Video message from Hannes Schmid

Things remain difficult

Before Hannes comes to Switzerland for the Holiday Season, he recorded a last short update on the current situation in rural Cambodia. The situation remains extremely tense. In a country that so much deserves to experience better times.
Watch the video.

Events

Smiling Gecko is at the International Contemporary Art Fair «Kunst 22 Zürich»

From 27th to 30th October 2022 we will have a stand at «Kunst 22 Zürich» in Hall 550 in Oerlikon. We are exhibiting pictures taken by our founder Hannes Schmid of the garbage collectors in Sihanoukville. Impressive pictures that show why our commitment in Cambodia is so essential.

Feel free to come by and look at the pictures – maybe you’d like to buy one too! Of course, we think that’s a good thing! Because we get 100% of the income and can invest it back into the project.

kunstzuerich.ch

CRAFTSMANSHIP & PRODUCTION

WOW! FOUR YOUNG CARPENTERS HAVE JUST GRADUATED AT THE SMILING GECKO CARPENTRY!

Reason to celebrate at the Smiling Gecko Campus: Four of our apprentice carpenters have completed their training and are now well equipped for a life with a perspective in Cambodia. We are very proud of the young men and would be happy if they stay with us a little longer. And they probably will. Because with us they continue to receive language lessons and have the chance of further training to become carpentry managers. The prerequisite to train apprentices themselves. Our goal!
The young carpenters from left to right:

Sorn Pen
Pen is 20 years old. He comes from the village of Srae Sa in the immediate vicinity of the campus. He has a total of seven siblings, four of whom live with him and his mother. Unfortunately, his father recently passed away, so Pen is now the single earner in the family, as he is the only one with a regular income. Pen started to work at the carpentry three years ago. Before that, he worked as a painter in Phnom Penh. In his free time, Pen enjoys playing volleyball.

Hon Kav
Kav is 23 years old. He comes from Chreas village near Sala Lek 5 (about 20 kilometers from campus.) Kav is the father of twins. He just got married and moved to Srae Sa. His wife works in one of the garment factories in the area. Before coming to us, he worked in construction in Phnom Penh. He has five siblings, all of whom are also married. In his spare time, he likes to go fishing to save some money on food.

Hen Seyha
19-year-old Seyha is the youngest in the group. He comes from Srae Sa, where his parents work as farmers. Seyha has a total of six siblings, all of whom still live at home. Two of his siblings work at the Farmhouse Resort. One of the sisters has a few cows and also a small cricket farm (crickets are a popular snack in Cambodia). To generate a little extra income, the family also runs a cleaning business for motorcycles, where Seyha helps out in his spare time.

Phoeun Pheu
Pheu is 23 years old. He also lives in Srae Sa. As a carpenter, Pheu is following in the footsteps of his father, who also works in the carpentry shop at the Smiling Gecko campus. His mother is a farmer and owns a few cows. He has four siblings, two of whom work in a garment factory, and one is still in school. Before he started with us three years ago, he worked in construction. In his spare time, he helps out on the farm. And he also loves to repair furniture. That way, he can apply what he has learned with us right away.

SMILING GECKO CAMPUS

AUGUST 25: A EVENING WITH HANNES SCHMID AT CAPITOL OLTEN

We have already announced via Facebook about the exhibition “Mythos and Ethos” which our founder, Hannes Schmid, is currently having in Olten. Today we have more news which we would like to share with you: On 25th August, Hannes will give a talk about the Smiling Gecko project as part of this exhibition at the Capitol Kino in Olten. It’s definitely going to be an exciting evening.
Admission is CHF 30. So, let’s head to Olten. We look forward to welcoming you there with a glass of wine and some snacks.

August 25, 2022
Capitol Kino
Ringstrasse 9, 4600 Olten
7.30 p.m

FARMHOUSE RESORT

REGISTER NOW: ON SEPTEMBER 14, MARIYA UN NOUN WILL BE COOKING AT THE “SABLIER ROOFTOP RESTAURANT” AT ZURICH AIRPORT.

Our wonderful chef Mariya is concrete proof of the opportunities that can arise for people in Cambodia when they are properly supported. In September, she will be in Switzerland to raise funds for the Smiling Gecko Campus with her great “New Khmer Cuisine”.
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Meldet euch jetzt an und freut euch, an diesem Abend nicht nur ganz viel Gutes für die Zukunft im ländlichen Kambodscha tut, sondern auch für euch. Denn das, was Mariya auf die Teller zaubert, ist wirklich sensationell.

Register now and enjoy this evening, not only supporting the future of rural Cambodia, but also for yourself, because what Mariya conjures up on the plates is truly sensational.

We ask for a donation of 1,000 Swiss francs per person, for which you will of course receive a donation receipt. You can register until September 2, via this Link.
SMILING GECKO CAMPUS

STORM DESTRUCTIONS ON THE SMILING GECKO CAMPUS

Bad news has reached us from Cambodia these past days. In the early evening hours of 30th June, the Smiling Gecko Campus was hit by a heavy storm that lasted several hours and unfortunately caused major damage to buildings and greenhouses, the Farmhouse Resort and the fields.
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The worst hit was our fish farm. Parts of the roof of the breeding station were uplifted, destroying parts of the infrastructure and several tons of fish feed.

The same applies to the vegetable and fruit cultivation. Here, the final damage is not yet foreseeable, but it is already clear that there will be crop reduction. This is a serious loss, as we depend on these harvests to feed our employees and children, among others.

SCHOOL And Kindergarten

A JOYFUL DAY FOR OUR KINDERGARTEN AND SCHOOL CHILDREN

Last Wednesday, we surprised our kindergarten and primary school children with lots of fantastic books. The books were donated by the students of Lakeside School Horgen.
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As the pictures show: The books brought immense enthusiasm among our kids. So, a big thank you to all who have made this possible. We greatly appreciate the commitment of the school’s teachers and parents. And we are definitely the biggest fans of the Lakeside children. Thanks to you too. You are awesome!
CRAFTSMANSHIP & PRODUCTION

OUR CARPENTRY ON SRF1

Yesterday’s broadcast on Swiss television and today on our website: The programme “mitenand”, with a good four-minute portrayal of our Cambodian carpenter Pha, who received his vocational training with us on campus. Thank you, dear SRF, for visiting us in Cambodia. The report is incredible.

School and Kindergarten

A SONG OF HOPE

Our school children could finally step back into the recording studio to record a new song. This time they have chosen “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson. The ballad that, with its appeal to heal the world and make it a better place, provides the answer to what is currently on everyone’s mind. Here in Cambodia, in Ukraine and everywhere where children are suffering.
Sreymey is one of our singers, but more importantly, she is one of the 400 school children we currently have at our Education Campus. In this video, she takes you to her home and you can also accompany her on her daily way to our school.
HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY AID

HUMANITARIAN AID REMAINS ESSENTIAL

The impacts of the Corona pandemic are still omnipresent in Cambodia. In a country where there is hardly any government support, people are still extremely dependent on the humanitarian aid provided by Smiling Gecko and other international NPOs. The contribution we make has to be financed entirely by donations. That is why we are so thankful for all forms of support.

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