Variety Cruises is taking its commitment to community well-being and sustainability to new levels with the launch of Variety Cares, a non-profit foundation.
With the conviction that travel is an opportunity to connect with local communities, Variety Cares unites a global community of travelers who share this vision.
The foundation's mission is to provide a sustainable platform that engages travelers in a meaningful exchange of values with the communities they visit.
“At Variety Cruises, we don’t just believe in giving back, we believe in giving,” says Lakis Venetopoulos, founder of Variety Cares.
Variety Cares' commitment is materialized in tangible actions that are leaving a positive mark on diverse communities:
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The Lamin Koto Super School
In Gambia, Variety Cares identified a crucial opportunity to support a community lacking school infrastructure.
In 2011, they built their first school, the Lamin Koto Super School, providing education to 100 local children.
This school not only offers an enriching educational experience, but also introduces film education, projecting movies with the help of a generator. Furthermore, in 2020, a well was installed to provide drinking water to the community and surrounding area.
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Ocean Protection
Variety Cares has partnered with 4OCEAN, an organization that has recovered millions of kilograms of plastic and marine debris since 2017.
With a focus on sustainability, Variety Cruises is committed to achieving a world where caring for the oceans is a standard for future generations.
As guardian members of Sustainable Travel International (STI), they are proactively measuring and reducing their CO2 emissions, with the goal of achieving zero emissions by 2030.
They have even offset all CO2 emissions from their cruises operated by the M/S Galileo in Greece during 2024, as part of an inaugural reforestation project.
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Gender Equality
In an effort to support LGBTQ+ equality, Variety Cares has teamed up with ITHAKA FILMS and THE TREVOR PROJECT to promote the short film “DRAW With ME.” Directed by Constantine Venetopoulos, this short film chronicles a young man’s journey as he comes out as trans and how art becomes his form of self-expression.
The film has become a powerful campaign, being shown in schools around the world and at the United Nations.
Variety Cares is demonstrating that tourism can be a positive force for social and environmental change. As they continue their efforts, they are creating a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable world for future generations.
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