Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Scott.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a teacher. This year is my 12th year teaching. During my first year teaching, I wanted to leave my mark. I wanted to change the world, not unlike most new teachers. I taught all subjects in 4th grade, and I had 26 students. I had a student. Let’s call her was Jasmine. Jasmine’s mom was a single mom of two. Jasmine’s dad was incarcerated. She would come to my desk during dismissal and sit quietly. This continued for about a month. Afterward, she started asking questions and then we began having full conversations. This time became our bonding time. I started looking forward to dismissal. One day she asked me, “Mr. Scott, can we go on a field trip?” Of course, this is my first year, and I’m trying to become teacher of the decade, so I said, “Sure.” Before I could finish, she said, “I don’t want to go to the zoo.” I said, “Ok, what about… “She interrupted me, “I don’t want to go to the aquarium.” I said, “Ok. Where do you want to go?” She said, “I want to go out the country.”
That day is where my story began.
Little did I know, Jasmine lived in a predominantly white neighborhood and had friends who were traveling out the country. She wanted to travel out the country as well. I began looking for ways and places I could expose Jasmine. I had never been out of the country much less taken any kids. That conversation with Jasmine sparked a desire within me that has yet to be satiated.
Two years later, I lead my first student trip to Costa Rica. To date, I have created a three travel programs at three different schools. I have been to over 30 different countries, 90 international cities, and five continents. In addition to having my own business, Abiri Tours, I am currently the Travel Coordinator for Midtown International School.
Has it been a smooth road?
When the road is smooth, you have to prepare for obstacles. As a single dad, time has been my Achilles heel. Splitting my time in between my full-time job, my business, my family and my time has been the biggest struggle.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Abiri Tours story. Tell us more about the business.
After leading dozens of international educational trips, two realizations were key in the development of Abiri Tours. First, most other tour companies offered tours at costs far higher than many of his potential clients could afford. And second, that during many of my travels, my groups were often the only people of color visiting any particular destination. With these realizations in mind, Abiri Tours was born to provide transformative travel experiences – at affordable rates – to a greater number of working-class families and people of color.
To date, we have traveled to Guatemala several times with groups of students and their families learning Spanish and serving the community. We have traveled to Cuba with groups supporting the Cuban people. We’ve traveled to the motherland and experienced a Safari in Kruger National Park, church service in Langa Township and walked the streets of Soweto and visited the former homes of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. We’ve sailed the Greek Isles, meditated with the monks of Japan, learned about the Moorish influence of Southern Spain, and ate dinner with the Emberas, the original people of Panamá.
We have done all this, and more, with the intention of exposing Black and Brown families to different cultures around the world. I can do this because of the courage of a little fourth-grade girl who dared to want to see the world
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The travel industry is growing exponentially! More people are traveling, and even more Black people are deciding to see the world. The demands for more travel to Africa are increasing. Companies like 23AndMe, Ancestry.com and African Ancestry are providing people with ancestral places of origin. This along with the burgeoning need to create opportunities for students to differentiate themselves to colleges and universities has increased the desire of families to travel the world. We want to be there and provide alternatives to those people.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1519 Athens Ave SW
- Website: www.abiritours.com
- Phone: 912-678-1304
- Email: ashleyscott@abiritours.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abiritours/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abiritours/
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