Here at Dream Yacht Charter, our teams are keen to contribute to the maintenance and development of the regions in which our bases are located all around the globe, preserving the environment and supporting local cultures and populations, including our participation in the cleaning of the beaches in Greece and our support to the Turkana population. It is a fundamental part of our day to day strategy, and helping to maintain the local environment and wildlife is an imperative part of that. Take a look at some of the things we’ve recently taken part in.
Supporting the conservation of the world’s coral reefs
Our base in Australia has worked tirelessly over the last 10 years to support the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders which is sadly being affected by human actions. Using environmental best practice principles as a guide, our team in Oz aim to contribute to the conservation of the Great Barrier Reef by using resources sensibly, participating in local community activities and promoting sustainable tourism. For example, our yacht charters in Australia are against the use of non bio-degradable sun creams which can damage the fragile coral reefs.
As a result of their actions, the base are delighted to be the proud owners of an Eco Tourism Certificate, an accolade only granted to companies who undertake a range of activities, including the promotion of sustainable tourism, contribution to conservation, reduction of carbon footprint and cultural respect and sensitivity. Well done to all of the team.
Helping to take care of the beaches
As sailors, we are avid ocean lovers, and as such, there is nothing more upsetting for us to see than dirty beaches full of rubbish that can result in increased pollution to the surrounding waters. To do our bit, we decided to participate in the cleaning of the beaches in the Peloponnese! The clean up, which was organised by German company, Join the Crew, took place from 20 to 27 April 2019. 10 young people between 20 and 35 years old had the opportunity to spend a week at sea while contributing to the preservation of the environment and to help them with their mission, we donated the use of a Bavaria 51 monohull yacht from our fleet in Greece.
Throughout the week, the crew ruthlessly cleaned the Greek beaches that have sadly been disfigured by what the sea cannot absorb, mainly focusing on the many bays isolated and inaccessible by road, because it is there that the majority of the wastes that were carried by the sea finish their journey. According to the organiser, they had expected to find a lot of waste, but they were still shocked by the quantity they came across. Each morning, the boat sailed into a bay to clean and went each evening to a larger port to deposit the many rubbish bags accumulated during the day.
In total, more than 100 bags of rubbish were collected on the Greek beaches during this exceptional cleaning operation!
The fact is simple: we consume too many products that end their journey in the oceans around the world. Why not try to reverse the trend by better controlling our waste production? Some simple actions can easily be integrated into our daily lives such as using metal straws, solid soaps and shampoos or reusable shopping bags and here at Dream Yacht Charter, we are doing our bit by encouraging these actions to be undertaken while on board one of our cruises.
Want to do you bit? Why no take part in or organise a beach clean in your area? Remember to get closer to existing associations and do not hesitate to use the immense power of social networks. For example, you can organise an event on Facebook or take part in the #TrashTag Challenge. Try and encourage your friends to take part too, nature will thank you.
Helping disadvantaged populations
Our collaboration with the Cirugía humanitarian project in Turkana is also very important to us. In fact, isolated in northern Kenya, next to Lake Turkana, are a population abandoned by their government, in one of the poorest regions in the world.
More than one million people live in extreme poverty. Since 2004, when project Cirugía en Turkana was launched, several big hearted Spanish surgeons have made the trip every year to treat Turkanas who have no one else to turn to. So far, more than 2,400 operations have been completed and over 6,000 consultations completed.
But who are they? The Director and Chief Medical Officer of Cirugía in Turkana, Dr. Carmen Hernandez, is a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine in Madrid and has been working for years to educate the world on the distressing situation that many Kenya’s population are in. The team of health staff is composed of 14 members, but the team also has four students, a photographer, two logisticians and a musician. Each of them is indispensable to the function of the mission and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for the miracles they perform from year to year during the different campaigns.
Find out more
For more information on our by the cabin, bareboat, skippered or crewed charters call us on 02380 455527 or email uk@dreamyachtcharter.com
