from the Style Traveller – a summary
The Shinta Mani Foundation, founded in 2004 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged local communities. It focuses on sustainable development through education, job training, healthcare, clean water access, and housing.
In partnership with the Shinta Mani Hotel, the Foundation provides employment opportunities for locals in hospitality, with hotel profits and donations directly funding its programs. One key initiative is the Shinta Mani School of Hospitality, which offers free training to underprivileged young people, enabling them to gain skills and secure jobs in Siem Reap’s tourism industry.
The Foundation also provides bicycles for schoolchildren, organizes free health and dental check-ups, and constructs clean water wells—teaching villagers how to build and maintain them, promoting self-sufficiency. Additionally, it supports women by teaching them how to make and sell handicrafts like rattan mats.
To date, the Foundation has built 1,400 wells, 99 homes, trained 229 students, donated 641 bicycles, and provided over 8,000 health check-ups. Its impact is clear, helping communities move beyond poverty through long-term, practical solutions.