Our Coordinators

We engage a local person as ‘Coordinator’ for each Village Tourism Enterprise or Cluster of VTEs. The Coordinators form the vital link with our community partners, being responsible for ensuring that our quality standards are maintained, logistic arrangements are efficiently made and that guests experience inspiring holidays.

Coordinators, India

Pooja Mansour – Uttarakhand Clusters

Pooja is Regional Coordinator, Uttarakhand, responsible for the seven Binsar and six Saryu/ Pindar Valley village tourism enterprises, covering 14 guesthouses and the Jaikuni tented camp. She lives with her husband and daughter in Almora. She enjoys walking frequently to each of the villages to interact with the Village Tourism Committees, who appreciate her cheerful and efficient support and negotiating skills.

Kumer Singh – Binsar Cluster, Uttarakhand

Kumer is Assistant Coordinator for the Binsar Cluster. He joined Village Ways in 2007 as our resthouse cook but has subsequently graduated to managing the Binsar office and becoming Assistant Coordinator. He has a natural empathy with the communities and conscientiously ensures that guests receive a warm welcome and assistance. He lives in Binsar with his wife and two children.

Tara Singh Takuli – Saryu & Pindar Cluster

Tara is Area Coordinator for our partner communities in the high villages of the Saryu and Pindar valleys. He lives in Konshord hamlet of Supi with his wife and two children. He has supported Village Ways since 2008, when we started activities. He has worked with local handicrafts and trained as a guide. He is a pleasure to travel with and seems to know everyone in the communities.

Durga Signh Takuli – Saryu Valley, Uttarakhand

Durga is Assistant Coordinator for the Saryu Valley cluster of village tourism enterprises. He and his family are residents of Supi village. Durga has been managing the Supi guesthouse from the start. He is quietly efficient, a good organiser and has the respect of all communitues. Moreover, he always there with a cup of tea when most needed and served, if prompted, with a broad smile.

Seetaram Hegde – Hulgol, Karnataka

Seetaramis Coordinator of the Hulgol village tourism enterprise. He himself has a spice garden nearby, where he lives with his wife, son and parents. He is well aware of the dynamics of the Hulgol communities and encouraged our village partners in building the guesthouse and in setting up the Spice Route Cooperative Society. He efficiently acts as Coordinator in parallel with his ‘day job’ of designing and marketing crop driers, especially using solar energy.

Basheer PK – Kerala

Basheer is Coordinator for Kerala, with his main responsibility being for the Goodearth houseboat enterprise on the backwaters near Kochi. However, he also looks after the Mothakkara village tourism enterprise in north Kerala. Basheer has a quiet, efficient manner and has worked closely with the Kayal Gramodaya members in the building and operation of the houseboat. Previously he worked with a major tour operator in Kochi and lives near the city with his wife and two children.

Daniel PP – Mothakkara, Kerala

Daniel is Assistant Coordinator, looking after the Mothakkara village tourism enterprise in the hills of Wayanad district. He and his family live near Kalpatta, where he has been involved with an NGO Kabani, running community homestays. He has a sound understanding of community development, a good sense of humour and a love of jack fruit.

Gemar Signh Bhatti – Hacra, Rajasthan

Gemar is Coordinator for Rajasthan, focussed on the village tourism enterprise of Hacra village, where he lives with his wife, son and daughter. An economics graduate of Jodhpur University, he moved to his home village of Hacra to set up a homestay and travel business to benefit the local community. Joining Village Ways, he coordinated the establishment of a village tourism enterprise by a village committee near his home.

 

Coordinators, Nepal

Sunil Daley – Saillung Cluster

Sunil Daley is Coordinator for Nepal, with focus on the Saillung cluster of village tourism enterprises. He was educated in Kathmandu. He has worked in the tourism sector and as a free-lance guide. His father was British, which affords him an understanding of the needs of foreign guests, supplemented by his close involvement with hill communities.