When we are off on a trip, isn’t it lovely to take a tour and find out all the ins and outs of where you are staying? The cultural aspects, the history of a place; it’s City Break 101. Now how many of you have done the same in Glasgow? Thank goodness, then for Invisible Cities…
I’m a fan of a tour. You know, don’t you, when the tour guide is local to the area, gives you an insight beyond your expectation, into what it might be like to live there.
What I’m not so keen on is a tour of somewhere in Scotland, where the tour guide’s strong Aussie accent somewhat affects the authenticity of the tour.
It’s fair to say that having a tour with a guide who really KNOWS the area is what we want.
Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that has taken this premise to heart. The enterprise trains people who have experienced homelessness in some form, to be tour guides in the cities they live.
Alternative Tours
The walking tours are a great alternative to the more classic open top buses seen in many cities. As well as obviously highlighting historical aspects of the cities, the guides take the tours on a very personal exploration of the streets they know only too well. In Glasgow, the tours include a maritime history of the city, an alternative tour looking at the evolution of Glasgow and a tour on the people of Glasgow.
Dignity in Purpose
It’s a win-win for both attendee and those individuals who have become tour guides.
As well as paid employment, the tour guide’s training encourages confidence, practises public speaking and unlocks the potential that we all have inside. Gaining transferrable skills, meeting people and improving self-esteem, help the guides to achieve, once impossible, personal goals.
As an attendee on the tour, it’s a chance to experience a city guide that is personal, profound and unique. Because the tours are designed by the individuals, incorporating a city’s landmarks with stories of lived experiences. It’s a chance to connect and form a deeper understanding of an area and of the individual on the pavement, behind the paper cup.
A Mission
Launched in 2016 in Edinburgh, the mission of Invisible Cities is ‘doing tourism differently.’ Founder and CEO Zakia Moulaoui Guery’s vision was to ‘Turn cities into classrooms and people affected by homelessness into powerful storytellers.’
And,oh, has her vision been realised. Invisible Cities now runs in six cities UK-wide with 145 people trained. With free tours for other social enterprises and charities, the tour guides are gaining in confidence. But Invisible Cities are keen to have a lasting social impact through their model. Their ‘Theory of Change’ predicts an impact on not only individuals and guests attending the tours, but on the wider community and the travel industry too. The enterprise delivers care packages to communities and discusses sustainable tourism within the travel industry.
Meet Me in Govan
For the past two years, Invisible Cities has been running the Meet me in Govan community project. The project is in the form of a weekly walking group where key themes are explored on the walks: housing, work, culture, community, youth and education immigration and languages and finally sport and well-being. The project has seen members of many other community groups taking part and it is hoped that the ‘meet me in…’ walks will be rolled out in other areas of Scotland.
Impact
What have visitors on the Invisible Cities tours come away with? ‘Profound’, ‘extraordinary’, even ‘life changing’. 100% of visitors would recommend the tours to friends and – most importantly – 90% of visitors said it had changed their perception of homelessness.
And to get the word even further afield, Invisible Cities have launched their own podcast, reaching new supporters, collaborators and highlighting themes of social injustice and sustainable tourism.
Endless possibilities in order to achieve lasting social change. Invisible Cities is certainly not out of sight…
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