Friends-International Blog

The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Bangkok is certainly in the news at the moment, and amongst the many issues that delegates will be discussing and debating is the impact of the massive expansion of tourism in Asia, and South East Asia in particular. During the WEF  a debate on this subject ( ‘What is [...]

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To paraphrase the great Sam Cooke, ‘it’s been a long time coming, but a change is gonna come…’ On Wednesday 8th February in Phnom Penh the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSAVY), with support from UNICEF,  launched a highly significant and frank report on Cambodian orphanages ‘With the Best Intentions – [...]

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Each year, thousands of tourists visit orphanages in Cambodia thinking they are helping some of the most vulnerable children in the world. Recent reports however have found their visits may be doing more harm than good. Nearing midnight on Pub Street, Siem Reap is buzzing. Hundreds, if not thousands of tourists roam from bar to [...]

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