Women in Travel Retail (WiTR) will hold another meeting at the TFWA World Exhibition and Conference in Cannes this year, to raise a second tranche of funds for the Sunrise Charity.

 

Sunrise Cambodia is an NGO focused on community development with operations in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Kompong Speu.

 

Founded in 1993, Sunrise has grown from offering residential care to orphaned, disadvantaged, disabled and trafficked children, to working with local communities to break the cycle of poverty and transform the lives of some of Cambodia’s most vulnerable at at-risk families.

 

According to WiTR, the impact on this school of the monies raised last year by the duty free and travel retail industry was so great that this year it aims to raise a further €20,000 for Sunrise.

 

The money for the charity, which operates in Cambodia, will help build and equip additional classrooms on the upper level at Sunrise’s Siem Reap Learning Centre.

 

‘ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PLACES’

“The Center opens the door to the poorest sectors of the community by providing them with the opportunity of gaining the valuable skill of learning a foreign language,” says WiTR.

 

“Poor children are given free classes in English. These skills empower disadvantaged and vulnerable people to find good jobs in this burgeoning tourist city.”

 

Since the funds were raised last year, Lacoste Travel Retail’s Erin Lillis – who nominated the project – and Gerry Munday, Vice Chair of WiTR, have visited the home and seen the new classrooms and met the children who are benefiting from the industry’s generosity.

 

Munday says: “The Sunrise Siem Reap Learning Centre is not lavish by any means, but it is one of the happiest places I have visited. Despite their difficult backgrounds, the children all have smiles and really appreciate how lucky they are.

 

“It was quite a humbling experience in more ways than one and made me realise what a difference WiTR can make in their lives. Learning English is so important to help these children to break the cycle of poverty and to give them a future.”

 

WHAT, WHEN AND HOW?

The fund-raiser is part of WiTR’s annual TFWA World Exhibition meeting which will take place on Tuesday 3 October (17.30-19.00) on level 1, near the Business Centre and Hotels Desk at the Palais des Festivals.

 

Women in Travel (WiTR) was created in 2006 to recognise the contribution of women to the travel retail industry, past, present and future and as a forum for the women in the travel retail industry.

 

“It’s a great opportunity for women in the duty free and travel retail industry to exchange news, views and experiences,” says WiTR of the meetings. “All women in the duty free and travel retail industry are welcome to come along,” adds the group.

 

“Our special guest speaker at this event will be Geraldine Cox the founder of Sunrise. Erin Lillis will also be giving a full update on the 2017 project to date.

 

FUND RAISING HAS ALREADY BEGUN

Fund raising has already started with commitments from industry colleagues of auction and raffle prizes for the grand draw*, and donations.”

 

Many of the dynamic Women in Travel Retail will be inviting exhibitors and visitors to participate by entering the draw to win prizes. Each business card entry raises €10 towards the project (three entries for €20).

 

“Please help WiTR to make the meeting in Cannes the best ever and achieve its target of offering these children a life-changing opportunity,” says WiTR. “We know we can do it with your help.”

 

* WiTR requests that donations are made to the Furla stand (Bay Village Bay 2) by 15.00 on Tuesday 3 October.