Intrepid Travel Announces The Intrepid Foundation's Community Projects in Thailand

    BOULDER, CO, September 27, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In an effort to give back to the communities that Intrepid visits, Intrepid Travel has developed The Intrepid Foundation. Over the last 6 years the Intrepid Foundation has dispersed US$1,261,455 to more than 45 non-government organizations. Two of the community projects that the Intrepid Foundation makes donations to are the Baan Unrak Orphanage and Friends of the Asian Elephant, both in Thailand.

Baan Unrak (House of Happiness) is an orphanage and community relief centre for children and destitute women. It provides shelter, food, clothing, education, employment, love and support for those in need. Baan Unrak is located in Sangklaburi, Kanchanaburi province in north-west Thailand, 20 km from the Burmese border. It was founded in 1991 by Didi Devamala, an Italian volunteer working in the non-political and non-religious Neo-Humanist Foundation. Baan Unrak currently houses more than 60 children and continues to grow. Some of the community outreach projects include:

- The kindergarten and primary school provide education for children who have been unable to attend school due to poverty, and for ethnic minorities who are unable to speak Thai.

- The outreach program helps abandoned mothers become economically independent.

- The relief program provides food and clothing for nearby refugee camps and prisoners of war.

- The sewing and weaving centre offers employment and empowerment for local women.

Donations will help fund current programs and facilities and enable them to be improved and extended in the future. With more funds they hope to be able to purchase a car (for transport to medical facilities and the market) and to be able to increase the number of children residing in this 'House of Happiness'.

Friends of the Asian Elephant is a registered non-government organization in Thailand that aims to protect and conserve the welfare of elephants - both domesticated and wild. Founded in 1993 by Soraida Salwala, the organization has successfully lobbied the Government to stop the illegal logging of Thailand's rainforest and have elephants taken off the streets in cities where they are in a completely unnatural environment and in danger of injury from vehicles. FAE aims to:

- Assist elephants to enjoy improved living conditions and eventually survive in their unnatural surroundings.

- Help professionals related to elephants - mahouts, raisers, researchers, vets.

- Gather data on elephants and produce public reports on the condition of elephants across the country.

FAE's elephant hospital provides free medical care and transportation for all elephants. Some of the elephants brought to the hospital have been very poorly treated by their owners or have suffered horrendous injuries through incidents such as stepping on land mines. As part of their trip to Northern Thailand, many Intrepid Travel groups visit the Lampang Elephant Centre and can see first hand the great work of FAE at the hospital. Donations made to the Friends of the Asian Elephant will help fund a nursery.

For more information about Intrepid Travel and The Intrepid Foundation visit: http://www.theintrepidfoundation.org


About Intrepid Travel

With over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 450 itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their markets and even in their homes.

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