The very worthy Women in Travel Retail (WIT) forum has raised no less than €19,000 ($22,522) to build and equip classrooms for needy children at Sunrise’s Siem Reap home and learning centre in Cambodia.

 

The group met during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference this month, raising the much-needed funds through a prize draw and silent auction that was brilliantly supported by many generous brandowners and retailers.

 

RETAILERS ALSO CONTRIBUTED

These activities and funds were further added to thanks to additional ’generous cash donations’ from ARI, Heinemann Asia, King Power Hong Kong, King Power International and SMI.

 

 

LANGUAGE SKILLS GIVE CHILDREN A CHANCE

As WIT acknowledges, the Sunrise Learning Centre is a very worthy cause, which offers poor sectors of the community an opportunity to attain the valued skill of learning a foreign language thanks to free English classes.

 

In turn, these skills then provide disadvantaged and vulnerable people with a real chance and advantage when it comes to finding sustained employment in the city.

 

‘Indescribable’ is how Geraldine Cox, the founder of Sunrise Siem Reap described the difference that such donations make as she spoke movingly about the children residing at Sunrise, plus the hundreds living locally who take lessons at the centre.

 

 

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY

“Words cannot express how much your generosity is appreciated in achieving €19,000 for all of us at Sunrise. The difference this money will make to the children and communities is indescribable. This kind of support is invaluable; once again, my heartfelt thanks.”

 

Commenting on the initiative, Gerry Munday, the Vice Chair of WiTR who has visited the home and met the children first hand said: “The Sunrise Siem Reap Learning Centre provides a home to many children and a vital service to many more living locally.

 

“WiTR’s contribution will make a real difference to the number of children who can be helped by learning English to break the cycle of poverty and to give them a future.”

 

 

Before winding up the meeting, the members of WIT repeated their thanks again to TFWA for its ongoing support, Follador for the prosecco that helped add some sparkle to the meeting, and also to Rob and his team at QuestExhibits for their help with all the logistics.

 

For any more information on WIT, please contact any of the following:

Sarah Branquinho – [email protected]

Gerry Munday – [email protected]

Catherine Bonelli – [email protected]

Amanda Felix – [email protected]

Lois Pasternak – [email protected]

Tina Tam – [email protected]

Marissa Phanivong – [email protected]

Media queries: Rowena Holland – [email protected]