SHARING CAMBODIA A GLOBAL LEARNING & SERVICE ADVENTURE Including Graduation Party for TSF Students
YOUR HOSTS The Sharing Foundation (TSF) is a 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help meet the physical, emotional, educational and medical needs of orphaned and seriously disadvantaged youth in Cambodia. Having worked in the country for the past twenty years, TSF has a daily reach of close to 1500 children through its orphanage, educational sponsorship programs, two English language schools as well as libraries and immunization programs. TSF also supplies school uniforms so children can attend school. TSF is partnering with The Ties Program to create a first-ever, special journey called Sharing Cambodia to share the work TSF does in Cambodia with interested travelers. You may know The Ties Program for their work with adoptive family travel. But they are so much more. The Ties Program has a long history of inspired, culturally sensitive global travel, including multiple trips to Cambodia. With their strong service-first philosophy, Ties is uniquely suited to work with TSF to create a trip of a lifetime. Sharing Cambodia travelers will be accompanied by both TSF board members as well as a Ties program staff person to ensure Sharing Cambodia trip participants benefit fully from the interactive experiences and are able to fully embrace The Sharing Foundation s work and the cultural wonders of Cambodia. An Englishspeaking Cambodian guide will also join the group to help us along the way, and share insights about this beautiful country. This trip has been carefully created to welcome travelers of all ages. Come with an open heart. Leave with so much more. We hope you will join us. 1
Let s Get Going The Itinerary (SUN) Oct. 28, 2018 Depart Home Cities Sharing Cambodia participants will depart the USA today. You will cross the international dateline, losing a day while traveling to Cambodia, a day you will recover on your return flight home. Tempo Travel Service is available to book your flights, or you may book your own flights and provide us with your itinerary. (MON) Oct. 29, 2018 Destination: Phnom Penh, Cambodia Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, a driver and car will be waiting to take you to the hotel, about 20 minutes away. Welcome to Cambodia where you have a chance to travel with purpose, touch people s lives, and have your heart become full in the process. Our group will stay at the La Rose Suites, a lovely boutique hotel with a beautiful mission that aligns with the mission of this journey. Each of the 68 rooms have special touches to help you feel at home. Plus, La Rose Suites feels strongly about corporate social responsibility. For this reason, 90% of the employees are previously impoverished children who have graduated from Pour un Sourire d Enfant For a Child s Smile. The Ties Program stayed here in January 2018, and participants loved both the mission and the hotel. We think you will be enchanted. 2
(TUE) Oct. 30, 2018 Orientation / Getting to Know Phnom Penh We ll begin with orientation, and time to sort the supplies we ve brought for our activities later in the week. Then, it s time to see Phnom Penh. The best way to do that is by tuk-tuk! Our drivers will acclimate us to the city, helping us feel settled into our new environment. We ll pass by the Russian Market, a bustling local market with goods of all kinds. This will also be an opportunity for us to purchase additional supplies, if needed. Bring your sense of adventure, and your bargaining skills! After a scrumptious Cambodian lunch, we will visit the spectacular Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda stunning in their architecture and beauty. The Royal Palace was constructed over a century ago to serve as the residence for the King of Cambodia. Ornate buildings rise from the tranquil tropical gardens. The Silver Pagoda with its solid silver floor tiles, connects via a walkway. (B, L) (WED) Oct. 31, 2018 ROTEANG VILLAGE / CHILDREN S ACTIVITIES This morning, we ll travel about an hour to The Sharing Foundation s orphanage in Roteang Village, home to 70 children. With a caring adult presence, these children live among their community, attend school, and thrive. TSF truly provides hope for these children. The children LOVE greeting visitors with traditional Cambodian dances they have worked hard to learn. Elephant, TSF s in-country director will acclimate us to rural life in Roteang Village. Then we will work with the kids to do a fun activity together. Prior to travel, Sharing Cambodia participants will have an opportunity to create enrichment activities for the children crafts, games, or maybe a lesson about something the children would like to learn more about. Tonight, we have no doubt you will sleep with a full heart. (B, D) 3
(THU) Nov. 1, 2018 Khmer Rouge Friends Restaurant To really understand contemporary Cambodia, you need to understand the impact the Khmer Rouge had on this beautiful country and its people. In the four years the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979, it claimed the lives of up to two million people. Everyone you meet in Cambodia can tell you stories of family members lost to this brutal regime. Today, we will visit a memorial to this tragedy The Killing Fields. Afterward, we ll lighten things up by having lunch at Friends, a vibrant and delicious restaurant as part of a greater mission to train young, vulnerable Cambodians! Many of the students are former street children who are being given a chance in life. All profits from this restaurant are invested in the students who train there and the social programs which support them on their journey to becoming a skilled, productive and happy young person with a more secure future. This evening, if you are up for it, you might want to consider the fabulous Phare Circus which combines music and acrobatics to tell unique Cambodian stories while providing training and employment to very disadvantaged youth a great free time activity! (B, L) (FRI) Nov. 2, 2018 Play Day in Phnom Penh / Teach English Classes Today is a free day. Maybe you want to stroll on the Riverwalk, visit Daughters of Cambodia, cruise the Mekong River, shop, or dive deeper into the tragedy this country has faced by going to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. There are lots of things to do in Phnom Penh. If you are connected to Cambodian adoption, this would be a good day to plan adoption related visits. Whatever you decide, we ll help you plan it! This evening, if there is interest, we have been invited to help teach English classes at Roteang Village Junior High and High School. (B) 4
(SAT) Nov. 3, 2018 Classes and Field Trip with Students It's time to teach. Who are our students? The Sharing Foundation s college students at their dorm in Phnom Penh. They are a delightful group of young men and women who have earned their way to higher education to pursue their studies. Working with the students, we ll determine what they would like to learn, then based on the skill set and knowledge base of Sharing Cambodia participants, we ll offer short courses on high interest topics. That may be something like the basics of starting a small business, how to stay healthy, study skills, how to make something, English, or any one of a variety of topics. It will be fun to see what the students are interested in. We ll have lunch together, then it s time for a field trip to the International Book Store. With donations raised by Sharing Cambodia participants, we ll go with the students and let them pick out books that interest them a great way of helping students find their passion. (B, L) (SUN) Nov. 4, 2018 The Sharing Foundation Graduation Day This will be a very special day. Today, the entire community of Roteang Village comes out to celebrate the graduation of its highest achieving students. They have come so far with the help of people who have taken the time to care about their future. Having Sharing Cambodia participants present to acknowledge their effort will be a special gift to these graduates. This evening, we ll gather for a farewell dinner with time for conversation. Together, we ll reflect on the fabulous journey we ve had, all the people whose lives we ve touched, and how our hearts have been opened beyond our dreams. (B, D) Note: Flights to the U.S. tend to leave Cambodia very late (around 11:55 p.m.) or just after midnight (around 12:10 a.m.) so please plan your departure flight late on November 4 or anytime on November 5. If you will be doing the extension to Siem Reap, your flight will leave on November 5. 5
Siem Reap Extension (MON) Nov. 5, 2018 Cambodian Silk & Shopping with Purpose A short one-hour flight will take you to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, visit the Puok Silk Farm to learn how handmade Khmer silk starts with a mulberry tree, employs the silk worm, is colored by natural dyes, then woven into stunning silk products. Afterward, we ll make a stop at Rehash Trash. This mission driven NGO is doing something wonderful to help both women and the environment. Working toward providing street women (and their daughters) respectable jobs with fair pay, Rehash Trash is teaching the women to make beautiful items from colorful plastic bags. You will see how the items are made and do some shopping in their charming store a shopping-with-purpose experience. Then, we ll check into the Tara Hotel. If you still have energy, perhaps you will want to take a tuk tuk to the Angkor National Museum where one room alone has more than 1000 Buddhas of various types and sizes. (B, L) (TUE) Nov. 6, 2018 Angkor Wat Temples Angkor Wat is truly one of the Wonders of the World. Built in the early 12 th Century, the Angkor Archaeological Park stretches over 250 miles. Its name literally means City of Temples. Be sure to bring your camera today as you visit the centerpiece temple, Angkor Wat, and also the Angkor Thom complex including Bathoun, Terrace of the Elephants, and Bayon the temple of 200+ faces! This afternoon is free. Perhaps you d like to take a tuk tuk to Artisan d Angkor where you will see many traditional Khmer artisans practicing their crafts wood and stone sculpture, lacquerware, and silk weaving are among the specialties. Or maybe you d like to bike through the temples and/or rent a lounge chair to hang out at the Angkor Park among the many Cambodians who enjoy soaking in history here. (B) Note: If you would like to do sunrise at Angkor Wat, that is possible. You would leave the hotel very early, about 4:15 a.m. We ll be asking you about that after you register. 6
(WED) Nov. 7, 2018 Ta Prohm & Farewell Ta Prohm is called the jungle temple for good reason. Known for its huge trees and massive roots growing out of temple walls and walkways, the jungle both surrounds and is part of this incredible fortress. The atmosphere is so amazing that the adventure movie The Tomb Raider was filmed here. Your afternoon is free, and this evening, we ll gather to say farewell to this beautiful country and the friends we have made here. (B, D) Note: Flights to the U.S. tend to leave Cambodia very late (around 11:55 p.m.) or just after midnight (around 12:10 a.m.) so please plan your departure flight late on November 7 or anytime on November 8. If you will need to return to Phnom Penh for your international flight, we will help you with the flight to Phnom Penh. 7
THE PARTICULARS $1760 per person $1690 per person if paid by check Cost is based on double or triple occupancy in a room. SIEM REAP EXTENSION $699 per person $670 per person if paid by check Cost is based on double or triple occupancy in a room. Main Program Inclusions: Extensive pre-travel information packet Transfer upon arrival from Phnom Penh Airport to hotel Accommodations with private bathrooms for 7 nights Breakfast daily, shown as (B) Lunch and dinner as shown above as (L, D) Orientation meeting 24/7 assistance while in Cambodia Transportation to/from all activities Group activities as shown in the itinerary Arrangements made with The Sharing Foundation, including Graduation Party Assistance with reservations as needed for free time activities Bi-lingual Cambodian translator/guide with you during all group activities Ties Team Leader to smooth out all the details (if 20 or more participants) Transfer from hotel to Phnom Penh Airport Gratuities for Cambodian staff All taxes Fun beyond material things! Siem Reap Extension Inclusion Flight Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (one way as some people will not need to return to Phnom Penh) Transfer to hotel upon arrival Accommodations with private bath for 3 nights Breakfast daily, shown as (B) Lunch and dinner as shown above as (L, D) Orientation meeting 24/7 assistance while in Cambodia Transportation to/from all activities Group activities as shown in the itinerary including pass to Angkor Wat Assistance with reservations as needed for free time activities Bi-lingual Cambodian translator/guide with you during all group activities Ties Team Leader to smooth out all the details (if 10 or more participants) Gratuities for Cambodian staff All taxes More fun! 8
Not Included: International flights. Participants wishing to make their own flight arrangements are welcome to do so. If you would like assistance making airline reservations, we suggest you email Mike at Tempo Travel Service (mikes@tempotravelservice.com). At time of printing, roundtrip airfares are running approximately $950 to $1500 per person, sometimes lower for children 11 and under. Visa (apx. $25 per person) Items of a personal nature Adoptive Families: While this trip is not expressly for adoptive families, if you are an adoptive family and would like to visit people or places related to your adoption, please let us know and we will be happy to help. Registration and Payments: A $100 nonrefundable per person registration fee is due with application. The registration cost is not part of the program cost allowing you to obtain the type of travel insurance you would like at time of billing. Trip payments can be made in two installments which will be outlined in a payment plan. Cancellation: Should you need to cancel at least 11 months prior to departure, only the registration fee will be levied. Between 7 and 11 months, a $1000 per person fee will apply. Between 3 and 7 months a $1500 per person fee will apply. With less than 3 months notice, payments are nonrefundable. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance information will be sent with your billing statement. Extensions: We will make every effort to accommodate extensions. 9
SHARING CAMBODIA 2018 REGISTRATION Will you be doing the Siem Reap Extension? YES No Names of each person traveling: First name Middle name (as on passport) (as on passport) Last name (as on passport) DOB e.g. 12FEB55 Age at departure Passport EXP date* Very important: Please provide name as it does or will appear on passport. *Passport must be valid for 6 months after travel. If not, please renew immediately. Address City State Zip Home Phone ( ) Work ( ) for Cell ( ) for Email for To register, please enclose $100* x (number of participants), payable to The Ties Program. We prefer to pay by credit card, and understand it will be processed by your secure provider, ARC. Credit card Number Exp. Billing address City ST Zip Name on Card Signature Date Return registration and payment to: The Ties Program, SHARING CAMBODIA 2825 N. Mayfair Rd, Suite 102 Wauwatosa, WI 53222 If you have questions, please contact: Becca Piper 866 705-5777 414 530-1031 Becca@TheTiesProgram.org Ann Trudeau 978 580-9455 atrudeau@sharingfoundation.org 10 Ties Journeys of Discovery is the division of The Ties Program offering this trip in conjunction with The Sharing Foundation.