The School

Sala Baï is a free hospitality school whose goal is to train 150 disadvantaged Cambodian youth annually, created and administered by Fondation Agir Pour Le Cambodge (APLC). In 20 years, more than 2,000 young people have been trained and found employment in the tourism sector, enabling them to become financially independent and improve their families' living conditions. The training lasts 11 months and focuses on one of five disciplines: Restaurant, Kitchen, Reception, Room Service, and Beauty Care. The program alternates between theoretical courses (professional techniques, English language, general knowledge, and soft skills) and practical work, either at the school or during internships at partner hotels. The training and diploma are real assets when it comes to finding employment. Today, 98% of graduates are hired within six weeks of receiving their diplomas. Students are thus able to financially support their families, often allowing their siblings to continue their education.

Partner: Agir pour le Cambodge (APLC)

APLC is a French NGO founded in 1985 by former students of the Lycée Franklin – St Louis de Gonzague in Paris, responding to a call from one of their Cambodian classmates to address the humanitarian emergency and assist the Cambodian population sheltering in camps on the Thai border. APLC's mission from the outset was to combat poverty through education and training programs. It shifted its focus to development assistance in 1995 and has since contributed to poverty reduction and the fight against human trafficking. Today, it able to continue its mission through education assistance programs. Its actions are aimed primarily at children and young people from disadvantaged families, aged 8 to 23, and particularly at girls, due to their greater vulnerability and less access to education and stable employment.

EHLsmile's involvement 

EHLsmile supported Sala Baï through a comprehensive review of the overall curriculum, a focused assessment of the culinary training, and interviews with partner hotels and graduates to better understand industry expectations. This allowed the school to refine its programs and strengthen the alignment between training and job market needs.