This is what it's all about.
I met Chai in Switzerland at work, and it was not long until we became friends. Chai is one of the friendliest, nicest people I have ever met.
Unfortunately, he was not allowed to stay in Switzerland for long. Not giving up, he kept working hard in his home country, Cambodia, to take care of his family. When he had just started building his own company for eco friendly and fair trade tours, and business started picking up, his second daughter was born.
Unfortunately, there were some serious complications. The baby had to be kept in the hospital, and during hours Chai did not know if she would make it. Due to the private hospital system in Cambodia, he had to sell his truck to save his daughter’s life, and being able to pay the hospital bills.
Luckily, she made it, and is a happy, healthy baby child. But, unfortunately, Chai can’t work anymore, because he can’t provide his tours without the car. So let’s make it possible for him to start his tours again - they are interesting, eco-friendly and follow the priciples of soft, sustainable tourism. Chai is not one of the many tour operator that is only profit oriented, but tries to establish a situation which benefits many involved in the area.
For the tourists, this approach guarantees that they get to see the real Cambodia - meeting the local people, get to know them, see how they really live. Not through fake glasses, but for real.
But Chai is not only working for the financial benefit of his community, he is also working to protect the environment, offering sustainable, soft ecotourism. As an environmentalist, he loves nature and tries to protect it, save it and pass it on to his children - two wonderful kids, of which he is taking great care of. As a tour operator, he makes sure that people get to enjoy the nature of Cambodia, knowing exactly what to show them in the most sustainable way possible.
By supporting this project, you do not only support Chais tourcompany, but also help supporting the whole area where he offers his tours, improving the situation for the people living there and protecting the environment at the same time.
Chai always helped everybody as much as he could, often putting his own needs and wants behind the ones of other people. He is a true friend, and a great person. Honest, friendly, hard working, always trying to help everybody. Those of you who know him know what I am talking about.
Lets make sure that we all help him this time, when he needs our help the most!
Chai and his family
My project is special because ...
Chai did not ask me to collect money for him. I heard that he is struggling, and try to support him this way.
Chai is very eco- and people friendly, and is trying to support the local community with his tours. I know that in the past, before Chai had a family, he often gave away his own food to old and/or poor people, who could not take care of themselves - being hungry himself because of his generous actions more than once. Chai is not one of the many tour operator that is only profit oriented, but tries to establish a situation which benefits many involved in the area.
For the tourists, this approach guarantees that they get to see the real Cambodia - meeting the local people, get to know them, see how they really live. Not through fake glasses, but for real.
But Chai is not only working for the financial benefit of his community, he is also working to protect the environment, offering sustainable, soft ecotourism. As an environmentalist, he loves nature and tries to protect it, save it and pass it on to his children - two wonderful kids, of which he is taking great care of. As a tour operator, he makes sure that people get to enjoy the nature of Cambodia, knowing exactly what to show them in the most sustainable way possible.
By supporting this project, you do not only help Chai, but also help supporting the whole area where he offers his tours, improving the situation for the people living there and protecting the environment at the same time.
This is what I need backing for.
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. Chai knows how to fish already. All he needs is a new fishing rod!
I need your help to make it possible for Chai to help himself and his family. I told Chai about this website, and suggested that we can maybe help him this way, to get back up on track.
Many people I know were able to fund their projects this way - traveling, competing in sports, support their art and cultural projects. Unlike most of these projects, which are very good and I am glad people could realize them, this is about surviving for Chai and his family - something that we in Switzerland do not even really grasp anymore.
I need your help to show Chai that we (or at least the ones who know him) have not forgotten about him - even though he lives in another country now, far away from us.