Sending Money Isn't Enough || Redefining Sustainable Aid with Hannes Schmid (Smiling Gecko)

Hannes Schmid is the co-founder of Smiling Gecko, a sprawling 1,500-hectare social enterprise in Cambodia housing a school, farm, fish farming, carpentry workshops, and 34 small businesses. All built to create genuine, lasting change rather than dependency.

In this premiere episode, we trace the full origin story of Smiling Gecko, listen to Hannes’ case for why NGOs need to take a different approach, and dive into how sustainable this sort of program really is. This is a podcast about philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and giving back, by and for people working that much harder to make a difference. 

Learn more about Smiling Gecko: https://www.smilinggecko.ch/en/

The Giving Habit is brought to you by The Majurity Trust: https://www.majurity.sg/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Genesis of Smiling Gecko

05:50 Building a Holistic Community

12:00 Education as a Foundation for Change

18:01 The Role of Trust and Cultural Sensitivity

23:57 Balancing Philanthropy and Social Enterprise

29:59 Financial Sustainability and Quality Education

36:05 Philosophy of Architecture and Long-term Vision

36:21 Building Sustainable Structures in Challenging Environments

39:10 Design Philosophy: Integrating Tradition and Modernity

42:35 Cultural Heritage and Community Identity

45:53 The Role of Art in Society

48:26 The Importance of Shared Identity through Art

51:15 Questioning and Evolving Community Practices

54:03 Environmental Sustainability: A Complex Challenge

59:46 Future Aspirations and Community Growth

The Giving Habit is brought to you by The Majurity Trust, building a thriving, sustainable Singapore for all. Learn more at majuritytrust.sg

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