Solidarity: They carry the soul of Cambodia on their backs — who will carry theirs?

The Airavata Foundation is relaunching its charity gala on August 12 in Phnom Penh and is calling on businesses to commit to supporting the Kingdom’s elephants.

@Airavata

In Cambodia, the elephant is a cosmic figure, a royal symbol, a presence that spans centuries without ever fully belonging to the ordinary world. It appears on the pediments of Angkor, in sacred texts, in the collective memory of a people who have always recognized something divine in it.

Today, these same elephants are suffering. And the Airavata Foundation — under the High Patronage of His Majesty the King of Cambodia — has been fighting for years to ensure they do not disappear in silence.

A return after a year of sacrifices

In 2025, Airavata made a difficult choice: to suspend its annual gala in order to focus its resources on the national effort at the borders, providing logistical support to displaced populations and security forces. A gesture of solidarity that did not go unnoticed, but came at a cost.

Meanwhile, several serious veterinary emergencies struck the Ratanakiri sanctuary. Surgical interventions, intensive care, long-term follow-up — the images speak for themselves: men lying in the dust beside a baby elephant, veterinarians bent over gaping wounds, hands working with striking precision and tenderness. Treating an elephant is no small matter. It requires resources that the foundation no longer has in abundance.

The Airavata Gala 2026 is therefore not just another event on Phnom Penh’s social calendar. It is a necessity.

August 12, a night to believe

The foundation has chosen the Sun & Moon Riverside Hotel for its grand return, on the occasion of International Elephant Day. Ministers, ambassadors, business leaders, and influential figures will gather in a setting designed to blend prestige and emotion — classical Khmer dance, recognition ceremonies, gala dinner. Those who have attended previous editions know the atmosphere is unique: you do not leave quite the same as when you arrived.

Partnerships matching the challenge

For companies wishing to associate with this event, Airavata offers four packages designed to provide far more than surface-level visibility.

The Platinum Sponsor at USD 10,000 is the flagship partnership. Two days of exclusive filming in Ratanakiri, your products showcased alongside the foundation’s elephants, a full VIP table for eight guests, screening of your advertisement at the gala opening on a giant screen, a permanent panel at the camp for twelve months, and sector exclusivity. A campaign unlike any other.

The Gold Sponsor at USD 5,000 offers one day of production at the sanctuary — custom photo and video content with one of Airavata’s iconic elephants — along with four VIP seats and strong visibility on stage and through partner media.

The Silver Sponsor at USD 3,000 — The White Elephant — includes four premium seats, a premium booth in the reception hall, presence on the press conference backdrop, and a dedicated promotional article in partner media.

The Bronze Sponsor at USD 1,500 — The Gentle Giant — allows smaller organizations to take part in this story: two dinner seats, a promotional booth, logo placement across all materials, and official acknowledgements on stage.

What we choose to support says...

Partnering with Airavata is not about ticking a CSR box. It is about choosing to attach your name to a cause that transcends economic cycles and marketing trends. Cambodia’s elephants do not have press officers. They have foundations like Airavata, and partners who decide, one evening, that it is worth it.

In a country where the relationship between humans and elephants spans several millennia, this choice resonates differently. It is seen. It is respected. It is remembered.

Join the journey

Companies interested can contact the Airavata team — Chenda, Pierre-Yves, and Jean — at chenda.clais@gmail.com. The foundation is present on Facebook and Instagram, and has a dedicated website via Terres Rouges Collection.

August 12 is not far away. And the elephants do not have the luxury of waiting.