The Shinta Mani Foundation (SMF) seeks to be a leader in responsible tourism, with its goal being to enhance the lives of the individuals in the local communities in which they operate, by increasing their human capital and providing them with the tools to overcome the constraints of poverty.
Background
Founded by Sokoun Chanpreda, a Cambodian businessman who returned from overseas to invest in the future of his country, the SMF is guided by his philosophy of ÔOpen Doors, Open HeartsÕ.Ê The FoundationÕs three core areas of operation are education, healthcare and direct assistance.Ê Since 2004, more than 229 Khmer students have graduated from the Shinta Mani School of Hospitality and are fully employed in the immediate township and local countryside.
Results
This successful blending of non-profit work alongside the hotelÕs award-winning for-profit operations attracted such interest and support, that by 2006 SMF began to explore ways to give back to the greater community.Ê They did this by engaging in community development programs targeting rural families, seeking to empower them through basic assistance. Over a four-year period, guests of Shinta Mani sponsored over 900 piglets, 800 school supplies, 1,330 water wells and 97 homes.
Latest collaboration project with KohlerÕs Clarity Water FiltersÊ
While researching products to use in new hotels he is designing in Cambodia, acclaimed Architect Bill Bensley struck up a conversation with Kohler Executives about SMFÕs activities. Kohler run their own CSR programs and were excited to tell Bill about their Clarity Water Filters that help filtrate 98 per cent of bacteria from water. Mr BensleyÊwas impressed and immediately ordered over 100 to be donated in Siem Reap. Kohler also donated over 100 units and in total 360 water filters were donated to the Foundation.
Since receiving the donation the Foundation has given 150 water filters to the Siem Reap Health Authorities and the Clarity Filters are not being used in all of the regional health centres and all four hospitals in Siem Reap.
On June 7, Brad Akins, Director of SMF, and his team took 60 water filters to the Lotus Kids Club (LTC) which is run by the Senhoa Foundation. LKC is a school for poor migrant families living in Siem Reap, many of whom were born and raised in Cambodia, but because their parents are immigrants, they have no legal status.
The parents are not able to legally work and their children are not allowed to attend public schools. Most of these families earn money as trash pickers, small street vendors or day laborers and earn very little. LKC exists as a school that provides an education for their children. The SMF often supports the LKC with in kind donations and other assistance for the families. The Clarity water filters will greatly help these families provide clean drinking water for their children, which will also reduce illnesses in the family.
On June 9, the SMF and Kohler went to Raka village in Battambong to give out 150 water filters to families affected by the HIV epidemic. All families that received the water filters have members that suffer from HIV related illnesses. This initiative was part of an ongoing effort to help these families that have no support and no ability to work because of their illness.
SMF in coordination with donors sympathetic to their struggle, have also paid to dig out sections of the river running near the village. The deeper sections will retain water during the dry season and also provide a breeding area for fish.Ê During the rainy season fish can spawn in these pools, and during the dry season the deeper pools will provide the fish with a place to live and provide villagers with fishing in order to eat. SMF is currently in the progress of providing the village with a communal deep drilled water well. The well will help service areas of the village where people live farther from the river. The well will be completed by the end of June 2017 and will greatly help the families in Raka.
World Vegetable Center seed kits
Additionally, the SMF has also tapped its partnership with the World Vegetable Center and USAID which is providing food sustainability to families in Siem Reap, to help families in Raka. We have introduced WVC to the Handa Foundation which operates in Battambong.
Together these two organizations plan to replicate the WVC/SMF partnership of Siem Reap and provide seed kits and training to families in Raka in order to build home gardens. The gardens are designed by international nutrition experts to provide a family of four with their entire daily vegetable nutrient intake. The families will benefit from increased nutritional intake, limiting malnutrition and increasing health and wellness.
These initiates will provide water and food to this deeply affected village, giving them the dignity of providing for their own families and having a livelihood Ð a solution that is far more sustainable than temporary aid.
The SMF expresses its deep gratitude to Bill Bensley and Kohler for their donations for these families and thanks their partner, the World Vegetable Center, for working to help these families. Additionally, they thank the Handa Foundation for facilitating their donation in Battambong. SMF are most grateful to their partners and believe that in working together, organizations can multiply the beneficial effects of smart aid.
Guest participation Ð make a difference
Guests of Shinta Mani Hotels can visit and volunteer with SMF during their stay in Siem Reap.Ê Additionally theirÊ ÔOpen Doors, Open HeartsÕ CSR package enables guests to visit the see some the work the Foundation does first hand and to make a difference with a water well donated under their name.Ê Guests will also meet some of the graduates of the School during their stay, who are employed at the Shinta Mani Angkor, an exquisite Bill Bensley-designed 39 room boutique Hotel located in the leafy French Quarter of the city between the Royal Gardens and the Old Market area.Ê The Club is just footsteps from the river and 15 minutes from the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Temples of Angkor Wat.
The experience includes a half day tour of the unique floating village, an ox cart ride, an event visit to the local acrobatic circus (think Cirque du Soleil), a 90-minute spa treatment at Shinta Mani Spa and dinner at two iconic restaurants.Ê It will be a trip to remember and one that makes an on-going difference and keeps giving for years to come.
The ÔOpen Doors, Open HeartsÕ CSR Package includes the following:
Private round trip airport transfers
Fast Track Immigration on arrival
Three nightÕs accommodation in Deluxe Room
Sumptuous daily la carte breakfast for two adults
A private tour to visit a local village and aÊ water well, donated under your name (available for booking time at least one month ahead, for bookings within that time period they will send a photo of your donated water well donation later). The village visit is led by Shinta Mani Foundation team members. The return journey includes a visit to the landmine museum.
Half day tour to the floating village with ox cart riding
A visit to the iconic Phare Cambodian Acrobatic Circus
An authentic Khmer cuisine dinner at Kroya (ChefÕs recommended menu featuring fresh seasonal tropical season ingredients) with a bottle of house wine
A dinner at Hotrod Restaurant in the bustling Night Market area, serving authentic Thai cuisine with free flow beer and non-alcoholic drinks for two hours
A 90 minute spa treatment of your choice at Shinta Mani Spa
Early check in and late check-out (subject to availability)
Farewell gift
A percentage of your daily room rate will be donated by the resort to the non-profit Shinta Mani Foundation, to support their health, education and development programmes for the less fortunate in the community.
| Travelling period | Package rates |
| PEAK SEASON : 23 Dec 17 Ð 02 Jan 18 | USD 1,495++ per couple |
| HIGH SEASON : 03 Jan 17 Ð 31 Mar 17 & 01 Nov 17 – 22 Dec 17 | USD 1,355++ per couple |
| LOW SEASON: 01 Apr 17 Ð 31 Sept 17 | USD 1,230++ per couple |
Rates are subject to 10 per cent service charge, 2 per cent accommodation tax and 10 per cent VAT. Additional nights are available at best available rates.
