Responsible Tourism Policy 2007
Community Connections
Representing a unique and inspirational approach to travel, Hôtel de la Paix, Siem Reap offers guests the opportunity to meet, experience and enjoy the true essence of Cambodia.
Unlike many international hotels that remain insulated from the local community, Hôtel de la Paix actively supports and encourages the interaction of guests with the neighbouring environment. Visitors are invited to connect with local Khmer families in a dignified way - fostering cross-cultural understanding and sensitivity through tourism.
Connections include the Hôtel de la Paix Sewing Centre and the Shinta Mani Institute of Hospitality. Personalised tours of both facilities may be arranged at any time and guests are welcome to participate in sponsorship programs. Additional details may be found on www.shintamani.com and further information and assistance is available via the hotel reception desks.
Customised community-based activities such as rice sponsorship, educational support, water well donations, school uniforms and supplies and other one-off contributions and long-term sponsorships may also be facilitated.
Hôtel de la Paix is especially proud to provide these unique human experiences. We do this through a network of long-standing contacts that have been built from our personal efforts within the community - where an underlying knowledge of local needs is paramount to providing assistance and where accountability is guaranteed.
HOTEL DE LA PAIX - SEWING TRAINING CENTRE
(www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com)
The Hôtel de la Paix Sewing Training Centre is a vocational facility which provides skills and training to disadvantaged young Khmer women.
Based at Wat Damnak (just 5 minutes by tuk tuk from HDLP) and overseen by a network of local monks from the Life and Hope Association (LHA), the sewing centre provides an opportunity for those who are vulnerable and without a future.
During a 6 month course the students are not only taught sewing skills but also attend daily English classes and receive basic life skills. Upon graduation from the program each student is provided with a sewing machine and start-up kit of materials so they may return to their village and start their own business - thereby being able to build a bright future and support themselves and their families.
The third intake of the Hôtel de la Paix Sewing Centre commenced with 20 students in February 2008.
SHINTA MANI INSTITUTE OF HOSPITALITY
(www.shintamani.com)
The Shinta Mani Institute of Hospitality is a boutique hotel and vocational training facility that supports and trains young Cambodians otherwise at risk.
In addition to the Institute, the team at Shinta Mani have developed a very successful community based out reach program where guests of the hotel can participate in funding basic essential needs.
The project promotes sustainable tourism by helping the local village communities work their way out of poverty. We encourage the donors to visit the families involved during their stay in Siem Reap - thus creating a unique bridging between the local community and international visitors.
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Community-based sponsorships - Some ideas We would be very pleased to design a sponsorship package to suit you. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas. We will also be pleased to let you know whether it is viable for us to put the package together here, such as school uniforms, or whether it is more appropriate for you to bring with you i.e. English storybooks. |
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Hôtel de la Paix Sewing Training Centre (www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com) Located in the grounds of Wat Damnak and overseen by the monks of the Life & Hope Association, the training centre provides a six month sewing training course to young disadvanted Khmer women. |
USD250 per student (tuition) USD85 per student (for a sewing machine) |
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Shinta Mani Institute of Hospitality (www.shintamani.com) The Institute provides free hospitality training for young Cambodians at risk as well as a number of other community assistance programs. |
Sponsorship packages range in price (contact us for details) |
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School Supplies (www.watdamnak.org) (Sponsorship via Life & Hope Association) Support an entire village of children with school uniforms, school kits including school books stocked pencil cases and school bag for a year - (remember in supporting one, you support many - younger brothers and sisters will go on to wear the outgrown school uniform - just like our own children!). Please feel free to support as many children as you choose. |
USD 10 per child |
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Orphanages There are many well run and regulated orphanages within Siem Reap. Our staff have connections to quite a few and would be very willing to arrange private invitations and sponsorships on your behalf. Sponsorship could be by way of financial donation, rice support, educational support or others. Orphanages include the Sangkeum Centre (sponsored by Rice for Cambodia); The Sunrise Angkor Children's Village (sponsored by the Australia Cambodia Foundation), Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) & The Childrens Development Village (LHA). |
All donations gratefully accepted |
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Rice Sponsorship One ton of rice per month goes a long way to feeding many OVC's (Orphans and vulnerable children) in the local orphanages as well as those in the surrounding community. |
USD 200 per 500 kilos of rice |
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Personal Amenity Kits (www.greengeckoproject.org) Many children in Cambodia have limited access to hygiene facilities. One way to help overcome health issues is to provide a toiletry kit. Each should contain toothbrush, toothpaste, soap (and container), hairbrush, facecloth and towel. (Sponsorship via Green Gecko Project (day centre for street children)). |
USD 8 per child |
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Life & Hope Association (www.watdamnak.org) The Life and Hope Association is run by the monks of Wat Damnak. They aim to support orphans and vulnerable children and to care for those at risk. The monks assist the children with educational and vocational training. They clothe and feed the children and provide school supplies. |
All donations gratefully received |
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Pushbikes Walking to school over long distances is not easy (especially when you are only 5 or 6 years old!). There is no family car to ride in. Quite often the children in the outlying villages have to come quite a distance in searing heat. Apart from the joys of having their very own bicycle your kind donation will ensure that they can ride to school every day. (Actually the children here share their bicycles so expect to see up to three children in one family all on the one bike at the same time!). (Sponsorship via all of the orphanages mentioned above) |
USD 50 per child |
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Sangkheum Centre for Children (www.sangkheum.org) Meaning 'hope' in Khmer, the Sangkheum Center for Children is working to provide education and training options within Siem Reap. Without support, many children have no alternative but to earn their living begging from tourists around the ancient Temples of Angkor. You can support a family of 6 (and one 'carer') for approximately USD50 per month. |
One family USD 50 per month |
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Build a Home (4 X 5 meters) (www.shintamani.com) Generally it will take about two and a half years for a family to save enough to buy posts, wood for the frame and tin for the roof of their own home. They will then construct that and live in it without any walls for a further two and a half to three years. With this donation it can been done within 4 weeks and can be arranged so that you are there when it is finished and share in the excitement and joy for an entire family. |
USD 1250 |
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Water Wells with Hand Pumps + vegetable seeds (good for 5 families) Access to clean potable water will dramatically reduce the incidence of diarrhea and infections and could help to double a family's income during times of droughts. Via Shinta Mani www.shintamani.com |
USD 100 |
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Pig Connection (Pair of Piglets) (www.shintamani.com) This is a live piggy bank. A family can buy two piglets, raise them for 4-6 months and then resell them for 8 - 10 times the original cost. |
USD 80 |
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(Small) things to throw in your suitcase which bring a lot of joy Tennis balls, skipping ropes, yo-yos, squeaky toys, colouring books and pencils, hair ribbons, matchbox cars - and anything else that will fit! * All costings are approximations only * |
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