Sustainable Infrastructure
Managing the installation of infrastructure, along with the fundraising and coordination for communities in need.
Eco Tourism
Creating long-lasting, sustainable initiatives to bring tourism and economic benefits to communities, with the priority of protecting the natural environment.
Oppurtunities
Inspiring youth to recognise the self-sufficient strengths that their communities hold. Creating a pathway for them to showcase these strengths to the world.
Sepik Organic Farming and Eco-tourism Innovative
SOFETI is a project set-up to promote organic farming and eco-tourism in the Sepik River region, with the initial goal being to install running water to Ambunti and its surrounding villages.
What started as a idea between Jeicob Marek and Liam Smedley, is now full steam ahead into the planning stages. Mark Kupundu from the WASH team has been to Ambunti to conduct a prelimanary survey for the running water project. He will be up again in the near future to survey a location for the dam.
We nearly have all of the materials to build the SOFETI Center, a place where tourists can base themselves, learn about the local culture and bring much needed revenue into the town.
Find out more here…
What Is Green Canopy?
Green Canopy Collective is a not-for-profit organization (NGO) promoting tourism, sustainable development and helping with the co-ordination and running of projects in remote communities.
Currently, we are in the early planning stages of a project in Ambunti, Papua New Guinea. We are working together alongside local guide and tourism coordinator, Jeicob Marek to assist….More
NEWS
From our blog
Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival
10th – 12th of August, 2023 – Ambunti, East Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea The Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival is a three-day celebration of the many communities and cultures living along the Sepik River. The festival highlights the crocodile and its...
March SOFETI Newsletter by Jacob
Hello everyone! My name is Jacob Marek, as the country director it is my great opportunity and pleasure to update you all this first newsletter for the Sepik Organic Farming and Eco Tourism Innovative (SOFETI CBO) that was established in 2020 and am also very much...
SOFETI Newsletter by Liam
Hello! Liam here, welcome from SOFETI. I thought I would add a small introduction about myself and a bit of a background story about the project, how it begun. This is the first of, what will be a regular newsletter with updates about the project moving forward My...
Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival
10th – 12th of August, 2023 – Ambunti, East Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea
The Sepik River Crocodile and Arts Festival is a three-day celebration of the many communities and cultures living along the Sepik River.
The festival highlights the crocodile and its cultural significance to the communities living along the Sepik River.
The Sepik River is a mighty river running for over 1000km, starting from the central highlands and slowly winding its way to the ocean through a large wetland belt that is up to 10km wide.
It is home to one of the worlds largest salt and freshwater crocodile populations, who share a special cultural bond with the people who live amongst them. Men in the area still proudly wear the scars from skin cutting initiations that run from shoulder to hip and resemble the spine of crocodile.
The Crocodile symbolizes strength, power and manhood. It plays a significant part in the Sepik culture where cultural traditions, beliefs and legends are based on this ancient animal.
Our Mission
Green Canopy Collective is a non-profit organization, set up to assist in the coordination, planning, promotion and management of eco-tourism and sustainable development, as well as organizing projects in remote areas.
The focus lays predominantly with hard to reach, less developed and less visited communities around the world. Founded by New Zealander, Liam Smedley, he had the vision that communities that are less developed, less capitalistic, but therefore usually haven’t destroyed their environment like many western countries and still live a very self-sufficient life. They have knowledge in abundance about how to live sustainably and self-sufficiently.
With climate change playing an ever-increasing role in our lives, we believe that these communities could play a hugely important role in a healthier planet, while becoming world leaders in sustainable tourism and development.
We are now in the early stages of our first project in Ambunti, working alongside local tourism coordinator Jacob Marek. We aim to provide running water to the residents of Ambunti while assisting with the promotion of tourism activities in the region. Simultaneously, we will be laying the ‘foundations’ for organic farming and concentrate more efforts on eco-tourism. Other ideas in the pipeline include, launching an education center for organic farming and sustainable living, where youth could attend for no-cost and tourists could pay a fee to take a short course.
Things are moving along at a rapid pace, meaning this page will continue to be updated as we get further into the planning stages and announce our partners and supporters.
Read more here…
The Crew
We have a growing team of volunteers with a range of different skills. Here are the key leaders for our initial projects.
Liam Smedley
Project Coordinator
Jeicob Marek
Project Coordinator
Andi Schulz
Project Leader
Become a Volunteer
Join our community to share your skills
Green Canopy is a collective to assist and lead social and infrastructure projects, we advocate for sustainable social development while managing the project and coinciding infrastructure. Our primary focus lays with SOFETI in Ambunti, Papua New Guinea with the plan to expand to more locations in Papua New Guinea and the greater Melanesian area.
Quick Links
Contact us
Headquarters
+64 211398610
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