Press Releases
<< Back to list
Pawtucket, Rhode Island ... The Collette Foundation sent their Cambodia project site ambassador, Siobhan Siedzik, Collette Vacations’ operations supervisor, to travel with an Explorations small group tour to Siem Reap to visit Journey’s Within Our Community (JWOC) this past February. Collette Foundation project sites are managed by employee volunteers; and travelers on Collette tours to the area can visit and participate in the projects as well.
The Collette Foundation has been a major contributor in the many initiatives of JWOC over the past few years. The foundation funded the building of a Community Center, which houses several classrooms for school aged children and adults as well as very young children. “We have funded the construction of a paved driveway and an outdoor play area, which is very important due to the heavy rainy season in Cambodia,” said Siedzik in a blog post she wrote about her experience with accompanying video. “We have funded a Reed Pond, for the regeneration of rain water into clean water, and just recently we have been a major contributor to their newly opened library.”
The children at JWOC range in ages from four to about 20. They have sewing classes, computer classes, and English speaking classes for the older students. They also offer dance classes, reading classes, drawing classes as well as other programming.
Siedzik has worked on this project in Cambodia for nearly three years and explains, “I was very excited to meet the partners and see things for myself. I was so blown away by the Cambodian people as well as JWOC. When we partnered with JWOC, we both had hopes of what we could accomplish together and I am very proud to say that so far we have accomplished all of our goals.”
Siedzik was present for the opening ceremony of the library and was asked to cut the ribbon. “We are now moving onto the next phase with JWOC and will stock the library for the children by funding the purchase of books and other library materials,” she added.
For more information on the Collette Foundation, visit www.collettefoundation.org
The Collette Foundation connects Collette’s employees, partners, travelers and global communities in a shared mission to improve the quality of life for children in the worldwide destinations which Collette explores. Since its inception in 2007, new project sites are continuously added and each is managed by employee volunteers. With Kenya, Tibet, India, Brazil, Canada, New England, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and Ireland among the existing project sites, the Foundation spreads its promise to help children by impacting the communities in which they reside – one project…and one child at a time.
Collette Vacations is a family-owned business headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest major tour operator in the United States. For over 90 years, our team of travel enthusiasts has fulfilled millions of vacation dreams. We offer over 125 programs to destinations on all 7 continents. Travelers can choose from small group tours, family vacations, educational travel, train journeys, river cruises and vacations that feature a Collette Foundation site visit. With knowledgeable, professional tour managers, an industry-leading cancellation waiver, and complimentary round trip home to airport sedan service with air-inclusive reservations, Collette Vacations makes seeing the world simple and hassle-free.
Collette Foundation Ambassador Visits Project Site in Cambodia
03/23/2011 - Siobhan Siedzik travelled with an Explorations group to visit Journey’s Within Our Community.Pawtucket, Rhode Island ... The Collette Foundation sent their Cambodia project site ambassador, Siobhan Siedzik, Collette Vacations’ operations supervisor, to travel with an Explorations small group tour to Siem Reap to visit Journey’s Within Our Community (JWOC) this past February. Collette Foundation project sites are managed by employee volunteers; and travelers on Collette tours to the area can visit and participate in the projects as well.
The Collette Foundation has been a major contributor in the many initiatives of JWOC over the past few years. The foundation funded the building of a Community Center, which houses several classrooms for school aged children and adults as well as very young children. “We have funded the construction of a paved driveway and an outdoor play area, which is very important due to the heavy rainy season in Cambodia,” said Siedzik in a blog post she wrote about her experience with accompanying video. “We have funded a Reed Pond, for the regeneration of rain water into clean water, and just recently we have been a major contributor to their newly opened library.”
The children at JWOC range in ages from four to about 20. They have sewing classes, computer classes, and English speaking classes for the older students. They also offer dance classes, reading classes, drawing classes as well as other programming.
Siedzik has worked on this project in Cambodia for nearly three years and explains, “I was very excited to meet the partners and see things for myself. I was so blown away by the Cambodian people as well as JWOC. When we partnered with JWOC, we both had hopes of what we could accomplish together and I am very proud to say that so far we have accomplished all of our goals.”
Siedzik was present for the opening ceremony of the library and was asked to cut the ribbon. “We are now moving onto the next phase with JWOC and will stock the library for the children by funding the purchase of books and other library materials,” she added.
For more information on the Collette Foundation, visit www.collettefoundation.org
The Collette Foundation connects Collette’s employees, partners, travelers and global communities in a shared mission to improve the quality of life for children in the worldwide destinations which Collette explores. Since its inception in 2007, new project sites are continuously added and each is managed by employee volunteers. With Kenya, Tibet, India, Brazil, Canada, New England, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and Ireland among the existing project sites, the Foundation spreads its promise to help children by impacting the communities in which they reside – one project…and one child at a time.
Collette Vacations is a family-owned business headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest major tour operator in the United States. For over 90 years, our team of travel enthusiasts has fulfilled millions of vacation dreams. We offer over 125 programs to destinations on all 7 continents. Travelers can choose from small group tours, family vacations, educational travel, train journeys, river cruises and vacations that feature a Collette Foundation site visit. With knowledgeable, professional tour managers, an industry-leading cancellation waiver, and complimentary round trip home to airport sedan service with air-inclusive reservations, Collette Vacations makes seeing the world simple and hassle-free.
