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Organization of people who live and work in Chengdu. Sichuan Quake Relief identifies the specific needs of remote communities that may not receive immediate assistance, sends out appeals, collects funds and supplies, and coordinates their delivery. Admin costs are nil.
Sells fantastic Vietnamese food and all profits from the restaurant and sales of postcards etc are given to the excellent Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation, who work with street children and children who have been trafficked in Hanoi and Hue.
Down by the riverside, close to the market.
www.bdcf.org
hoianhotels.org
Chiang Mai, like the rest of Thailand, has a huge problem with stray dogs. How about visiting Care for Dogs, a dog rescue and adoption centre, a few miles outside Chiang Mai? You can see the amazing work they are doing and even take some dogs for a walk. We went yesterday and it is well worth a visit!
What a fantastic booklet. It gives so much information about making the most of your holiday and doing something worthwhile.
We did loads of the stuff recommended in it and it helped us meet local people and ensure that our money was going to worthwhile places.
For example: teaching locals to read English (Brother Mouse in Luang Prabang - fantastic place!).
If you fancy a massage, go to the Red Cross in Luang Prabang. It's not luxury - none of your scented candles here - but a great massage and all the money goes to the Red Cross. The brave can even donate blood.
Stay Another Day Laos is available in guesthouses, travel agents, bars, restaurants - all over the place.
Everyone knows about the big parades on Bastille day, but the secret celebrations go on in district fire stations the night before.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris on the 13th July, find the local Sapeurs Pompiers station from about 22:00 hours.
Pay a voluntary entrance fee (that goes to charity) and enjoy. You’ll realise why they get such a huge cheer at the end of the Bastille Day parade.
Peruforyou is a tiny volunteer organisation based in Huancayo. They offer Spanish lessons to tourists in exchange for English lessons and health schemes given to local orphans and street kids.
You are placed with a local family to live and experience real Andean life. They also offer superb jungle treks - highly memorable and so rewarding.
If you are looking to volunteer in Siem Reap as a teacher for kids this is by far the best option!
They are a charity so there is no profit involved as with other operators in the area. I have seen where the money goes - new buildings, education, food, clothes, bedding etc for these kids. They are not just in it for the money, they really care.
When I checked out some of the others in Siem Reap they send volunteers to these places but that's where their support ends - Globalteer are also the cheapest so good news all round. Really friendly people working there too.
They take people for three months or even if you are in the area for a few days and want to help they will find a placement for you.
Starfish Bakery is a charitable cafe/bakery/art shop with internet access that also offers excellent massages in its Sala Santepheap.
My massage, with a blind older lady named Janara, was one of the best I'd ever had and only cost US$10 for 90 min (in Sept 2007).
The cafe food also looked delicious. Mainly western stuff like omelettes, cakes, coffee.
Proceeds support Starfish Cambodia www.starfishcambodia.org/
www.canbypublications.com/sihanoukvilleads/starfishbakery.htm
Downtown Sihanoukville, on a small dirt road right around the corner from Samudera Market(1-2 min walk)
tel. 012 952 011
This is an organisation that saves orphaned elephants and rhinos, and rehabilitates them out into the wild. They also run community outreach programmes, a desnaring project and mobile veterinary unit.
You can visit the centre daily in Nairobi National Park. The visit will allow you to get up close to these magnificent animals and see them play.
Sponsoring an elephant or rhino costs $50 US per year. You can sponsor an elephant via: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
Near the Karen area of Nairobi.
Mailing address: The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust P.O. Box 15555 Nairobi Kenya
Visiting Kibera wil give you a good idea of how much of the world's population live and the Kibera Community Youth Programme are a great group who are a lot of fun and will take care of you.
This cafe is on the main square. Profits go to children's projects in the sacred valley. The food and the coffee are really good.
A small number of simple, homely rooms surround a beautiful courtyard in which weary travellers escape from the bustle of Cuzco.
The hostel is impeccably run by the most friendly and welcoming staff who are ready to rustle you up delicious pancakes and coffee.
The Dutch owner set up the B&B as a fundraising venture for the vast amount of street children she now helps. Staff are also on hand to offer hints and tips. Tours of the children’s centre are also recommended to offer you the alternative view of a city which is so dominated by tourism.
This is a bakery that sells cakes so delicious you will come back again and again.
We bought some fresh alfajores (2 round crumbly biscuits with a layer of dulche de leche inside and a bit of coconut flakes on the top) every day we spent in Cusco.
They also have a range of savoury and sweet tarts, hot drinks and breads. Eat in or take away.
The shop is owned by a religious order who looks after orphan girls.
Cuesta de San Blas 579
On the way up to San Blas church, on the left hand side of the road. I think they are closed on Sunday.
A great initiative to train young people up as chefs, waiters and bakers.
The restaurant serves French-accented Indochine cuisine in a lovely garden courtyard.
Seemed popular with diplomats when we were there.
Food is excellent and we felt very very full when we left, but very virtuous as we had helped people just by eating!
They also have a cafe and bakery called Baguette et Chocolat
www.hoasuaschool.com/index.php228a Ha Hoi (it is down a couple of side streets so you may need to look carefully for the signposts - or bring a map).
Tel: 4 942 4448
Baguette et Chocolat:
11 Pho Cha Ca
Tel: 04 923 1500
Angkor hospital for children encourages visitors to the area to donate blood. Blood banks are in scarce supply in Cambodia and your donation really will save a life. It only takes half an hour. The equipment is all safe and sterile.
Near the central market in Siem Reap town centre
Clinic times 10am - 4pm
We were met as planned at Delhi airport by Maya – one of our hosts – smiling brightly and welcoming us to Delhi.
A short taxi ride later (once Maya finally found our taxi, but that’s another story) we met our other host Betu. Together they run the guesthouse which to the eye is small, modest and comfortable. But Maya and Betu make it so much more than that with their help, advice, good food, ginger tea and warmth.
They arranged taxis for us, helped us to work out what to see and do in Delhi, answered our questions about India and made us laugh until our sides hurt.
In addition to the guesthouse they run a voluntary organization which provides a helpline, counselling and support to women across India who are questioning their sexuality or identify as lesbian. If you consider the usual issues faced by any woman coming out and add to them the cultural expectations faced by women in India you can imagine how important this work is.
Unfortunately it is not currently funded and so by staying at Naari guesthouse you are contributing towards the running costs. Another good reason to visit!
950 INR (approx 11 pounds) per person gets you and en-suite A/C room.
Tel: 0091 – 11 – 26138316 or 26899262
www.sanginii.org
The contact email of Naari is
(naari_india@hotmail.com)
I would also recommend a visit to the orphanage, which is a 10 minute journey from The Little Garden Bar guesthouse over the river. It is an orphanage for children who have lost their parents to HIV. It was a very humbling yet positive experience to spend an afternoon with the children, and learn about the work that is done there.
10 min walk over the bridge from The Little Garden Bar.
www.littlegardenbar.com/aspeca
www.littlegardenbar.com/aspeca
Dr Beat Richner performs music on his Cello every Firday and Saturday night in the auditorium of Javarman VII Hospital. He has devoted his life to helping the children of Cambodia, and has built three hospitals which are funded only by donations, and provide world-class medical care to children free of charge.
This evening will open your eyes, and you will be swept along by Beatocello's passion for what he does. It will show you that in our world unfortunately one life is not necessarily as important as another in the eyes of International Charities, Governments and Aid Organisations. Children are dying in Cambodia every day from entirely preventable diseases, and Beatocello is devoting his life to trying to stop it.
He asks for blood donations which are desperately needed from the young and money from anyone else.
Every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:15pm, Javavarman VII Hospital, Road to Angkor
A very good thing to do in Siem Reap, other than visiting the astonishing temples, is to give blood in the Kantha Bopha Childrens' Hospital. You cannot miss it, it's on the way to the temples. Blood is always in demand in this country where so many are excluded from giving it due to past illness, and you can be assured of total safety from infection and the highest standards of hygeine. All visitors to Angkor can leave something really useful by spending an hour of their time at the blood bank, located in the Jaya Varman VII Hospital. Get a free T-shirt, some stickers and leave behind some much-needed - healthy blood.
Jaya Varman VII Hospital, Siem Reap
Friends Restaurant is a non-profit restaurant run by former street children who are being provided with training. It's part of Mith Samlanh Friends, the Cambodian arm of Friends International. The food is good, the service is friendly, and your bill helps to fund Friends' charitable aims. Go to the shop and gallery while you're there.
House 215, Street 13, Phnom Penh
(+855) 12 802 072
www.streetfriends.org
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