We particularly like this line from the song ‘Tomorrow’ in the film ‘Annie’. It is a message full of hope that fits perfectly with Smiling Gecko. As you know, we do everything we can to give people in rural Cambodia a better tomorrow.

When one of our students sings the song, it gives us goosebumps. It’s an experience we’d like to share with you. Enjoy listening to the song and looking at the photos we took at the Smiling Gecko campus.
Link to the song

Our colleagues in Switzerland often receive enquiries from people who want to help out on our campus for a set period of time. While the school has usually been the main point of interest, there has also been, and continues to be, a desire to participatie actively in other areas. Until now, we have mostly had to turn these requests down.

We have always had a volunteering programme, but it was exclusively aimed at people with technical experience and leadership skills, as the positions were always for experienced trainers. Additionally, the minimum stay was six months as frequent changes in leadership could unsettle our teams.

All of this will continue to apply. However, we now also offer a new option with lower requirements. In principle, anyone of legal age who is in good physical and mental health can become a ‘Helping Hand’, provided they are ready to engage in the rewarding but demanding work alongside our Cambodian teams. Tasks are assigned at short notice based on current needs and individual suitability. Please note, it is not possible to work at the school under this programme.

In addition to professionalising our product range, we have also been focusing on developing our organisation. One key step in this direction is the establishment of a national branch in the United Kingdom, though these efforts are still at an early stage.

Much greater progress has been made in Singapore, where we successfully founded Smiling Gecko Singapore earlier this year. Following Switzerland, Germany, the USA and, of course, Cambodia, this is our fifth branch. Our Singapore entity is already officially registered as a non-profit-organisation, and applying for charity status now. Hopefully, the latter is only a matter of time. The local team is already highly active, even without this status. Hardly a week goes by without a campaign in this small yet economically powerful country to promote our project in Cambodia. The activities serve a dual purpose: to position the Farmhouse Resort as a holiday destination; and to unlock new fundraising opportunities, both of which continue to be essential.