Xplorers coffee (with a donation made to the CX Foundation for each pound sold), we were immediately hooked!
This creative collaboration will help foster the sustainability of local culture in Guatemala, Peru and Mexico.
Now we are offering this special roast – delivered right to your door! Read more >
Breaking Cycle Of Poverty
In Guatemala, meet with families who are breaking the cycle of poverty with the help of a comprehensive micro-loan, plus education program administered through a local NGO. CX Foundation provides financial support for these micro-loans with each of our trips to Guatemala.
Getting Travelers Involved!
The Culture Xplorers mission is to change the way people travel; to make it more engaging, more connected and more reciprocal for both the traveler and the local communities with which we come into contact. The CX Foundation develops innovative fundraisers based on this philosophy.
Positive Impact Photo Contest Online Fundraiser
Each year, the CX Foundation asks travelers who share our philosophy to submit a favorite travel photo which exemplifies positive impact experience. We post all entries online for a public vote to raise awareness and funds for future CX Foundation projects. See photo contest 2012 >
Recipe Book Fundraiser
Sure we are passionate about travel, but we are also REALLY passionate about FOOD! Travelers are often swept away at the culinary delights our trips offers, so we gather their recipes, and create a compilation of CX Travelers Favorites. Full recipe collections are available for a donation to our CX Foundation.
