Travel Counsellors homeworkers donated 10 bicycles to schoolchildren in Thailand during a rewards trip.
A group of 32 top performers went on the five-day ‘Gold Weekend’ trip in September, which included a stay at the Elephant Hills resort in the Khao Sok national park area.
The homeworkers helped local children by contributing bicycles and stationery through Elephant Hills’ ‘Pack with Purpose’ initiative, which gives resort guests the chance to offer gifts to families.
More: Travel Counsellors takes group on ‘exceptional’ Sri Lanka trip
Gibraltar-based agent Christian Mascarenhas said: “When I saw the bikes in the local bicycle shop, I wanted to offer the chance for local school kids to enjoy cycling just like I do.”
The trip, sponsored by Travelport, Royal Caribbean and Abercrombie & Kent, featured sustainable activities including jungle-trekking and forest bathing, alongside stays at hotels and resorts certified by Travel Counsellors’ Green Leaf programme.
Elephant Hills marketing supervisors Nink Pitchaporn Tanpornsri said: “We were delighted to deliver the bicycles alongside a selection of essential stationery from Travel Counsellors to Wat Tham Wararam School in Khao Sok.
“To make sure that everyone had an equal chance of getting a bike, we asked the teachers to arrange a prize draw for the kindergarten and primary school students.
“The whole event was really fun and exciting for all the pupils and teachers, and truly something special for the kids to remember.”
Mascarenhas said: “It’s a huge privilege and a pleasure to be able to provide lots of happy memories and big smiles to people in the local communities we visited.
“It’s really important for me to give thanks and ‘give back’ after another successful year in business.”