Thursday, 6 March 2008

FCm Travel Solutions Building Homes for Families in Cambodia

ASIA Travel Tips .com
Thursday, 6 March 2008

Employees of Asia Pacific-based global travel management company, FCm Travel Solutions, have swapped their business travel expertise for bricks and mortar to build houses for Cambodian families desperately in need of support.

A team of 10 employees from Australia has been 100% hands-on in the completion of one house, and have a further three currently under construction, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

The company's first ever 'Community House Build Team' comprises people from FCm Travel Solutions; its parent company Flight Centre Limited; and its specialist brands Stage and Screen, and Infinity, in Australia.

Each team member has raised a minimum of A$950 for 'Habitat for Humanity', a not-for-profit, housing organisation that builds simple, affordable houses in partnership with low income families.

The project is being undertaken through FCm Australia's innovative 'Volunteer Abroad' program, which offers educational leave each year to combine travels with a volunteer project that benefits a small community.

"This initiative is part of our global 'FCm Community' program and our Corporate Social Responsibility policy, which both aim to deliver tangible, grass-roots support in local communities worldwide," said FCm's global executive general manager, Anthony Grigson.
"It has been the most amazing and rewarding experience for our people to build homes with their own hands, for families who would not normally have a stable roof over their heads," he added.

On completion of the first house, the team celebrated with the local villagers and had a formal house dedication ceremony. The team also treated 22 local children to a day trip at a water theme park, which was a first-time experience for most of them.

"Our people have been welcomed into the Cambodian community with open arms and have made a hugely positive impact on the lives of those at Samaky 6," Anthony said.

Following the success of the community house build project in Cambodia, FCm Travel Solutions is again partnering with Habitat for Humanity to offer its employees the opportunity to build houses for families in Nepal later this year.

No comments: