Our Partners: Friends-International
We are proud to support Friends-International, a pioneering social enterprise founded in 1994. They operate globally—with a strong presence in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand—and are supported by UNICEF. They are a leader in the global movement to protect children, provide quality education, and create sustainable job opportunities for marginalized youth. Their work in Cambodia is so significant that it has garnered global attention, including the support of their dedicated ambassador, David Beckham.
At Babel Hotels, we believe in partnerships that create lasting community change. We are honored to collaborate with Friends-International on the following initiatives:
Vocational Training Restaurants
One of Friends-International’s most successful models is the creation of vocational training restaurants. Launched in Phnom Penh in 1994, these restaurants aim to help street-connected youth build a future by providing professional culinary training and social support.
These initiatives do more than just serve great food—they are life-changing hubs that provide a direct path out of poverty. We strongly encourage our guests to dine at these establishments to experience the incredible results of this training firsthand.
Supporting Marum: We are delighted that Marum, the renowned training restaurant in Siem Reap, is back in full operation under its original name. After a closure during the pandemic and a brief period operating under a different name, Marum has returned to the local culinary scene.
Experience the Garden: Marum remains one of our top recommendations for guests. It is a beautiful, cozy garden training restaurant offering exceptional food for a great cause.
Convenient Location: It is incredibly easy to visit—Marum is just a 2-minute tuk-tuk ride from Babel Guesthouse.
Marum’s Newspaper Menu 2026
Friends ‘n stuff
Friends ‘n stuff is a vibrant social enterprise project by Friends-International. They empower marginalized families by transforming recycled materials—like tires, newspapers, and traditional fabrics—into unique bags, clothing, and accessories. Every purchase directly helps families secure a sustainable future for their children.
We share this mission at our Babel Eco-shop and Refill Station. To fight plastic pollution and support local livelihoods, we source our signature "No Planet B" range—including our tote, coconut, and soap bags—directly from this project. Although their retail location is now more compact, their impact remains massive. We highly recommend visiting them to see how they turn waste into wonderful, purpose-driven products.
Our handmade products for our eco-shop at Babel are made by Friends International in Siem Reap
Check out this illustrating video from Friends International:
Our Commitment to the ChildSafe Movement
At Babel Hotels, we believe that tourism should be a force for good. That is why we are a proud partner of the ChildSafe Movement. Launched by Friends-International in 2005, this global initiative protects children and youth from all forms of abuse and exploitation.
How ChildSafe Protects Children
The ChildSafe Movement protects children in three main ways:
Professional Training & Certification: They provide child protection training to businesses, schools, and community organizations. These partners are certified, monitored, and held to strict standards.
24/7 Emergency Response: ChildSafe operates dedicated hotlines to respond to reports of children in danger, ensuring immediate intervention and protection.
Siem Reap Hotline:(+855) 17 358 758
Behavior Change Campaigns: Through high-impact advocacy—such as the "Children Are Not Tourist Attractions" and "Don’t Create More Orphans" campaigns—they shift public perception and empower travelers to make ethical choices.
The Babel Approach
We don’t just display the logo; we integrate ChildSafe standards into our daily operations. Our commitment includes:
Certified Operations: Babel Hotels has been a ChildSafe-certified business since 2008. We ensure our staff receives regular, updated child protection training.
Inclusive Training: We are proud to be the first hotel in Cambodia to include our entire team of Tuk Tuk drivers in this formal training, ensuring that our guests’ first point of contact is also a trained advocate for child safety.
Guest Advocacy: We place ChildSafe campaign materials throughout our properties, including our Guest Books and TOUR guides in every room. We also actively champion these organizations to the journalists and partners who document our work in Responsible Tourism.
