Donating for a cause

– how to give something back to Asia –

The TOURISM UNION INDOCHINA (FORMERLY KNOWN AS TUI TRAVEL )

Either before, during or after a holiday, many of our travellers understandably want to give something back to a part of the world which has left a memorable travel impression, but which might still be ‘developing’.

TUI proudly supports a small number of carefully-screened organisations which seek to

make a difference to the lives of ordinary people in Asia. Our Responsible Travel Committee meets regularly to carefully consider its funding of these organisations, and of other approaches to the Committee. Among other things, our committee considers whether an organisation is:

• legally registered, works in compliance with the law, and fulfills local tax obligations
• managed by people of good repute
• grass-roots/ small-scale in its approach to work, or is part of a larger, more self-sustaining entity
• genuinely deserving of the support of TUI

Some of the organisations TUI presently supports are listed below. We’ve made it easy

for you to offer your own support to these worthwhile causes by giving some simple instructions on how to make donations. Keep in mind that most of these organisations are better able to direct and use donations of money, rather than materials or the offer of voluntary work.

Organisations in Vietnam

The Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program

• This inspirational organisation has operated as a registered charity association and nongovernment organisation (NGO) in Vietnam for ten Through careful planning and in

partnership with the Vietnamese Women’s Charity Association and the Education Department of Ho Chi Minh City (Special Education Unit), ‘Loreto’ is currently involved in nine major projects, assisting over 3,000 children. Loreto’s absolute focus and emphasis is to assist disadvantaged, poor and disabled children, through the medium of education.

• Information about Loreto, and donations to the organisation can be made by following this link: loretovietnam.org
• Donations can also be made into the following bank accounts: ANZ Bank, Me Linh Square, Ho Chi Minh City

Account name: Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program US Dollar account number – 203454

VND (Vietnamese dong) account number – 302426-8 Bank Swift Code: ANZBVNVX472

(Australian) tax deductible cheques payable to

Australian Volunteers International. Trish Franklin – Vietnam AVI, PO Box 350, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

Non-tax deductible cheques payable to Mary Ward International (LVAP) Finance Centre: Loreto Province Centre

LVAP, PO Box 74, Albert Park, Victoria, 3206, Australia

This document is updated annually and was last updated on April 07, 2008

Creativity for Humanity

• Creativity for Humanity (CFH) connects Vietnam’s underprivileged artisans with consumers by investing in the development of artisan enterprises, and by providing training and fair wages for artisans from disadvantaged CFH’s mission is to build sustainable business enterprises in Vietnam’s handicraft sector by providing a platform linking designers and businesses with Vietnam’s underprivileged artisans. It aims to create sustainable livelihoods – particularly for the rural, tribal, HIV-infected, disabled and homeless – by providing dignified employment. CFH invests all profits (above ‘fair-trade cost of production’ and operating costs) in training, raw materials, and production efficiencies so that artisan groups can develop lucrative, sustained livelihoods from handicraft production. TUI is presently trialing the use of

reusable shopping bags made by CFH.

• A Creativity for Humanity website is under
• Donations to Creativity for Humanity can be made by cheque payment in $US to: Creativity for Humanity, 3215 Riverview Drive, Triangle, Va 22172. Alternatively payment can be made by

credit card over email to info@creativityforhumanity.org

KOTO (Know One Teach One)

• Over seven years the KOTO training project has grown into a professional hospitality program for over 70 students KOTO has now trained nearly 250 Vietnamese street and disadvantaged kids to be chefs or bar and service staff. The KOTO program is assisted by Street Voices (recently registered as KOTO International), a registered Australian charity which was established in 1998 to help street children living in Vietnam. The KOTO international board is a dedicated group of Australians who have visited Vietnam and been involved in the KOTO street kids training project.
• Information about KOTO, and donations to the organisation can be made by following this link:http://www.streetvoiccom.au/help_donation.asp
• Travellers to Vietnam can also support KOTO by dining at the KOTO restaurant in

Organisations in Cambodia

Angkor Hospital for Children

TUI supports the work of the Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC), a small pediatric

teaching hospital based in Siem Reap. The hospital provides inpatient and outpatient care to needy children. It also trains Cambodian health care professionals, and promotes public health initiatives in Siem Reap province and greater Cambodia. Specific hospital projects include:

• Mobile health clinics for remote floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake and other remote sites within the
• Visiting nurses (homecare) for children with chronic
• A campaign for the prevention of childhood
• HIV/AIDS awareness and counselling projects as well as treatment programs (ARVs) for children stricken with the
• Medical assistance to eight of Siem Reap’s
• Clinical training for all Cambodian nursing students as well as their
• A three-year curriculum in pediatrics for Cambodian trained physicians as well as short courses in various sub-specialty areas such as surgery, emergency care, and

The Angkor Hospital for Children routinely sees between 300 and 500 children a day in its outpatient department.

This document is updated annually and was last updated on April 07, 2008

You can support ACH the following ways:

• By making a monetary donation though the Friends Without a Border website at http://angkorhospital.org/help_supplies.php
• By supporting a doctor or nurse – http://www.fwab.org/help_membership.php (for example, Travel Indochina has chosen to pay for the salary of a Cambodian nurse).
• By making a donation earmarked for the purchase for There is a specific list of equipment needs on ACH’s website at http://angkorhospital.org/pdfs/AHC_WishList.pdf
• By donating Blood is often in great demand in Cambodia, and it is possible to give blood at the hospital.

Organisations in Laos

Big Brother Mouse

• TUI supports the work of Big Brother Mouse (BBM), a project aimed at publishing books for children to increase literacy levels in Lao PDR. Traditionally books for children have been quite scarce in Laos, a country with a rural literacy rate of less than 50% and without a culture of ‘learning through reading’. Without the early development of essential skills such as reading and writing many Lao children are denied an opportunity to progress in life.

• Information about Big Brother Mouse, and donations to the organisation can be made by referring to the website: bigbrothermouse.com
• Donations to BBM can also be made in cash at the BBM Vientiane and Luang Prabang offices (marked on TUI city guides).
• Travellers in Laos can also purchase BBM books from the BBM offices in These books can then be distributed to local children during travels. Giving a book to a child is a much more positive and beneficial gesture than handing out money or sweets (which can encourage begging). Giving a book is also more polite then taking a photo and giving nothing in return. Books may also be donated to local libraries or given to village elders to distribute amongst the local population.