The Bakery School Project

Support for Abused Young Women and Girls in Sri Lanka

Empower Lives Through the Gift of Opportunity

Join us in supporting the RoundTrip Foundation's Bakery School in Galle, Sri Lanka

We were utterly thrilled to be a sponsor of the Women in Travel Awards in Australia, celebrating the amazing impact of women in the travel industry. In fact it inspired us to look to support projects where the travel industry can have an amazing impact on the lives of women in developing countries. The RoundTrip Foundation's Bakery School project in Galle, Sri Lanka, felt to us like a powerful example of how the travel industry can truly make a difference.

About the Bakery School Project

The young women are trained in commercial bakery skills, and many are finding employment in the tourism and hospitality industry. English language classes are part of the course, with the expectation that graduation will involve interacting with tourists. The island's fabulous natural and impressive cultural attractions annually draw in tourists from many countries. It's an inspiring example of a positive impact on the communities we visit.

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Currently, training facilities for the school are in a hotel kitchen, and the upmarket bakery products are sold ad hoc, with many given away to nearby charities focusing on the needs of women and children. However, to make the bakery school sustainable, RoundTrip plans to assist the bakery school in transitioning to a social enterprise in the coming years, including training facilities for the bakery school and a retail outlet serving fresh bakery goods to primary tourists and other passers-by.

Life-changing Pathways: Based in Galle, Sri Lanka, the Bakery School provides a life-changing pathway to employment, financial stability, and family reunion for young women who experience vulnerability and disadvantage due to sexual violence, poverty and other socio-economic factors.

Empowerment Through Tourism: The young women are trained in commercial bakery skills, and graduates work primarily in the hospitality and tourism industry. With the ambition of setting up a social enterprise to ensure a sustainable future, tourists will be the primary target market for its upmarket bakery goods. Another excellent example of the benefits that tourism can bring to the communities we visit.

Remarkable Success Rate: Over 90% of the young women graduates go on to secure an internship with the help of RoundTrip, which leads to secure employment, the vast majority of which is in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Discover more about the Bakery School and its impact here.

About the RoundTrip Foundation:

Harnessing the Power of Travel to Fight Poverty

RoundTrip is a volunteer-run Australian development NGO with an international focus. It aims to harness the power of travel to fight poverty.

RoundTrip firmly believes that all travellers - from backpackers to cruise enthusiasts - can have a positive impact and change the world by travelling responsibly and making donations of either money or time.


Giving back from your travels - especially if you’ve been in developing countries - is essential to complete your journey.


RoundTrip advocates for responsible travel and establishes grassroots African and Asian programs that deliver sustainable change to local communities.

Learn more about the RoundTrip Foundation here.

Give back and complete your journey…

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Supporting the Women in Travel Awards

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Inspired by our sponsorship of the Women in Travel Awards, we wanted to look at other ways to celebrate and support the impact of women in the travel industry. The Bakery School project embodies the spirit of empowerment and positive change we believe in.

Your Questions, Our Answers: Everything You Need to Know Before Donating

We understand you might have questions about how your donations make an impact. Below, you'll find detailed answers to help you feel confident and informed as you support this vital cause.

1. How does the donation process work?

Click the 'Donate Now' button, fill out the form with your details and the number of points you'd like to donate, and submit. We'll handle the rest.

2. Who benefits from my donation?

Your donations support the RoundTrip Foundation Bakery School project in Galle, providing training and employment opportunities for at-risk young women.

3. How are the funds used?

Donations fund the operational costs of the Bakery School, including training programs, materials, and support services for the young women. Donations fund the cost of ingredients, utilities such as electricity and gas, laundry costs and the wages for the teacher chefs.

It costs roughly $2,000 to put one student through a semester at the school. What this means in real terms is that $2,000 completely transforms a life. The Bakery School course's impact on young women's lives is simply extraordinary.

4. Can I learn more about the Bakery School project?

Absolutely! You can find more information about the project and its impact here.

5. Is there a limit to how much Room-Res will match?

There is no upper limit to how much your points balance you can donate. At Room-Res, we will match up to $10,000 of donated points.

6. What if I don't have points but want to contribute?

We'd be delighted to help you donate, and you can either contact us at updates@room-res.com for us to take a manual payment, or you can contact RoundTrip Foundation directly at https://roundtripfoundation.org.au/

7. What if I have more questions?

Please contact our support team at support@room-res.com for any additional information.

Together, We Can Make a Lasting Impact”


We invite you to join us in supporting the RoundTrip Foundation Bakery School. Your contribution, matched by us, will empower young women to overcome adversity and build brighter futures through opportunities in tourism.

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