Responsible Travel

Charities in Southeast Asia which Audley supports

As part of our commitment to responsible tourism, in early 2005 we formed the 'Audley Charity Portfolio', which originally comprised five organisations we chose to actively support.

This has now evolved into an initiative where we have selected charities that involve countries across our range of programmes. These charities are intended to help a wide variety of causes from wildlife, human rights and education, to the environment and conservation.

STREETS International

STREETS International is an innovative social enterprise initiative that seeks to develop and operate sustainable programs for street kids and disadvantaged youth in Southeast Asia and throughout the world. STREETS prepares vulnerable, orphaned and other disadvantaged young people for careers in hospitality. In developing economies around the world, tourism is often one of the first and largest sectors to experience growth and expansion. The STREETS initiative is designed to match the resource demands of the growing hospitality sector with the needs of disadvantaged youth. It provides them with the highest levels of training to prepare them for careers in culinary arts and hospitality service.

The 18-month programme incorporates many components, including classroom instruction, hands-on work experience, housing and all the necessary social and community support. This is the first real chance for many disadvantaged young adults to escape from a life of poverty and/or who are on the streets, gaining self-sufficiency through successful careers in hospitality.

The first STREETS Restaurant Café and Training Center opened in Hoi An, Vietnam, in 2009. Since opening, it has touched the lives of close to 100 young adults. Of the first two graduating classes, 100% were employed within months of graduation at the top resorts and restaurant in Central Vietnam.

STREETS plans on opening its next programme in Sapa, Vietnam. They will work with children of disadvantaged ethnic minority groups living in the area.

For those who would like to see the project in action we can arrange for you to visit the STREETS Restaurant Café in the historic central district of Hoi An. Donations are gratefully accepted by the charity. The Southeast Asia team at Audley will be fundraising over the year in order to add to our annual contribution to STREETS International in Vietnam.

If you would like to find out more about STREETS, please ask your specialist or visit www.streetsinternational.org.

Please note that from time-to-time Audley's Southeast Asia team will be raising funds through various events and initiatives to further contribute to the good work that STREETS is doing.

Cambodia

Pour un Sourire d’Enfant

Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (PSE), 'For a Child’s Smile', was established by a French-run NGO to help disadvantaged children who had previously lived in squalor earning a meagre livelihood collecting waste from municipal dumps.

The PSE Centre and school provides education for children and adults, as well as excellent vocational training, from silk weaving to gardening. The project is well worth visiting and the students love to meet people and show them around the school so they can practice their English.

Stop for lunch at the school’s excellent training restaurant, Lotus Blanc, as all profits are ploughed straight back into the project.

'Stay Another Day'

The 'Stay Another Day' initiative provides a booklet, available in most hotels, of NGOs operating in Cambodia and information about how to ensure your holiday has a positive impact on the communities you are visiting. We also always strive to work with local businesses to promote the growth of locally led tourism projects and hotels.

Please contact us for further information if this is an area that interests you. There are several other projects in Cambodia that you may wish to visit while you are in the country and perhaps continue to support once you return home.

ELIE (Elephants Livelihood Initiative Environment) Project

ELIE, with the support of the Bunong minority villagers, rescues and treats domestic elephants which come from abusive backgrounds and have suffered illness or injury as a consequence.

This truly unique experience allows you to learn more about Cambodia's elephants and the efforts to protect them in the area. Emphasis is more about observing the elephants and helping to look after them in their natural environment than actually riding the elephants, but this is a great way to relax, take in the beautiful countryside and learn a little more about the Bunong minority culture.

Trained mahouts accompany you and the elephants during gentle walks through the jungle to waterfalls and if you are fortunate you may also spot some of the wildlife in the area such as gibbons and eagles.

MAG (Mines Advisory Group)

MAG is one of the world's leading humanitarian organisations providing conflict-affected communities around the world the chance of a better future. It clears the remnants of conflict from some of the world's poorest countries, educates and employs local people and helps provide solutions for those trapped by poverty and economic devastation through no fault of their own. Operating since 1989 and having worked on a variety of conflict-related projects in over 35 countries, including Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, MAG is also co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for their work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

If you would like to find out further information visit www.maginternational.org.

Big Brother Mouse

Traditionally, books have been rare in Laos. The number of children who go to school is slowly but steadily increasing, yet many children have never read a book outside of school textbooks. Few Lao people think reading can be fun, can add to their education, or will provide information to improve their quality of life.

Big Brother Mouse is a charity that aims to change this; it is a publisher that aims to make books fun for both children and adults and looks at ways to promote reading throughout Laos.

Burma

Paya Ngoto school

Back in May 2008, a number of Audley staff, clients and suppliers decided to raise money to help rebuild Paya Ngoto School in the Irrawaddy Delta, Burma, after it was badly damaged by Cyclone Nargis.

Among the fundraising events was a raffle. Here are some of the prizes that were on offer:

• The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company kindly donated a 10-night Irrawaddy cruise for two aboard the Pandaw IV worth approximately £4,000.
• One week in a gite in France’s Burgundy region.
• One week in a cottage in Northumberland.
• A weekend in a cottage in Monmouthshire, Wales.
• A day trip for two on the British Pullman or Northern Belle train, including brunch, an excursion at the chosen destination and a table d’hote dinner with champagne and wine (kindly donated by Orient Express).
• Commissioned watercolour painting of your home or a landscape by Mr W Harvey.
• Two mounted Burma prints by Mrs M Fewkes. A half case of fine wine from Majestic Wine.
• A year’s subscription to Wanderlust Magazine.
• Insight travel guides.
• Insight world travel encyclopaedias.

This raffle raise a total of £11,000.

This money provided physical improvements to the school, adding a much needed flood defence wall and a raised-level concrete playground. Both were employed to stave off the annual monsoon flood waters and increase the children’s safety.

Educational items such as a cassette player and tapes, clocks and also 10 school uniforms have also been provided from the proceeds.