The first quarter of 2019 kicked off with a lot of energy and enthusiasm from Mad Monkey staff and our CSR project partners. We explored new ideas and broadened our CSR programs across hostels and countries with all hands on deck from our staff and guests too.

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Mad Monkey Current Projects and Partner Organisations

Mad Monkey is proud to support the following organisations; click on the link to learn more about their work.

CBAVC (Cambodian Buddhist Association for Vulnerable Children)

Mad Monkey Hostel Siem Reap, Cambodia

In Siem Reap, Cambodia, private donations from the U.K. and Mad Monkey funds totaled $1,980 USD. This provided 6 new clean water wells in rural Siem Reap.

In addition, we co-funded one community toilet block for $640 USD. They were all built in Trapong Phoung village, Chi Kreng District, in Siem Reap Province by the Cambodian Buddhist Association for Vulnerable Children (CBAVC). Mad Monkey Siem Reap staff joined CBAVC to see the well construction and meet the local villagers. They also made a visit to the local Kanseang Primary School to donate 450 exercise books, pens, and erasers for each child. For more information about CBAVC, go here.

Cambodia Children’s Fund (CCF)

Mad Monkey Hostel Phnom Penh, Cambodia

In January, Mad Monkey Hostels continued its annual support for Kampong Cham Classroom at the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This sponsorship enables 17 children aged 8-14 years from impoverished homes to receive CCF education with access to feeding and health programs. Mad Monkey staff toured the school facilities and met the children and CCF teachers. We also handed over our annual cheque, which totaled $5586 USD this year. This money will fund the children’s education for a further 12 months. For more info about CCF, go here and to read more about Mad Monkey’s partnership with CCF, go here.

Following a devastating fire in March that destroyed the homes of 46 CCF families living in Sambok Chab village, Mad Monkey hostels across Cambodia launched an emergency appeal for clothing and donations. With the support of many individuals and local businesses as well as fundraising events at our hostels, we were able to deliver over 300Kg of clothing, 400L water, and $852 USD in donations to CCF.

Recognizing the power of sport to promote positive international relations and create comradery, Mad Monkey Phnom Penh also proudly supports both the Ladies and Mens teams at Riel Phnom Penh FC. Today, dozens of players are joining the training sessions and enjoying the social aspect off the pitch as much as on! Our sponsorship helps support the teams to enter leagues, tournaments, and purchase equipment. All are welcome: Khmers, Expats, Backpackers, Digital Nomads. For more information, go here.

Epic Arts

Mad Monkey Hostel Kampot, Cambodia

Epic Arts production of Come Back Brighter came to a close in Kampot in March following a four-month successful run, with sponsorship of $1000 USD from Mad Monkey Kampot. The show was a wonderful portrayal of Cambodia’s golden era, tragic past, and exciting future through dance and film involving a cast of talented performing artists with and without disabilities.

We look forward to sponsoring their next production in the fall of 2019 but in the meantime, we encourage everyone to visit the Epic Arts Cafe Kampot. Not only do they serve delicious meals, but they support this creative social enterprise, which increases work opportunities for people with disabilities and generates funds for their inclusive Arts Programs. For more information about Epic Arts, go here.

Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach, Philippines

Across in the Philippines, the beach side hostels have been busy keeping their local environment sparkling clean and safe. Mad Monkey Nacpan hostel employs a beach cleaner twice daily and staff and guests join together twice a week for more garbage collection along the beach. Our guests are amply rewarded with a well earned beer or two! For the safety not only of our guests but all visitors, Mad Monkey Nacpan also funds trained lifeguards & rescue equipment based at our lifeguard station.

In February, Mad Monkey Nacpan Beach started a monthly feeding program to assist the local school with a sustainable nutrition activity. Mad Monkey staff prepared and served meals to 350 children.

Clean Our Oceans Project (COOP)

Mad Monkey Hostel Boracay, Philippines

Environmental concerns are also important for our island hostel, Mad Monkey Boracay. They organise regular fun beach clean ups by staff and guests.

Keenly aware of the need to support a sustainable environment, Mad Monkey Boracay is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with COOP, Clean Our Oceans Project, who are specialists in waste management.
They will be funding an upcycling project to keep plastics out of our oceans and creating awareness through education. COOP recycles plastics into many items including furniture, so they will be purchasing chairs to distribute to schools in the local Boracay community. 100 chairs represents 150 tons of plastic out of the ocean!

Friends International / Peuan Peuan

Mad Monkey Hostel Bangkok, Thailand

Mad Monkey Bangkok finalised a new year-long project sponsorship of Raithipueng Shelter, managed by our Partner organisation, Friends International. This commences April and will provide essential services to children, young people and their families in this Bangkok Shelter. Our funding will provide psycho-social counselling, non-formal education, life skills, and translation services to ensure good mental health and rehabilitation during their time in the shelter. For more information about Friends International, go here.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation

Mad Monkey Hostel Coogee Beach, Australia

Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation is the chosen beneficiary of Mad Monkey Coogee Beach. Hosting a fun trivia night every Wednesday, drawing up to 40 guests, the funds raised help fund new equipment, training for health professionals, art, music & play activities as well as groundbreaking research. Read more about the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation here.

Mad Monkey Global CSR Events

International Women’s Day

Mad Monkey promoted International Women’s Day on March 8th throughout our hostels in Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia. Our global poster campaign was an opportunity to give a voice to all of our female staff across all our hostels and feature their thoughts on what made them feel strong as women.

In Koh Phangan, Thailand we used posters to highlight our approach as a socially responsible business taking a strong stand against human trafficking and sex tourism.

UN World Water Day

UN World Water Day is an annual UN observance day that highlights the importance of freshwater. This year, on 22nd March 2019, Mad Monkey Hostels ran a poster and social media campaign across Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia to encourage people to think about the many people without access to safe water and to cut down on water wastage.

Mad Monkey Hostels created a short film which takes a look at the work of the Cambodian Association for Vulnerable Children (CBAVC), building water wells in villages across Siem Reap Province.

Earth Hour, 30 March 2019

At 8.30pm local time, we switched off the lights in the hostel restaurants for one hour of energy saving, giving our guests the novelty of dining by candlelight. Some of our more energetic Monkeys—seen here on Koh Rong Samloem—spent the afternoon collecting garbage to keep the island clean and looking idyllic!

So that all our Mad Monkeys can continue offering a fantastic service to our guests as well as help with all our CSR activities, we like them to tell us what they’d like to do to feel healthy and learn new skills. Here’s a few examples of recent activities:

Mad Monkey Cebu’s first wellness program

Hoops After Work is a fun basketball match between all departments with a guest opponent. This helps bring teammates together through challenges, activities and healthy workplace habits.