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<\/a><\/p>\nCreated in 2002 by the French NGO Agir Pour Le Cambodge, Sala Ba\u00ef is a free hotel school based in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Each year, the school, trains 100 young disadvantaged Cambodians to the four main professions of the hospitality industry: restaurant waiter\/waitress, cook, receptionist & housekeeping attendants.
\nDuring the 12-month training, the school covers all the training fees (lessons, school supplies, books, uniforms), and daily expenses (accommodations, food, bicycle, insurance and medical expenses) for the students.<\/p>\n
The training lasts 11 months from September to July.\u00a0 The 12th month, August, is dedicated to assist the students to find their first employment.<\/p>\n Origin of the project<\/strong> \u00a0Few vocational training programs exist in the country, even less for those who have not reached grade 9. Very few vocational training opportunities are offered to young women, even less when they have a low education level.<\/p>\n At the same time, the number of hotels in Siem Reap, town of Angkor temples, is increasing very fast and requires more and more qualified trained workforce.<\/p>\n Sala Bai’s goals: \u00a0Each year 100 young are trained and employed in the hospitality industry which is the fastest growing economic sector of the country (in 2009 tourism accounted for 16% of GNP with 2.1 million visitors).<\/p>\n \u00a0Priority is given to girls (70%), due to the fact that they are more vulnerable and have less training opportunities.<\/p>\n Last but not least, to contribute to the development of responsible tourism and the setting up and development of vocational training in Cambodia.<\/p>\n 8 years: 8 intakes… \u00a0They all found employment after graduation, enabling them to achieve economic independence and improving the living conditions of their families. Thanks to these young trainees and the direct impact on their families, approximately 3500 people benefited from Sala Ba\u00ef.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn 2002, Agir Pour Le Cambodge set up Sala Ba\u00ef program, due to the following reasons:
\nVery low school attendance rate in a country where 60% of the population is under 20 (54% for girls and 68% for boys). Many young people leave school to contribute to the family income, thus obtaining precarious and seasonal jobs with no future.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMainly girls,\u00a0drop out of school younger than boys(at the time of school droppage), to help at home, work or get married.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nThe profits from the tourism development in the area are badly distributed, especially among the poorest\u00a0 (35% of the population live under the poverty level with less than\u00a0one U.S. dollar\u00a0per day).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nContribute to reduce poverty in Cambodia through social and professional insertion of young under-privileged Cambodians.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>
\nTo provide work skills development & capacity building to the local team for a future autonomization of the program.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n704 trained and graduate students:
\n219 restaurant waiters and waitresses
\n221 cooks
\n188 housekeepers
\n76 receptionists
\n65% are girls, when counting the 8 intakes. But for the last 4 years, the initial goal of 70% has been reached.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n