Giving back
Guided by a shared sense of responsibility, our teams work hand in hand with local communities to a create lasting, positive impact across Asia.
Working with Baan Nok Kamin
In 2025, Destination Asia Thailand marked its 10th consecutive year supporting Baan Nok Kamin, a Bangkok-based home dedicated to orphans and children in need. Ahead of Thailand’s National Children’s Day, team members from Destination Asia Thailand and Head Office collected and donated toys, school supplies, arts and crafts materials, and personal care items, helping create a supportive and nurturing environment for the children.
Putting the environment first
Environmental conservation remains a key focus at Destination Asia Thailand who collaborate with Wat Chak Daeng, a Buddhist temple on the outskirts of Bangkok widely recognised for its environmental and waste-management initiatives. Volunteers took part in waste separation, plastic upcycling, and tree planting using recycled materials. These efforts were complemented by community-focused activities at the Baan Duangkae Foundation, where the team revitalised a children’s basketball court, created an educational mural on waste awareness, and shared a meal with local residents.
Partnering with Scholars of Sustenance
Food security is supported through a partnership with Scholars of Sustenance Thailand (SOS Thailand). The team prepared and distributed more than 1,500 nutritious meals made entirely from rescued surplus ingredients, alongside essential food supplies for families in need, helping reduce food waste while achieving a measurable reduction in carbon emissions.
TerraCycle Thai Foundation canal clean-up
Destination Asia Thailand, along with team members from their Head Office, joined forces with TerraCycle for a hands-on canal cleanup along Bangkok’s Lad Prao Canal. Rolling up their sleeves to make a difference, the team collected an impressive 2,373 kilograms of waste, all carefully sorted and processed with zero waste sent to landfill. The activity offered valuable insight into Thailand’s waste management challenges and the inspiring initiatives working to address them.
Supporting the School for Blind & Disabled Youth
Destination Asia Vietnam continues its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities through a visit to the School for Blind and Disabled Youth, which provides care and support for 115 residents. The team raised 40 million VND (approximately USD 1,550) with a portion of the funds being donated directly to the organisation to help cover essential utility costs, while the remaining amount was used to purchase vital supplies including rice, cooking oil, instant noodles, fresh milk and baby diapers.
Supporting families in need with Heart Ribbon
Destination Asia Japan partnered with Heart Ribbon to support its children’s cafeteria initiative, which focuses on community nourishment through educational and social support while providing immediate relief to children and their families. Team members volunteered their time to cook and serve 200 nutritious meals to families in need. In addition to the hot meals, fresh vegetables and snacks were distributed for families to take home, extending support beyond the day’s activities.
Saving surplus food
Destination Asia Hong Kong supports Feeding Hong Kong, a local organisation dedicated to rescuing surplus food and redistributing it to charities across the city. The team raised and donated HK$1,000 to help purchase essential groceries and meals for vulnerable families and individuals, while also supporting efforts to reduce food waste and promote more efficient food distribution within the community.
Meal donations & beach clean-up
ASITA CARE, a new initiative by the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), was launched to tackle biodiversity loss and improve waste management across Bali. One of the first actions under the program saw meals donated to waste transport workers at Suwung landfill, recognising their essential role in keeping the island clean. The following day, the team extended these efforts with a beach clean-up in Sanur and a blood donation drive, supporting environmental sustainability and public health.
Community kitchen donation and helping hand
The team collaborated with Ragam Foundation in Bali, hand-selecting fresh ingredients from their organic farm and preparing nearly 300 nutritious meals at the community kitchen in Canggu. These meals were shared with children’s centres and orphanages across Suwung, Denpasar, and Tabanan. Alongside hands-on support, Destination Asia Indonesia donated 100kg of rice, pantry essentials, and used clothing to help sustain Ragam’s ongoing work.
Flood relief in Bali
Severe flooding impacted six regencies across Bali in 2025. Destination Asia Indonesia responded swiftly, working alongside ASITA Bali & BPBD Denpasar, along with local volunteers to deliver essential relief supplies and support house-rebuilding efforts in Jembrana Regency, helping affected families begin the process of recovery.
Delivering meals with Willing Hearts
Destination Asia Singapore partnered with Willing Hearts, a local non-profit organisation that operates a volunteer-run soup kitchen, preparing and distributing approximately 7,000 meals daily to more than 70 locations across Singapore. Team members contributed their time to assist with the hands-on delivery of meals, helping ensure consistent access to nutritious food for individuals and families in need.
An afternoon of elderly care and fun
The team in Singapore spent a meaningful afternoon at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, one of Singapore’s oldest charitable healthcare institutions providing medical, nursing, and elderly care services to the community. At the Potong Pasir branch, which focuses on holistic care and social engagement for seniors, the team organised and joined residents for karaoke, dancing, bingo, and afternoon tea, sharing smiles, laughter, and companionship while strengthening their connection with the local community.
Mebon Primary School in Siem Reap
Destination Asia Cambodia continued its support for education and community development in partnership with the KAI Foundation, through ongoing contributions to Mebon Primary School in Siem Reap. The school plays a vital role in providing free education to children from surrounding rural villages, many of whom face financial barriers to attending school. With long-standing support from the KAI Foundation, the school recently benefited from the construction of three new classrooms, funded through a donation of over USD 20,000. The new facilities have increased the school’s capacity, allowing an additional 75 students to enrol.
Volunteering time to support the homeless
The team in Penang volunteered their time to help with cooking and food distribution at the Penang Transit Centre for the Homeless. Partnering with Penang Cooking Class at Chow Rasta Market, the team prepared a hearty dinner of chicken bolognese and fried mashed potatoes for over 100 people. The meals were delivered to the centre in time for the evening service, supporting the Transit Centre’s role as a temporary shelter that helps individuals on their journey toward stable housing or long-term care while providing access to nutritious, home-cooked food.
Helping remove waste from the Melaka River
In addition to community-focused efforts, the team in Kuala Lumpur supported an environmental project along the Melaka River, in collaboration with Melaka River Cruise. The river flows through the heart of the city, attracting thousands of visitors each year, making its preservation especially important. Over the course of three hours, the team collected five large containers of waste, helping to restore the river’s natural beauty and protect local ecosystems. The clean-up was supported by local partners, including Melaka River Cruise and Casa Del Rio, reinforcing the value of collaboration in driving positive change.