Discover the people, purpose, and story behind Kaya Responsible Travel.
15+ years of experience
Leaders in Ethical Travel
More than 200 university partners
Over 30 destinations
Full support from start to finish
About Kaya
Since 2009, Kaya Responsible Travel has designed and delivered customized educational group programs for schools and universities across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Built around experiential education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, our programs bring students and local professionals together to exchange ideas, explore their academic fields and support community-led initiatives.
Our local teams welcome hundreds of group participants each year, creating unique journeys that combine a focus on academic topics and meaningful community engagement with real-world learning.
Travelling on your own? Our individual placements team offers service-learning and internship placements.
Our Purpose
Kaya’s mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.
For our institutional partners, this ensures we deliver international education programs through a model that mutually benefits both our travellers and our host communities. We believe this sustainable approach to program design provides meaningful and impactful experiences that inspire learners across borders.
Our Name
The word “Kaya” carries several meaningful interpretations in communities and traditions connected with our work. In Waray, a language spoken in the Philippines, it means “I can do it!”, in the African languages of Zulu and Xhosa “where I belong” and in Buddhism it is a reference to the bodies, or dimensions of an enlightened being.
The three bodies of enlightenment are represented by the trikaya symbol in our logo.
Travel with Purpose
Responsible travel is about seeing the world in a manner that most respects and benefits local people, culture and the environment – it’s travel in the real world, not tourism.
For educational groups, it means traveling with purpose: learning from local experts, contributing to community-led projects and making sure communities benefit from every visit.
Our Story
A message from the Founder
I’m Heilwig Jones – Kaya’s founder and Director. I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a family which travelled globally for work in my youth. As a university student in Manchester, UK, I got my first taste of international education an exchange program, at the University of Colorado at Denver.
After graduation, I spent 10 years in London’s corporate world before taking a career break in 2004. That December, I arrived in Thailand, just days after the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami, where I spent four months volunteering with a Thai NGO in one of the worst-affected regions.
This experience was the most emotional and immersive of my life. I connected with the local community, made lifelong friends and felt inspired to do more. I wanted others to have that opportunity too—and Kaya was born.
While Kaya’s early years focused on volunteer placements, we began welcoming a growing number of groups, particularly through our school and university partners. These visits brought students and local professionals together to exchange ideas, explore their academic fields, learn from one another and support community initiatives.
Watch Kaya’s origin story to hear how one life-changing volunteering experience inspired a new approach to responsible travel.
Why Kaya
No two group programs are the same. That’s why we approach every partnership with flexibility, authenticity and transparency, taking the time to understand what makes your program unique and designing experiences grounded in responsible, ethical practices. From meeting academic goals and ensuring participant safety to working within your institution’s processes, we give you confidence at every stage.
Read more about why to choose Kaya for your customized group programs here:
Our Team
Kaya has team members across the globe in our program sites and locations.
Here are just a few of our Group programs team members you may meet along the way;
Founder & Director
Heilwig (known to all as “H”) founded Kaya after a transformative experience volunteering with a Thai NGO following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Drawing on her experience of international education, corporate life and community-based volunteering, she leads Kaya’s work to create responsible, immersive learning experiences around the world. H is a passionate scuba diver, snowboarder and a total foodie.
Director of Group Programs
Heading up our Group Programs team, Emily has worked in International Education since 2014. Emily’s goal is to provide guidance and perspective for young professionals engaging with new international communities. Emily is a Bowdoin ‘11 graduate with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Visual Arts. Her own overseas experience includes teaching photography in Varanasi, India; studying environmental issues in Tasmania, Australia; teaching English in Hefei, China; and working and hiking in New Zealand. Outside work, Emily enjoys photography, knitting, yoga, and playing with her pup, Teddy
Group Program Coordinator
Adriana supports the development of faculty-led and group programs. Based in Lima, Peru, she has 10+ years of experience managing sustainable development projects internationally. Adriana is dedicated to creating impactful global experiences.
Group Program Coordinator
Aishwarya is passionate about international education, cultural exchange, and creating meaningful learning experiences through travel. Originally from Pune, India, she has worked across education and global programs, including with Northwestern University and Teach For India. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Fergusson College and an MBA from Pune University. Outside work, Aishwarya enjoys yoga, exploring the outdoors, discovering new places, and spending time with her family.
Group Program Administrator
Aureen holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and has since embarked on a different career path in the field of responsible travel. Bringing dedication and a genuine appreciation for meaningful experiences, she plays a supportive role in working alongside Group Program Coordinators, assisting with administrative functions and operational requirements to help ensure the smooth execution of group programs. Outside her professional role, Aureen is a loving mother of three boys and a fashion enthusiast. She values continuous growth and new experiences, balancing her professional journey with family life and her creative passions.
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Together we’ll discuss your program goals and needs.
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With your input, we develop and fine-tune the perfect itinerary.
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We support institutional approvals and recruitment processes to ensure a successful launch!
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From pre-departure planning until your return, we’re with you every step of the way!
Travelling on your own? Our individual placements team offers service-learning and internship placements.
With a focus on experiential education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, your group can immerse and engage with international communities and environments across the globe.
