2014 Business Chicks Cycle Challenge INFORMATION PACK

Transcription

1 2014 Business Chicks Cycle Challenge INFORMATION PACK 1

2 WELCOME Thank you for enquiring with PROJECT FUTURES about the 2014 Business Chicks Cycle Challenge through Cambodia. By registering, you will be committed to raising funds and awareness for Somaly Mam and her work in Cambodia with AFESIP. AFESIP run three Cambodian centres that rescue, rehabilitate, reintegrate and educate women and children who have been forced into commercial sexual exploitation. PROJECT FUTURES started in June 2009 in Sydney, Australia. We are a non-profit organisation that raises awareness and funding for programs dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Australia and South-East Asia. To date we have raised over 1.1 million dollars through a passionate network of young professionals committed to innovating the way our society contributes to charity. PROJECT FUTURES has a long standing partnership with The Somaly Mam Foundation and AFESIP. We have run 7 international challenges donating over $530,000 directly to her work. 2

3 2014 BUSINESS CHICKS CYCLE CHALLENGE SIEM REAP TO SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA 6TH 17TH FEBRUARY KM Fundraising: $7000 minimum per person Registration Fee: $700 per person (this is your contribution towards the cost of the trip). This trip is open to all Business Chicks Premium Members FUNDRAISING AND COST INCLUDES: International flights ex Sydney and Melbourne (not including airline taxes) All accommodation in Cambodia (twin share) Most meals Multi speed mountain bike Local guides, ground staff and bike mechanics Safe drinking water and snacks during cycle days PROJECT FUTURES cycle shirt NOT INCLUDED: Airline departure taxes and any fuel surcharges Travel insurance Cambodian visa Vaccinations required Gratituities for local staff on tour Additional activities while on tour Helmet and water bottle for cycling REGISTER To book your place here. All places are based on a first come first serve basis. business_chicks_cambodia_cycle_2014 FUNDRAISING GUIDELINES You can begin fundraising straight away. The quicker you start the less stressful it will be towards the end. Please download our DIY fundraising kit online which gives you some great fundraising ideas and ways to get started. More information and our ten easiest ways to fundraise can be found on page 9. Funds can be transferred to PROJECT FUTURES via two ways: 1. Transfer any funds directly into the PROJECT FUTURES bank account: PROJECT FUTURES Ltd BSB Account Description: your full name and BC cycle 2. Set up a Go Fundraise Account. This is an easy way to collect donations from family and friends who might not be able to attend an event but want to support what you are doing. Create your go fundraise profile under the PROJECT FUTURES banner here projectfutures-international.gofundraise.com.au/ RULES At least 80% of your fundraising minimum must be raised prior to going on the trip ($5600) If 80% is not raised PROJECT FUTURES reserves the right to take an imprint of your credit card before the departure date with the remaining balance deducted from your card if the minimum amount is not raised upon return. You will have 2 months upon your return to raise the remaining funds, 18th April. 3

4 THE ITINERARY DAY 1 6TH FEBRUARY Depart Australia. DAY 2 7TH FEBRUARY Siem Reap - Arrive in Siem Reap. Airport pick up by RAW Travel. Welcome by PROJECT FUTURES CEO. Meet local travel team and guides for information briefing on the weeks ahead. Meals included: Dinner DAY 3 8TH FEBRUARY Day in the life of a Cambodian Village - Village life in Cambodia. Today we will join a local family and spend a few hours walking in their shoes. Help with harvest, plant rice, weave thatch and learn to drive a bullock cart. This full day tour directly helps all villages providing a sustainable income year round. On every tour a host family looks after the group and they receive a small payment for being the host family and a larger contribution is made to the village fund. This fund is used for special village projects like filters and water wells. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DAY 4 9TH FEBRUARY Angkor Temple circuit and Banteay Srei (70km) - Today will be an early morning start to fit everyone for their bikes. We will take a ride through the town and out to Angkor Wat. The circuit through Angkor Wat is truly magical and inspiring as you pass the Bayon, Angkor Thom and the temple of women, Banteay Srei, a beautiful pink sandstone temple. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DAY 5 10TH FEBRUARY Cycle Ben Melea and Kampong Thom (75km) - Today we are off to see the ruined temples of Beng Melea, still overgrown with jungle and very atmospheric with relatively few visitors. The ride is beautiful, passing verdant green fields and lively rural villages. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DAY 6 11TH FEBRUARY Transfer to Kamong Cham/ AFESIP Centre Visit - We will go by vehicle to Kampong Cham where we will visit one of Somaly Mam s AFESIP centres. To reach the centre which is out of town we will travel along a rough road so expect to be shaken around a bit. Kampong Cham is one of the centres that house children under the age of 16 that have been rescued from the commercial sex trade. Somaly describes it as one of the most inspiring places, full of hope and love. Please read the information on page 7 about AFESIP centre visits. 4

5 DAY 7 12TH FEBRUARY Kampong Cham Phnom Penh (65km) - One of the most interesting rides of the trip, today we ride along Mekong River on a small dirt road through small Cham Villages who survive on fish from the Mekong and small-scale vegetable and animal farming. We board buses on the last leg of our journey into Phnom Penh. Free afternoon in Phnom Penh. Meals included: Lunch and Dinner DAY 8 13TH FEBRUARY Phnom Penh / AFESIP Centre Visit - Today is the highlight of your trip as we take a rest from the bike and visit the AFESIP Tom Dy Centre by Somaly Mam. You will meet women who have lived through the horror of forced sexual servitude and be touched by their resilience, hear their aspirations and share the love. It will be an emotional yet life changing day. In the evening we will have dinner with some of the Voices for Change women who are ambassadors of AFESIP and Somaly Mam. This will be a great chance to learn more about the issue from those who have experienced trafficking personally. Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner DAY 9 14TH FEBRUARY Cycle to Kampot and Kep (100km) - We continue our journey southwards today, starting with a bus transfer to get out into rural area. We then begin riding on more flat easy roads through endless rice fields and waving children towards the coastal town of Kep. We finish in Kamot an enjoyable place to wander around past old colonial buildings and riverfront cafes. In the evening boat trips can be taken into the mangroves or you can relax with a massage from a blind masseur at the Seeing Hands Massage Centre. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DAY 10 15TH FEBRUARY Cycle to Sihanoukville (104km). We ride flat roads under the gaze of the Elephant Mountains and within sight of the southern Cambodian coastline. As the day progresses and we get closer to Sihanoukville the roads become quite undulating with the last 20km holding a few challenging hills. The effort is well worth it as we finish in the beautiful beachside and a relaxation day to look forward to. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner DAY 11 16TH FEBRUARY Sihanoukville and transfer to Phnom Penh - Our cycling adventure concludes today and after a lesiurly morning we transfer you back to Phnom Penh in time for your evening flight. Meals included: Breakfast DAY 12 17TH FEBRUARY Arrive back in Australia 5

6 THE CAUSE WHERE IS YOUR FUNDRAISING GOING? The money raised from the Business Chicks cycle challenge will be going directly to the work of former Cambodian sex trafficking survivor Somaly Mam. Somaly is the inspiration behind PROJECT FUTURES. She was sold into a life of abuse, torture and rape and endured so much at such a young age. After escaping the industry with the help of a foreigner she went on to establish AFESIP, a Cambodian non governmental organisation which rescues, rehabilitates, reintegrates and educates women and children that have been forced into sexual servitude. AFESIP centres operate in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. We will be visiting two of Somaly s centres on the Business Chicks Cycle Challenge and learning more about the amazing work her organisation does in South East Asia. To learn more about Somaly, please read her auto-biography which can be bought on the PROJECT FUTURES website. IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN VISITING THE AFESIP CENTRES One of the most rewarding and exciting parts of this PROJECT FUTURES Challenger events is to be able to visit the AFESIP centres (centres for victims of trafficking funded by Somlay Mam Foundation). During your trip. As per AFESIP visitor policy, these centres are places of healing, care, support and growth for each individual resident. PROJECT FUTURES wants to ensure that all our challengers understand the privilege in visiting these centres and therefore follow all nessasary procedures that AFESIP have set out. WE REQUIRE YOU TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. Recent criminal record/ background check (issued by police in your local area) valid within 12 months. 2. Signed copy of AFESIP visitor information and agreement policy 3. Signed copy of the child protection policy Please note that no camera, videos and mobile phone can be taken into the centres. This is listed in point 4 of the visitor policy attached with this information pack. 6

7 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. ARE DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE? PROJECT FUTURES is applying to gain deductible gift recipient (DGR) status with the relevant governing authorities in Australia, but it is a lengthy process. We currently do not have DGR stud within Australia, which means that any donations from Australia are not tax deductible. We understand that because donations are not tax deductible the ability to raise significant funding becomes more of a challenge, however IT IS POSSIBLE! To date PROJECT FUTURES has raised over 1.1 million dollars none of which has been tax deductible. People are passionate about this cause and together we can make a real difference. 2. WHAT IS INCLUDED ONCE I REGISTER AND RAISE THE FUNDRAISING MINIMUM TARGET AMOUNT? International Flights return from Sydney and Melbourne (excluding airline taxes and fuel surcharges) All accommodation in Cambodia (twin share) Most meals Multi speed mountain bike Local guides, ground staff and bike mechanics Support bus Safe drinking water and snacks during riding days PROJECT FUTURES Cycle Shirt 3. WHAT ADDITIONAL COSTS DO I INCUR? Travel Insurance Cambodian Visa Vaccinations required Gratuities for all staff looking after us on tour Additional activities whilst on tour Adequate helmet for cycling 4. WHAT HAPPENS IS I CAN T RAISE THE FUNDRAISING MINIMUM AMOUNT IN TIME? You are expected to fundraise at least 80% of the target before you leave for Cambodia ($5,600). If the 80% prior to the trip has not been raised PROJECT FUTURES will take an imprint of your credit card details before departure with the remaining balance to make up the fundraising minimum. You will have 2 months upon return of the cycle challenge to raise the remaining fundraising minimum amount 5. HOW MUCH OF THE FUNDRAISING GOES TO THE CAUSE VS COST? The cost per person for the trip after registration is $2170, so a minimum of $4830 is going directly to the cause. If you would prefer to pay the trip cost upfront so that 100% of your $7000 goes to the cause this is possible. Please contact PROJECT FUTURES to organise this. 6. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE PARTICIPATING? Our group will be a maximum of 25 people. This will be set on a first come first serve basis. 7. HOW MANY HOURS A DAY WILL WE BE CYCLING? That depends on the particular day and your individual cycling speed but generally between 4-7 hours over a mixture of flat and hilly terrain with rest stops every 25km. 7

8 8. WHO LOOKS AFTER THE LUGGAGE WHILST WE ARE CYCLING? All luggage will be transported in the support vehicles. A day pack/ handle bar bag is necessary to carry camera, sunscreen and other small items with you. 9. ARE THE ACTIVITIES WE WILL BE PARTAKING IN SAFE? WHAT ABOUT FIRST AID? The safety of our group is our first priority and all of the challenge events have been assessed for risk prior to their being operated. You will be given a full safety briefing during the event and cautioned about any activity which could pose a hazard. All Raw Travel leaders accompanying us have full first aid qualifications and can attend to any injuries that take place on the event and if necessary evacuate you to the nearest clinic/ hospital for treatment. 10. WHAT KIND OF ACCOMMODATION WILL WE BE STAYING IN? We use different types of accommodation (hotels, guest houses) depending on what is available in the area. The more off the beaten track we get the more limited the accommodation options, but it is always clean and adequate for our needs. Rooming is twin share. 11. DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE? YES! Without adequate travel insurance you are unable to participate and we recommend that you take this out as soon as you confirm your place on the trip. 12. WHAT KIND OF FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED? We always try to serve local dishes to give you a real culinary adventure, after all trying new and delicious local food is one of the best parts of your travel experience. In many places there will be a mixture of western and local dishes so you will always find something familiar to eat. We will make an effort to cater to any special dietary requirements, so please notify us of this on your registration form. 13. PASSPORTS? VISAS? You must hold a full passport, which is valid for at least six months from the departure date. It is each participants responsibility to obtain an appropriate visa for Cambodia prior to departure. Contact RAW Travel for further details. 14. WHAT ABOUT VACCINATIONS? It is your responsibility to get all the required vaccinations prior to the trip. Search 8

9 FUNDRAISING IDEAS One of the easiest ways to begin the fundraising process and build up your confidence is to create your personal profile on the PROJECT FUTURES, Go Fundraise page. Your profile is personalized and allows you to send a link and collect online donations from your family, friends and work colleagues who want to support your journey. The set up process is easy, click the START FUNDRAISING button on the link below to create your personal page PROJECT FUTURES has created a Do It Yourself Fundraiser Kit for all supporters who are wishing to fundraise on our behalf. Please download the kit here for some great ideas as well as logos you have permission to use: OTHER IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED: 1. Ask for sponsorship. This cause is one that touches people and you should never underestimate the generosity of others. Any donation, no matter the amount is helping you reach your target. Remember t o send your GO FUNDRAISE LINK in your to your network so they can donate straight away. 2. Create donation boxes and place around your university/workplace 3. Approach local businesses and ask for donation of goods/services which you can raffle off by selling raffle tickets in your local community 4. Put on an event movie night, sausage sizzle, morning tea and charge a decent admission fee. Even though a movie night may only mean hiring a DVD and buying a few bags of popcorn and drinks, get your guests to donate whatever they would normally spend on a night out. Borrow a projector and make it feel like a real cinema experience! This principle can be applied to almost any event. 5. Is your birthday coming up? Throw a party as you would for your birthday and ask people to donate in lieu of presents to your cause. These ideas are only suggestions, we want you to be as creative as possible. Remember to be realistic about expectations on events you want to create. Not every big event will mean big bucks. Create a budget of costs to put on your event and adequately price your event ticket so you make a profit. 9

10 CONTACT If you have any urgent queries please contact: STEPHANIE LORENZO Phone: MELINDA REYNOLDS Phone: The team at PROJECT FUTURES and The Somaly Mam Foundation would like to express our sincerest thanks to you for endeavoring to make a difference in our world and help the multitudes of men, women and children that are devastated by human trafficking, Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube 10