SINGAPORE/INTERNATIONAL. The Moodie Davitt Report has named Asia Pacific charity Friends International (https://friends-international.org/) as the beneficiary for The Moodie Davitt Report ‘Duty Calls’ Charity Dinner to be held in Singapore on 11 May (the eve of the TFWA Asia Pacific show) and other fundraising activities planned throughout 2019.
The Charity Dinner (see further details below*) is The Moodie Davitt Report’s third such event, following hugely successful fund-raisers in Hong Kong in 2007 and 2012.
Friends International, which was founded in the early 1990s in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has 25 years of experience working directly with disadvantaged urban children, youth, families and communities, across Asia, Africa and Europe. The charity enables individuals who lack opportunities to become productive, independent citizens.
“Our fundraising initiatives will help raise support and awareness for Friends International’s programmes on vulnerable and disadvantaged children in particular,” explained Michael Barrett, Events and CSR Director at The Moodie Davitt Report.
“The programme, which Friends International runs in several countries across Asia, enables children who have come from precarious environments to be raised in safe family homes, including children who have been abandoned in hospitals due to sickness or disability.”
The funds raised will also help provide professional training for young adults who have not had the opportunity of a formal education, in industries such as beauty, tourism and hospitality.
Saving lives and building futures
The charity, whose maxim is ‘Together, building futures’ provides access to comprehensive services including medical care, shelter and food, whenever and wherever they are needed – on the streets, in communities and in prisons. “This is all part of our holistic approach to assisting over 130,000 people a year to improve their lives”, said Founder and Director Sebastien Marot. “We also created the international initiative The ChildSafe Movement, which enables all of us – citizens, businesses and authorities – to play an effective role in protecting children and advocates on child protection to millions globally.
“We are delighted to collaborate with the travel and travel retail industry and the opportunities to build awareness among international travellers around ChildSafe, as well as for the funds this partnership will raise for our child welfare programmes.”
Each year Friends International supports thousands of children to return to their families, go to school or learn a trade and find decent employment. Working closely with the children’s families, the charity empowers families to support themselves, so that they no longer need to send their children out to work or into residential care.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie commented: “We’re proud to partner with such a noble and well-established organisation with a strong track record across Southeast Asia and beyond.
“Children are our future, and we believe this cause hits the very heart of our industry. The work done by Friends International on child safety and on professional training with young adults in sectors closely connected to travel retail, and the potential to build awareness with international travellers and tourists on the importance of child safety, makes this partnership all the more meaningful.”
*FOOTNOTE: As noted above, The Moodie Davitt Report ‘Duty Calls’ Charity Dinner will bring the industry together for a spectacular evening in Singapore on 11 May. The dinner will not only raise funds for Friends International’s projects, but also celebrate the industry’s profound and long-standing commitment to CSR. Several companies have already pledged support for the event. More details will be announced soon.
The Moodie Davitt Report will be launching a series of fundraising initiatives, to be announced in the near future, which will aim to rally the industry together around this wonderful cause.
For more information contact Michael Barrett at Michael@MoodieDavittReport.com
