Skip to content

By Mich Caluza February 26, 2026 Share:

At Mad Monkey, travel has always been about more than just the places we visit; it’s about the people we meet and the communities we call home. Our 2025 Community Impact Report reflects a year of scaling our CSR and sustainability initiatives, deepening our local partnerships, and creating programs that blend authentic travel with measurable social good.

From advancing clean water access to spearheading community-led development, here is a look at the heart of our mission in action over the past year.

The Clean Water Project: Impact Across the Loop

Access to clean water remains a top priority. This year, we achieved a major milestone in Northern Vietnam:

  • Gravity Water & Ha Giang Loop: Mad Monkey Ha Giang raised over VND 65.7 million for Gravity Water Vietnam, providing a complete water filtration and rainwater harvesting system for 234 students at Na Chi Kindergarten.
Transforming guest donations into life-changing filtration systems, photo courtesy of Mad Monkey

Supporting Students & Education: Building Brighter Futures

Education is the cornerstone of sustainable change. In 2025, our properties focused on everything from infrastructure to nutrition and sports:

  • Ironman for Impact: Our co-founder, Alex, raised $8,000 for The Rabbit School in Phnom Penh to support specialized education for children with learning disabilities.
  • Brigada Eskwela: Our Philippine properties put a colorful twist on this national initiative with a united goal to repair and repaint local schools. From the Pride Run in Panglao supporting Danao Elementary to Bonkers Bingo in Manila for the Virlanie Foundation, and fundraising efforts in Siargao, Siquijor, and Nacpan, each island used its unique vibe to build brighter spaces for young learners.
  • Cambodia United for a Sports Center: Teams from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Koh Rong joined forces to support the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF). Together, they donated $552 to fund a brand-new sports center and provided clothing for families in need, proving the power of collaboration across our Cambodian locations.
  • Phuket Bright Smiles & Sunshine Foundation: Our Phuket team kicked off a long-term partnership with the Sunshine Foundation School Orphanage. Beyond distributing dental kits and hygiene supplies, the team spent a creative day with the children, donating coloring books and snacks. The visit was supported by 4,245 THB raised through our monthly pub crawls.
  • Volleyball Tournament for Chilli House: Our Gili T team brought guests and local suppliers together for a charity tournament, raising $172 for Chilli House. These funds provided essential tools for their community work, including a lamination machine, printer ink, and a bulk supply of stationery.
Racing for impact to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, photo courtesy of Mad Monkey

Protecting the Environment: Preserving Our Paradise

We are committed to ensuring that the natural beauty of our destinations is preserved for future generations:

  • Phnom Penh Running for a Greener City: Our team joined the International Half Marathon to promote urban greening and World Environment Day.
  • Summer Sunset Run & Beach Clean-up: Over 300 participants joined a 10K run and coastline cleanup at Alona Beach, raising $360 for the Danao Day Care Center, Danao Elementary School, and Trinity Angels Care Home Orphanage, blending fitness with environmental care. 
Running for a greener, more sustainable Phnom Penh, photo courtesy of Mad Monkey

Community Support Initiatives: The Spirit of Giving Back

When our communities face challenges, the Mad Monkey family steps up with heart and action:

  • MAD Thrift and Donation: Our Bangkok property thrift initiative turned guest generosity into a sustainable cycle of giving, directing all profits from pre-loved items to the Suankaew Foundation.
  • Charity Pool Crawl for Feeding Dreams: In a powerful local collaboration, Mad Monkey Siem Reap joined forces with three other hostels for a Sunday Charity Pool Crawl. By donating 50% of all F&B revenue and ticket sales, the event turned a guest favorite into a major fundraising milestone to support Feeding Dreams’ community mission.
  • Christmas for a Cause: Our annual holiday tradition saw guests and staff sponsoring and delivering gifts to hundreds of children across the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.
Spreading the spirit of giving through our annual holiday tradition, photo courtesy of Mad Monkey

Sustainability Milestones: Climbing the Staircase

We are focused on minimizing our footprint and leading the way in responsible hospitality:

  • Panglao & Phnom Penh: We are incredibly proud to announce that both Mad Monkey Panglao and Mad Monkey Phnom Penh earned the Hostelworld Staircase to Sustainability Level 2 Badge in 2025.
  • These milestones recognize our progress in waste reduction, energy efficiency, and deep-rooted community integration, setting the standard for our properties moving forward.
Elevating our standards to ensure a greener stay for every guest, photo courtesy of Mad Monkey

As we close the chapter on 2025, we are proud to share that we collectively raised over $14,300 for various charities and organizations. While this figure represents our shared commitment to giving back, the true measure of our efforts lies beyond monetary value. It’s in the countless smiles, strengthened communities, and opportunities we’ve helped create in the places we call home.

Together, we’ve shown that meaningful change is possible when we combine purpose with passion. We look forward to continuing this incredible journey in the years to come.

See the full 2025 Community Impact Report Here

About the Author