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Thursday 30 January 2020

Experitours supports Happy Community Initiative

“If you have a soul as a company you

should do this, giving feels good”

Book and support in case guests wish to know more about it.
Experitours collaborates with HCI for a few “Basically the $1 charge is for every per-
reasons, says Mark. “In Aruba we have a son that is booked. It is pretty common for
lot of foundations but you cannot support Americans to donate and we have had
ORANJESTAD — The Happy Community Initiative (HCI) them all. The Happy Community Initiative no complaints at all, only positive feed-
is a visitor charity program that helps Aruban teens to are already active in the field of giving, back. We are very happy to support this
stay on the right track by offering high-quality after they know which are the organizations initiative.” Book your walking tour and
school programs. One of the ways to donate to this that work honestly, they have done their learn more about Aruba’s history, make a
unique cause is by booking a tour with Experitours, research and we trust them to use the reservation at https://arubawalkingtours.
or better; an experience because this dynamic tour funds wisely. We decided to support this com/bookings/ or email info@arubawalk-
company offers great tours with personal attention initiative because of that. We have had ingtours.com or call +297 699.0995 – USD
that go beyond the standard offerings. great response from the guests since we 1 goes to support the Happy Community
added the $1 donation to every booking.” Initiative.
Mark Benson, owner of Experitours: “We are a small He explains that everything is very trans-
tour company that started three years ago and we parent as each booking show the $1 as a Continued on Page 14
are doing daytime historic walking tours. In the eve- donation to HCI and links to their website
ning we organize food tours. Since 2018 we are also
operating the California Lighthouse.” All their guides
have gone through a thorough training about how Our Newest Column is All
to give tours and to gain knowledge about Aruba’s
history. Experitours also had them participating in the about YOUth and Happiness
Aruba Certification Program. Additionally the experts
did some courses with the international organization
Aquila which trains tour guides. “The walking tour is a ORANJESTAD — Our new- Timeshare Association will reach its goal! With
tour that shows Aruba’s capital Oranjestad in about est column Happy Com- (ATSA), the Aruba Tour- your donation, you support
thirty different sites like monuments, landmarks, impor- munity Initiative is pub- ism Authority and several Aruban children with after
tant buildings and explains about the island’s culture. lished bi-weekly on Thurs- companies collaborate in school programs, mentor-
Guests get to taste two local snacks, pastechi and days in Aruba Today. We this platform for visitors who ship activities and social
pan bati. We share our local customs with our guests inform you about this dy- would like to make a do- support.
and they love it. You really get the local flavor,” Mark namic, new project from a nation, but also volunteer You can donate at the
says. The evening walk is more focused on food and different angle to give you in the future. The priority is kiosks in the lobby of sev-
visits five different restaurants. The concept behind this a complete feel, so follow set to support projects for eral hotels (Costa Linda,
tour is ‘taste the world without a trip’ and you taste five us and stay engaged! Aruban youths. Playa Linda, Casa del Mar,
different cuisines: Aruba, Dutch, Cuban, Caribbean CEDE Aruba will make sure Paradise Beach Villas and
and Italian. The Lighthouse is another excursion they The Happy Community that the donations reach La Cabana) or you can
offer where you can climb the 117 steps to get to the Initiative is a visitor char- meaningful projects of donate on the website:
top and view an unbeatable 360 degrees panorama ity program that you can local non-profits, based https://happycommuni-
of the island. “In 2016 the Monumentfunds finalized a help strengthen Aruba’s upon quality and transpar- tyaruba.org/donate. Goal
one million dollar renovation of the Lighthouse and community by donating ency of finances of the is to raise $110K to set up
they made it accessible to go up which was not the to good causes. CEDE Aru- offered programs. In this the program, at this mo-
case before except for the lighthouse keeper. 2018 ba, a dynamic commu- manner, you can be as- ment $4550.00 is collected.
we got the right to manage it, it is open from 9am to nity foundation, the Aruba sured that your donation Help us reach our goal!
7pm. We have two local experts available to explain
you about anything.” Copyright CEDE Aruba