Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Featured Entrant in the National Geographic and Ashoka's Changemakers Geotourism Challenge

Washington, DC -- The National Geographic Society and Ashoka's Changemakers have introduced the first Geotourism Challenge to identify and showcase innovators in tourism development, management, and marketing.

The one-of-a-kind online competition (www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge) will raise awareness about how tourism can help sustain, enhance and preserve local culture and environment.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is a featured entrant in this initiative. Planned and created with strategic support from AWF, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is designed to conserve the highly endangered mountain gorilla and its habitat while uplifting community well-being.

Located in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes, near the Parc National des Volcans, the lodge is owned by SACOLA, a Rwandese community trust that reinvests the rental fees and other income in conservation and community development projects. Operated and managed by a leading private company, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge has earned rave reviews from tourists and conservationists alike.

The Geotourism Challenge is Changemakers' 15th collaborative competition and draws on Ashoka's 27 years of experience in identifying leading social entrepreneurs around the world. To date, the competitions have sourced more than 2,000 local innovations on various themes from more than 125 countries. AWF is honored to be part of this global movement to create social change through the tourism sector.

Anyone can participate and comment on entries. A panel of expert judges will choose approximately a dozen finalists who demonstrate innovation, social impact and sustainability. Judges include: Keith Bellows, Vice President, National Geographic Society; Editor-in-Chief, NG Traveler; Susan Berresford, Past President, The Ford Foundation; Leonard Cordiner, CEO, whl travel; and Nachiket Mor, President, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.

The finalists will have the opportunity to present their innovations at The Geotourism Challenge Summit this fall. Three winners will be chosen by online voting and receive $5,000 each.

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About AWF

The African Wildlife Foundation is the leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa. We believe that protecting Africa's wildlife and wild landscapes is the key to the future prosperity of Africa and its people -- and for over forty-five years we have made it our work to help ensure that Africa's wild resources endure.

About National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 300 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other products. National Geographic has funded more than 8,800 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

About Ashoka's Changemakers

Changemakers is building the world's first global online "open source" community that competes to surface the best social solutions to the world's most pressing issues. Changemakers focuses on thematic, collaborative competitions, inviting innovators from around the world to profile and collaborate with a global community of investors, thought leaders and enthusiasts. Find out more about how to nominate, enter, comment and vote in our collaborative competitions at www.changemakers.net.

For more information, please contact:

Delyse Sylvester

Director of Communication

Ashoka's Changemakers

250-551-0570

dsylvester@ashoka.org

John Butler

Director of Marketing and Membership

African Wildlife Foundation

202-939-3333

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