By Mai Pham | Marketing and Fundraising Officer
Last August, REACH officially started a new program called "Youth Career Initiative" in partnership with five-star hotels in Hanoi. Participants, who are youth from underpriveleged backgrounds, had opportunity to undergo intensive on-site training by senior staff and managers at the Hilton, Starwood’s Sheraton, and InterContinental hotels in Hanoi. In addition, the students received soft skills, computer and English language training at REACH.
The training designed as a part of the hotels daily operations and the students worked as hotel staff. Within the first month of their training, students were rotated through different positions in different hotel areas including kitchen, banquet, security, bellman, pastry, housekeeping, etc. before choosing the work they wanted to pursue.
Six months has passed and the YCI students have graduated with recognition from the five-star hotels. Out of 23 YCI graduates, two have become official staff from their hotels. 7 are offered to stay in casual position with possibility of being promoted to permanent staff. Other graduates have been arranged to take interviews at other businesses and 8 have found their job.
The road ahead for YCI graduates will turn to different directions. Meanwhile, let's take a look at their reflections on the journey they shared together for the past six months.
“I was feeling down when beginning at work, but trainers in the hotels and at school told me stories of disadvantage youth who succeeded by trying their best. Then I think I still lucky with many opportunities in the future, I have to put my great effort to moving forward.” - Nguyen Thi Thu
“...at the beginning I felt a little bit shy and confuse, however trainers and collegues supported me, made me comfortable like a family with their fun, joy and enthusiastically guide me at work” - Do Thanh Trung
"The trainers cared about me from the smallest things. They also shared with me the secrets to become a great cook." - Nguyen Minh Phuc.
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