• home
• about
• awards
• events
• resources

6 nominations from readers

• Christopher should win this award because he is passionate about using ethical business excellence to effect social change.

  Christopher's vision is for his guests to be challenged by their experiences to adopt more contented, simple lifestyles, and also become inspired to be passionate advocates for the communities with which they interact.

  Christopher's vision is to inspire his guests to volunteer for longer periods of time - not only overseas but also here in the UK.

  Christopher is committed to listening, and giving a voice to people who previously have not had an opportunity to tell their story.

  Christopher has developed an innovative travel concept that enables people who otherwise would not get involved in meaningful ways with local communities whilst on holiday - largely due to fear and ignorance.

  Christopher does this by providing top quality holidays using fantastic accommodation, packaging it with sublime sightseeing, and a 'taste' of volunteering. This enables guests to dip their toes in the water of volunteering in a safe context, and discover how wonderful it is to help those less fortunate, and at the same time find that they benefit from the experience themselves - guests find that their lives are enriched and fulfilled by the encounter, and that the benefits definitely flow two-ways.

  Christopher should win this award because he has left well paid city jobs to create incredible holiday experiences that change lives - those of his guests and those of the communities with which they interact and volunteer.

  Christopher is committed to making Hands Up Holidays the world's leading ethical travel company, and willing this award will help raise awareness of this new style of travel and thus further help break down cultural barriers of ignorance and facilitate mutual understanding and respect.

  Nominated by Audrey Hill, 21 February 2008

• Hands Up Holidays should win this award because it is imbued with passion to use ethical business excellence to effect social change.

  Hands Up Holidays’ vision is for its guests to be challenged by their experiences to adopt more contented, simple lifestyles, and also become inspired to be passionate advocates for the communities with which they interact.

  Hands Up Holidays’ vision is to inspire its guests to volunteer for longer periods of time – not only overseas but also here in the UK.

  Hands Up Holidays is committed to listening, and giving a voice to people who previously have not had an opportunity to tell their story.

  Hands Up Holidays has developed an innovative travel concept that enables people who otherwise would not interact in meaningful ways with local communities whilst on holiday – largely due to fear and ignorance.

  Hands Up Holidays does this by providing top quality holidays using fantastic accommodation, packaging it with sublime sightseeing, and a ‘taste’ of volunteering. This enables guests to dip their toes in the water of volunteering in a safe context, and discover how wonderful it is to help those less fortunate, and at the same time find that they benefit from the experience themselves – guests find that their lives are enriched and fulfilled by the encounter, and that the benefits definitely flow two-ways.

  Hands Up Holidays is committed to becoming the world’s leading ethical travel company, and willing this award will help raise awareness of this new style of travel and thus further help break down cultural barriers of ignorance and facilitate mutual understanding and respect.

  Hands Up Holidays is committed to enriching lives – of its guests, of the communities it is involved in, and of its employees.

  Finally, Hands Up is a true hybrid organisation in that it has set up the Hands Up Foundation, and it has committed to giving at least 10% of its profits back into further social development projects.

  Nominated by Christopher Hill, 14 May 2008

• Chris Hill has put his commitment to assist in the betterment of less fortunate communities and put together a business that addresses those needs in a respectful, sustainable and growing enterprise.

  Nominated by Reid Johnson, 14 May 2008

• Chris Hill should will this award for his tireless effort to build a business with social concern as its core. In an age of entrepreneurship for self-serving reasons, Chris has put his pride aside and has pursued merging his passions of global travel and social justice. Our world needs more entrepreneurs with Chris' ideals and courage.

  Nominated by Vince Caperelli, 15 May 2008

• CChristopher Hill's educational background is in finance and corporate law. Christopher combined that institutional knowledge with personal skill and grit to eventually gain financial influence on at least 3 continents. In 2003, a brief pause in his career took him to Vancouver, Canada, where he evaluated his vocational trajectory against the biblical call to live for others (as opposed to solely for one's own interest). This proved to be an unexpectedly monumental event, both in his vocational direction but also life philosophy. In seeking to use his knowledge to now impact the lives of others, thus was born ‘Hand’s Up Holidays’.

  What is unique about Hand's Up Holidays is that its social impact is not only directed toward its disadvantaged beneficiaries, but their benefactors, as well; thus, in seeking to impact the lives of individuals, its more lofty, far-reaching vision is a change in our overall global social climate.

  Nominated by Scott Woods, 15 May 2008

• Giving people an opportunity to get involved and help change lives - one at at time!

  Nominated by Jean-Michel Koenig, 16 May 2008

3 comments from readers

• Christopher Hill is one of the innovative Social Entrepreneurs I've seen in a long time. I met him when he was in the initial process of forming his vision and have seen him execute his plan each step of the way. He is extremely dynamic and creative in overcoming barriers that most entrepreneurs seem to face. More than that he has stuck to his ideals of helping those in need around the world by exposing people in developed countries to real development-world problems. This no longer remains an abstract image one sees on TV, but he demonstrates how average people can help and make a difference. When I teach my course on 'The Soul of the Entrepreneur' I always use Hands Up Holidays as an outstanding example of Social Entrepreneurship, and this has also been an inspiration in writing my book on entrepreneurship entitled, 'Bring Your Vision to Life'. I highly endorse his candidacy for the Social Entrepreneur of the Year award. Dr. Ralph McCall

  Submitted by Ralph McCall, 15 May 2008

• Christopher is a ball of fire. In a couple of years, with his dynamic team, he has created this phenomenal ethical travel agency, brilliantly combining humanitarian action with tourism. We have been watching this enterprise unfold in the last few years since we met Christopher at Regent College in Vancouver, and both of us agree that the labour and energy involved in this achievement beggar the imagination. Thousands will benefit from his work,both visitors and hosts. Friendships will be made, lives will be transformed with a fresh vision of why we are here on earth. Christopher deserves to be recognized and honoured.

  Submitted by George and Victoria Hobson, 15 May 2008

• I have never met a man more suited to the profession of entrepreneur. When I first met Christopher in Vancouver in 2003, he was carrying around in his mind and heart great vision for what would become Hands Up Holidays. His diligent, innovative and committed spirit, along with his desire to create community at both a local and an international level, make him a perfect candidate for this award. The best thing is, regardless of accolades and rewards, he will continue to live an adventurous, humble and service-oriented life.

  Submitted by Ruth Ann Pszwaro, 16 May 2008