Corporate Social Responsibility
Feb
Mad Monkey & TruTravels Raise Nearly $9000 USD for Typhoon Odette Disaster Relief
Right before Christmas, Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Typhoon Odette, made landfall in the Philippines and left widespread destruction across the archipelago. Typhoon Odette generated wind speeds exceeding 240kph, flooding, landslides, and caused mass blackouts throughout the country. Even with preemptive evacuations and storm preparations, Typhoon Odette left over 400 dead, hundreds missing, and even more injured. Entire communities were completely cut off and were uncontactable, due to power lines being destroyed and roads being unnavigable because of landslides and fallen trees and power lines. This crisis literally hit home for us so Mad Monkey partnered with TruTravels to raise funds to go directly to the locals affected, in the quickest and most efficient way possible. We just want to thank everybody again for donating to our Typhoon Odette fundraiser. Thanks to all of YOU, we raised nearly $9000 USD that went directly to those most affected by the typhoon. In Siargao, which was hit the hardest, ₱80,000 was sent to TruTravels partners, plus ₱160,000 that was sent to Mad Monkey team members. Individuals received ₱5,000 each to help purchase building materials to rebuild their homes as well as food, drinking water, medicine, and baby supplies. Additionally, the Mad Monkey Siargao generator is still being used to power the Sayak Margar Living Water Station. This water filtration system is the biggest on the island and has been able to provide 96,000 liters of free drinking water every day, even to those in remote villages who have suffered the most from Typhoon Odette. In Cebu City, ₱30,000 was spent on relief goods for our local Barangay, which was mostly used for bottled water due to their limited access to drinking water. An additional ₱150,000 was sent to team members who received ₱5,000 cash relief. Because banks, ATMs, electricity and internet services were down, we decided that the biggest impact we could have was to give individuals cash so they were able to immediately buy the supplies and goods that they needed most. All of this was a direct result of the donations our Mad Monkey and TruTravels family around the world generously contributed. Thank you again for your support!
Feb
Mad Monkey Presents at the 2020 Hostelworld Conference
The conference featured a number of seminars presented by Hostelworld professionals and other presenters aimed to aid those of us in the business. From introducing new technology that could eliminate reception desks (you read that right) to workshops on how to tailor marketing strategies for 2020, all participants left with plenty of knowledge to kick-start a successful year. Arguably the most moving of seminars was the segment, “Building a Better World.” It’s become clear that customers are passionate about the community, the environment, and other similar issues. Travelers and consumers want to support both sustainable and ethical brands, and Mad Monkey is so honored to announce that we were asked to present our CSR business model to the Hostelworld community. “What started as a basic hostel in the heart of Cambodia’s capital some nine years ago has become one of the largest hostel chains in the world, equipped with onsite restaurants, tours, and more—but with this enormous growth comes great responsibility—to the Mad Monkey team, our investors, and customers,” said Kelly Iverson, the comprehensive marketing manager of Mad Monkey. “That’s where CSR comes in.” Iverson went on to explain how Mad Monkey’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) business model has helped guide the company to be socially accountable in all aspects of its existence in all 13 and counting properties. From phasing out single-use plastic in 2020 to hosting weekly beach cleanup in all of our hostels found anywhere near a coastline, CSR aligns with Mad Monkey’s values and not only betters the communities but also betters a customers’ experience. According to Hostelworld’s Hostel Traveler Study and Hostel Operator Survey conducted in 2019, customers want to volunteer in things like community activities. If these aren’t organized by the actual hostels, it is estimated that some 69% of customers are organizing these community efforts themselves. This just goes to show that adopting a CSR business model in addition to sustainable business efforts is the way of the future for accommodation options in 2020.
Sep
Mad Monkey Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report | April – June 2019
Celebrations for Easter Sunday in the Philippines saw Cebu City Mad Monkeys dressed as Easter bunnies and a big easter egg hunt for delighted children and families from Barangay Lorega In preparation for opening our newest hostel Mad Monkey Siargao, our proud certified first aiders are now skilled and ready to provide assistance to our guests, fellow team members, locals & tourists during emergency situations: “Always First. Always Ready. Always There.” And over at Mad Monkey Bangkok, 11 staff also completed their First Aid Training course which included CPR training, regular first aid, snake bites, how to stop bleeding, first aid for broken bones & heatstroke. Our staff got to try out some practical CPR on a doll. April 6 is the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which recognizes the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide. For some years, Mad Monkey Hostels has been promoting comradery amongst our community members through sports. This year Mad Monkey teams helped in raising awareness of the positive contribution sports brings to the community. In the Philippines, Cebu City & Boracay hostels held pool parties and pool olympics, in Nacpan they held their own Beach Olympics. Over in Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem island hostel rallied their guests for a mad day of “Pier Olympics & Beach Competition” 💪💪💪 In Cambodia, Mad Monkey Phnom Penh funds local teams so that more players can join and establish a sense of community. For further information, check out our full Sports Day feature here: https://bit.ly/2Ke5pDW & the football team’s website at www.rielphnompenhfc.com Mad Monkey initiatives have included supporting improvements in children’s welfare, health and education. Mad Monkey Coogee Beach, Sydney holds weekly fundraising events for the benefit of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. Their fun trivia night, every Wednesday, draws up to 40 guests and the proceeds help fund new equipment, training for health professionals, art, music & play activities as well as groundbreaking research. For more information: https://www.schf.org.au Mad Monkey Bangkok supports Peuan Peuan Project providing psycho-social support with essential services to children, youth and their families in Bangkok shelters. Peuan Peuan has been working since 2006 in the government shelters in Thailand to provide services to children detained. The services include: non-formal education, life skills, psycho-social counseling, hygiene education, translation and other activities to ensure their good mental health and rehabilitation during their time in the shelter. In Phnom Penh, we are continuing our funding of a classroom for children aged 8-14 years for the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF). Last quarter we reported on our Mad Monkey Hostels Cambodia emergency fundraiser following a fire in March that devastated homes in an area where the Cambodian Children’s Fund works. 52 families were left homeless and without possessions. A few months on, we can bring good news from CCF: “Plans are in place with the land bought and cleared, and the design of the new homes agreed, made possible thanks to generous donations, which came in from Cambodia and around the world.” More information about CCF & this project can be found here: https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org/news/fire-community-rebuild-track/ In Thailand, Mad Monkey Bangkok staff have been upskilling with ChildSafe Training provided by social workers from Peuan Peuan Project. The course provided tools for staff to identify where a child may be in an unsafe situation and was delivered through presentations, role playing, group discussions & tasks. World Health Day in April, focusing on the need for universal health coverage & UN World Day Against Child Labour in June provided us the…
Jul
Plastic-Free July: How to be a Responsible Traveler
According to EPC, global warming is already having a detrimental effect on our planet. For example, “the polar ice sheets are melting, sea levels continue to rise, and there are increasing temperatures all across the globe.” It’s time that we all take responsibility for our planet and do our bit to reduce carbon emissions and help the environment. While some greenhouse emissions are unavoidable when traveling, there are a number of things you can do to reduce environmental harm. Here are some tips on how you can become a more energy efficient traveler! Get Your Home Holiday-Ready Remember that green travel starts before you leave the house. With the excitement of your trip, don’t forget to prepare your home for the holiday before you leave. Make sure that you turn all the lights off, unplug all appliances from the wall, and lower the temperature on your thermostat. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, turn it off! Build some bonds you’re your neighbors and ask them if they can water your plants. This will ensure that your home is as energy efficient as possible while you’re away. Think About Your Mode of Transport Unfortunately, the journey itself is one of the most polluting parts of traveling. TIES states that air traffic accounts for 10 percent of greenhouse gases worldwide. Traveling by boat or train is far more environmentally-friendly than flying, so try to opt for these modes of transport whenever possible. You should also think about how you’re going to get around once you reach your destination. Walking is not always an option so try to travel by bicycle or public transport. It’s a lot better for the environment than traveling by car – and it’s much cheaper! If you Fly, Fly Non-Stop It’s totally understandable that you want to see some exotic countries on the other side world – this means that flying may be necessary from time to time. Fortunately, there are still ways to reduce your impact when flying. For instance, opting to take a direct flight is a far more environmentally way to travel, as the takeoffs and landings create most of an airplane’s carbon emissions. You should also try and fly on airplanes that are more energy efficient. It’s now possible to calculate the carbon footprint of your flight using apps such as MyClimate, which also offer advice on how to travel greener. Do not Buy Plastic Water Bottles When you’re visiting hot countries, it’s important to stay hydrated by drinking enough water every day. In foreign countries, it is often not safe to drink the tap water, so many people buy bottles of water from the supermarket. It’s recommended to drink several liters of water a day – this would mean you would buy over 20 bottles of water every week! A simple, cheap and effective way to be a green traveler is to bring your own refillable drinking bottle. Many airports now offer free drinking water – this saves you money and helps the environment! Mad Monkey Hostels also have refill stations for travelers to take advantage of during their travels. Eat in Local Places Eat locally sourced food and avoid anything that has been imported. This is a great way to support the region’s local farmers, get a more authentic taste of the cuisine, and reduce the carbon footprint of food transportation. Lonely Planet advises that you should look for restaurants advertising local produce, or eat local dishes at food markets or roadside stalls. Make sure that you never eat endangered species, like…
Apr
17 Facts About Plastic Pollution | Earth Day at Mad Monkey
youtubeembedcode.com/de/ spelutanspelpaus.se 17 Things You Need to Know About Plastic Pollution 1. Only about 9% of plastic ever made has actually been recycled. 91% of plastic has been incinerated or gone into landfills or into our natural environment. -National Geographic 2. More than 9 million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean each year. -National Geographic 3. The equivalent of a truckload of plastic enters the ocean every single minute. -Greenpeace 4. 40% of plastic produced is single-use packaging. -National Geographic 5. Almost 50% of all plastic ever created was made after the year 2000. -National Geographic 6. Plastic recycling rates are highest in Europe at 30%, China recycles 25%, and the United States recycles only 9% of its plastic trash. -National Geographic 7. Every minute, nearly a million plastic beverage bottles are sold around the world. -National Geographic 8. 500 million plastic straws are used DAILY in the United States — enough for straws to circle the world two times. -Greenpeace 9. Almost 2 million single-use plastic bags are used around the globe every minute. -Greenpeace 10. About 8% of the world’s oil production is used to create plastic. At the rate we’re going, it’s projected that this will rise to 20% by 2050. -National Geographic 11. Around 9 out of 10 seabirds, 1 out of 3 sea turtles, and more than half of whale and dolphin species have consumed plastic. -Greenpeace 12. High-income countries in Europe and North America have only 16% of the world’s population but produce a third of the world’s waste. -Greenpeace 13. Over 90% of worldwide waste is exported to lower-income countries that often lack sufficient waste management systems and facilities. -Greenpeace 14. The areas most impacted by plastic pollution are the coastlines and rivers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. -Greenpeace 15. At the rate we’re producing plastic and other waste, global waste will grow 70% by 2050. -Greenpeace 16. Not only does plastic waste contaminate the earth and ocean, but it clogs drains which results in floods, it causes respiratory issues when burned, and shortens animal lifespans when consumed. -The World Bank 17. The plastic we use degrades into “microplastics”, which are tiny particles that are nearly impossible to recover. These microplastics end up being ingested by animals, which people in turn consume. -The World Bank Earth Day 2019 at Mad Monkey Hostels For Earth Day 2019, Mad Monkey pledged to pick up 1409.5 pounds, thanks to our followers on Instagram! We posted a photo saying we would pick up one pound for every 5 Likes and 2 friends tagged, and you all sure delivered! We organized cleanups in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia with our staff, guests, and others in the local community. While we know that cleanups aren’t the solution to plastic pollution, we’d like to think that every bit of rubbish cleaned up results in fewer sea turtles, birds and other animals ingesting plastic bags, straws and other trash. What we’ve seen from our regular cleanups across Southeast Asia and Australia is that the biggest impact we make is awareness. When people see others cleaning up the beaches and cities they’re living or traveling in, it makes them think twice about littering. Some might decide to join in on the cleanup, and others might reconsider that plastic straw or plastic bag later on. We’re past the point of just recycling; humans right now must think of the bigger picture. Policy change and and an improvement of waste management systems and facilities…