Hospitality Institute provides free education, employment to poor Cambodians

By Hiroshi Limmell
Channel NewsAsia
14 March 2008

SIEM REAP, Cambodia : Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and most Cambodians rely on agriculture to make a living.

Tourism plays a key role in the country's economy but most of the money is channelled back into the industry, benefiting hotels and tourist organisations.

One establishment is trying to change that by providing free education and employment. 23-year-old Orn Soaline is starting out at his new position after his recent promotion.

Now, he teaches cooking lessons at a Hospitality Institute. Orn knows only too well the background of his students.

They come from a similar situation as he did - from families too poor to pay for their education.

He said: "When I was 20, I was in a school, but in high school I had to spend a lot of money. My mother and father could not afford to send me to school so I had to leave."

The Institute was set up five years ago. Its aim is to provide free skills and employment to the very poor in Siem Reap.

A boutique hotel funds the school and, as the hotel's owner explains, it takes more than just free education to help the poor.

Sokoun Chanpreda, Owner, Shinta Mani Hotel, said: "In Cambodia, the poverty level is very obvious.

You can see street kids everywhere, there's not much employment opportunity even if they tried. "So there, it is a very challenging situation.

The tourist industry really helps a lot in that way. It helps the local people get employment here."

Orn was one of the first batch of students taken in by the Institute. Now, he makes US$100 a month from teaching. He aims to become a master chef at one of Siem Reap's hotels one day.