• Since its opening in October 2023, the TUI Futureshaper House has hosted numerous events to engage and benefit local community members, ranging from art workshops to inspirational expert lectures  

• The first anniversary celebration for the TUI Futureshaper House is part of the TUI Care Foundation's Entrepreneurship October, a month dedicated to highlighting support for sustainable businesses in tourism destinations 

Berlin, 31st October 2024. Since its inauguration, the TUI Futureshaper House on the island of Sal has become a vibrant hub for social innovation and local entrepreneurship. The first physical space of its kind it offers entrepreneurs, local NGOs, young people and artists a dedicated space for training, co-working and cultural events. As the TUI Futureshaper House enters its second year, the TUI Care Foundation remains dedicated to supporting local communities in Cape Verde, with future plans including an expansion of the range of programmes and services offered. 

Over the past year, the TUI Futureshaper House has hosted a wide range of educational and cultural events, including multi-day workshops on creative sewing as well as a street art workshop for young people. The House also featured a series of inspirational lectures through its “Inspiro Talks” brand. The lectures offered audiences new perspectives on various topics within the tourism ecosystem, such as gender equality and storytelling skills for aspiring tour guides and tourism professionals. To ensure accessibility, all events at the TUI Futureshaper House were free of charge, aimed at inclusively transforming all social groups on Sal. 

In September, an inclusive science bootcamp funded by the UNDP Accelerator Lab sparked curiosity in science and technology among children and young people aged 6 to 16 through interactive activities. Additionally, a session facilitated by the U.S. Embassy equipped young leaders with skills to contribute meaningfully to their country’s development. The TUI Futureshaper House also launched the first in a series of monthly Sustainable Tourism Webinars, which brought together experts to discuss innovative approaches and best practices. 

In line with the International Day of Tourism on September 27, the House hosted its first annual conference. Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers gathered to explore the role of private organisations in promoting sustainable tourism. This was closely followed by the introduction of the Youth Innovation Challenge, a monthly contest encouraging young participants to develop creative solutions to local issues using design thinking principles. 

Alexander Panczuk, Executive Director of the TUI Care Foundation, says: ‘’In just one year, the TUI Futureshaper House built its reputation as a leading space in Cape Verde, exclusively designed and dedicated to empowering individuals to find entrepreneurial opportunities and solutions to society’s social and environmental challenges. By combining capacity building programmes, cultural events and a co-working space where people can share and co-create solutions, the House provides an holistic approach to building a strong entrepreneurial culture on Sal.“ 

TUI Futureshaper House is a part of the global TUI Futureshapers Programme, which is empowering people to turn social challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities in destinations such as Cape Verde, Zanzibar, Senegal, Portugal, Greece and Tunisia. 

TUI Care Foundation's ‘Entrepreneurship October‘ is a month of activities dedicated to supporting sustainable businesses in tourism destinations. Through a series of project launches, it highlights the importance of empowering small businesses in tourism destinations with a holistic approach of financial assistance, mentoring and access to the tourism market.