Exotissimo Travel Support 'Gecko Kids' In Helping Cambodia's Flood Victims

Exotissimo Travel have been working with Hotel de la Paix, Heritage Suites Hotel and Golden Banana Boutique Hotel & Resorts to support Green Gecko, a local NGO aimed at helping street children, in raising funds for assistance to families affected by the flooding that hit Cambodia.

Flooding has affected 17 of Cambodia's 24 provinces, killing 247 people and forced the evacuation of more than 34,000 households, destroying some 200,000 hectares of rice fields in accordance to the National Committee for Disaster Management.

The inspiration for the flood relief appeal came about after the three above named hotels invited children from Green Gecko to share their concerns about the food crisis and make a proposal on how they would like to help. Responding to the call, the Green Gecko children said, “Our plan is to save money from our own food spending to buy rice, canned fish, soy sauce and clean water for families that need help.” This initiative also inspired Exotissimo Travel Cambodia, who are now taking part in the project.

Mobilized by the children’s appeal, Exotissimo Travel, the hotels and Green Gecko sprang into action and a first delivery of rice, fish and soy sauce was made to each of the 20 most desperate families at a commune in the outskirts of Siem Reap. A second delivery will take place on Thursday October 20 for another 150 families. In addition to donating and raising funds, staff from the hotels and Exotissimo will work alongside the children and staff of Green Gecko to help with the delivery.
& nbsp;
“We understand this initiative does not serve as a long term solution; our goals are simply to offer some emergency relief, to buy some time until aid organizations have time to reach them”, said Tania Palmer, the co-founder and director of the Green Gecko Project. She also thanked the collaborators for helping the children to reach out to their community. “Thank you for supporting our kids in their initiative and involving them in such a great community project, you all made them feel very special and worthy”.

Hamish Keith, Chief Operations Manager of Exotissimo Travel said “As a leading tour destination management company in Southeast Asia, we feel it is our duty to help the people of the region whenever they are in need. This is an excellent initiative and fine spirit shown by the children at Green Gecko to get this going. We are proud to work alongside them as well as our friends from the hotels.”

Exotissimo and the hotels are launching an appeal through their guests and friends to raise funds for the Drive for Direction Action for Emergency Flood Relief Collaboration, and call on anyone who can, to help them assist families that are desperately in need. Funds donated will go directly towards purchasing rice, fish and water for those families. Anyone wishing to help should contact Exotissimo Travel Cambodia at go.cambodia.exotissimo.com or go to, http://www.razoo.com/story/Floodreliefcollaboration to donate online.

The Green Gecko Project is a home, school and family for 70 children who previously lived and begged on the streets of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Green Gecko provides security, education, love and oppo rtunities to these children through their formative years and into their adult lives, empowering them to achieve their full potential.

Source - etravelblackboardasia