Hawpiya tends to her pigs in the Ban Nam Lai Akha village The Akha are a hill tribe of subsistence famers known for their artistry This is one of the...
{"Image ImageDescription": "Haw-piya tends to her pigs in the Ban Nam Lai Akha village. The Akha are a hill tribe of subsistence famers known for their artistry. This is one of the traditional villages participating in a community-based tourism programmed in partnership with Green Discovery Laos. The objective is to develop a model of tourism to help to alleviate poverty, while at the same time provide the tourist with a meaningful personal experience with rural villagers. The model provides an alternative to slash and burn agriculture and encourages the villagers to preserve the environment around them and their traditional culture. In addition to the income the village receives they also gain a voice in their destiny and see that outsiders value their culture and natural environment. (Photo by Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images)"}