A brighter future for the most underpriviledged

Jan – June  2017 is the period when everything in our core program falls into place. 346 youth graduated from REACH training program in the first half of 2017 with above targeted job placement outcomes. Another batch of 224 students started their training at the end of March.

In this period, we officially expanded 6 months on-the- job hospitality training program (YCI) to Ho Chi Minh city with the participatioin of  Le Meridien Saigon, InterContinental Saigon, Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers and Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon.

Besides the partnership with 5 stars hotels, we have also developed a new work based training partnership in Danang with FPT, one of the biggest IT corporations in Vietnam. Toward this partnership, Web & Graphic Design students will receive foundation IT training at REACH for 2.5 months before they are sent to FPT for advanced training for 1 month. FPT is also committed to recruit REACH students upon satisfactory performance. Out of 20 WGD students who were sent to FPT in Danang for advanced training, 16 have received offers to continue working with FPT in projects targeting Japanese customers

This month, 23 youngsters graduated from cooking course after 3 months of training. Once again, we had the pleasure of doing the hard work of being judges in their final exams. We tried our best to be critical but couldn't help hiding our pride when seeing their products and how far the students have gone after only 3 months time.

If you wonder what REACH's cooking students are and What they do after graduating from REACH? Let's meet Thang and Thuy.

Thang

Thang has 5 siblings. He is from a poor farming family in Thanh Hoa province. Thang dropt out of school at grade 9 because his parents could not afford his schooling.

Thang dropt out of school to help his mother in farming work for a few years before starting working in a wood workshop 2 years ago. Thang's father was former soldier. He was shot in his head and had to leave the army and was diagnosed with heart defect two years ago. The whole family relied on farming work, which only provided income of about 10 million ( about $500 per year).

Thang is currently attending cooking training at REACH. Thang knew about REACH through an introduction from a friend who studied F&B at REACH. One of the things Thang remembers the most is how hard it was to toss mixing food with pan (it took him 4 days to learn the skill!)

Thang plans to work for 4-5 years to improve his cooking skill and have enough savings to open a small restaurant in his hometown.

Thuy

Thuy is 20 years old, from a farming family in Thanh Hoa province. Her family is one of the poorest household in the commune with the income of less than $45 per month. ( They are certified as poor household by local government).

Thuy has one younger brother, who is at grade 10. Her father and mother are both farmers. However, the income from farming work is so little that they have to find different seasonal work to earn extra income for the family. Her father has a hearing diffculty so it has been very challenging for him to find job. During harvest season, he can be hired to help other households' farming work with the pay of about 2.5 dollars per day. But the job only lasts for 5-7 days.

Thuy's mother also sells home-grown vegetable at a local market. She also collected trash that can be recycled to sell. 

After finishing grade 12, Thuy wanted to attend university but she knew that it would be just a dream. She enrolled in a 3 year vocational training program at a college but then dropt out because she could not afford training fees. When she studied at the vocational college, Thuy took part-time job at a duck restaurant to cover the expenses. After finishing her class in the morning, Thuy went to the duck restaurant . At the restaurant, there was no time to rest. She did different kind of work, from pucking the tails/ feather out of ducks, running the table, serving the customer, selling, washing the dishes.  Her work continued until 10.30pm, only then she could have dinner. After that, she rode her bicyle for another 30 minutes to her dormity, which was close by then. 

After 2 years, Thuy decided to stop her college education as it's too expensive for her. Then she was introduced to REACH through a friend. Thuy know that REACH's free vocational training program is a chance for her. 

Thuy graduated from REACH cooking training in March 2017. Now she is working as a cook at Japanese Sushi Kei restaurant. 

Links:

• REACH Annual Report 2016