Khiri Travel Launches Separate CSR Division

Khiri Reach donations to Luang Prabang orphanage; Niemeijer; school in need. Download images here. The Khiri Travel Group today launched Khiri Reach, a separate and permanent charitable wing of the group. Khiri Reach is dedicated to helping people across Indochina and Thailand in places where the tour operator visits. A new website, Khirireach.com, gives details the eight projects that are currently benefiting from Khiri Reach donations of practical gifts, expertise and money. The projects include a child care refugee camp in Mae Hong Son, an orphanage in Luang Prabang, a foundation for people with disabilities in Chiang Mai, an arts school for disadvantaged children in Phnom Penh, a school in southern Laos, a rickshaw (cyclo) driver support centre in Phnom Penh, a village solar power project in Laos, and a refuge for street children in Mai Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, on the Burmese border. "We want Khiri Reach to be a clear and transparent separate entity to attract support from a wide audience," said Khiri Travel Group co-founder Mr Willem Niemeijer. "On the Khiri Reach website people can now see images and read about the conditions that young and disadvantaged people have to cope with." Niemeijer said Khiri Reach was established on three principles: identifying worthy causes, and making them part of Khiri Travel's tour programmes, enabling travellers and agents to donate, and taking care of all costs, so the full amount donated reaches the front lines. Khiri uses its network of transport vehicles and nine offices across the region to get the full amount of goods donated to the recipients at no cost to the donor. Foreign tour operators using Khiri Travel's services support the eight projects with donations. They include visits to the projects in itineraries they sell to tourists in Europe and America. "The experience is often moving for the visitors," admitted Niemeijer. "It puts things in perspective for them." Some of the projects are closed to casual visitors, such as the Child Care Centre for Karenni refugees near Mae Hong Son. Frans Betgem, Khiri Travel Group co-founder visited in September. "We brought shirts, pants, sarongs, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and other necessities. We even donated a guitar," said Betgem. "Khiri Reach and one of our foreign tour operator clients also bought 68 warm jackets in Chiang Mai. We sent them by minibus to the centre." In September, Khiri Reach also arranged for repairs to doors and windows of the children's dormitory at the Luang Prabang Orphanage. Up to 500 children live and study there. Khiri Reach and a Dutch travel operator also donated writing books, pens, pencils, soaps, washing powder, tooth brushes and tooth paste. "Khiri Reach helps disadvantaged people in a direct, practical way. We encourage young people to study more to help their future prospects," said Niemeijer, who was a guest speaker at the World Responsible Tourism event at the World Travel Market in London, 11 November. The new Khiri Reach website contains blog posts and updates about the projects. For further information about Khiri Reach and how to donate visit www.khirireach.com. Images here: high and medium resolution images of Khiri Travel Group can be downloaded at http://www.scottasia.net/clients/khiri/media/ About the Khiri Travel Group Khiri Travel, established in 1994, is an independent destination management company with its own regional network. It has seven offices in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The company's detailed knowledge shows in its innovative itineraries, precise operations and our commitment to responsible travel throughout the Indochina region. Visit www.khiri.com or www.khirireach.com. Contact the Khiri Travel Group Head office 226/9 Tiwanon Road, Soi 24 Nonthaburi 11000 (Greater Bangkok) Thailand Tel: (+66) [0] 2968 6828 Fax (+66) [0] 2968 6829 www.khiri.com Media queries Ken Scott ScottAsia Communications Tel: (+66) [0] 81 931 2753 Email: [email protected] www.ScottAsia.net Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net

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