For more information about Banteay Chhmar and other cultural heritage sites, please visit our partner sites below. Global Heritage Fund and Heritage Watch have been invaluable allies in helping to save the world’s most endangered cultural heritage sites around the world. Their continued support of the Banteay Chhmar Community-Based Tourism (CBT) group and the local community will, forever, be greatly appreciated.
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- GHF’s mission is to save the earth’s most significant and endangered cultural heritage sites in developing countries and regions through scientific excellence and community development.
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- Heritage Watch is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the world, through research, education, and advocacy.
Other Partners
Travelers’ MAP is one of our most valuable partners. This Korean-based tour operator first visited us in 2010. Since then, they have generously supported a number of community projects including a library, school and health center improvements. We are very grateful for their support and look forward to years of friendship.
In 2013, the CBT formed a new partnership with Operation Groundswell. This excellent, youth-oriented tour operator specializes in cultural and community immersion. Operation Groundswell carefully considers each site they visit. In Banteay Chhmar, they are supporting two projects. First, they are donating funds for house repairs for some of the village’s poorer families. Second, they have also provided funds to purchase ceramic water filters. The filters are a well-tested and reliable means of producing 20 to 30 liters a day of clean water for drinking and cooking. And, the participants still have time to enjoy the temple and meet the families and children around the village. We hope to see Operation Groundswell every year.
Sahasra is a group of friends based out of Hong Kong. They are particularily interested in education projects and are helping to support the community library by providing salaries for the librarians, funds for training and helping to bring in volunteers who can mentor and train the librarians. Volunteers are also helping to conduct mock tours with the tour guides to help them improve their language and tour management skills.
We would also like to acknowledge the considerable support that we received from the Cambodia MSME project in 2010 and 2011. This was a USAID-funded project. They provided extensive training in hospitality, homestay, and financial management, and in many other areas. We are confident that through their guidance and support the CBT group will reap long-term benefits in improving the travel experience to Banteay Chhmar.
Organizations in Cambodia
Finally, we would also like to acknowledge organizations that are doing valuable and rewarding work in Cambodia. Sustainable Cambodia is a grass-roots, volunteer-based, Rotary-supported not-for-profit organization working with the residents of rural Cambodian villages to help them achieve sustainability and self-sufficiency through wells, irrigation systems, schools, training and empowerment. Please visit their website for more information about their projects and volunteering opportunities.