Ecole Supérieure Spécialisée du Vakinankaratra (ESSVA)

Antsirabé, Madagascar

2006 - 2013 / 2025 - today

ESSVA is a professional university preparing skilled graduates in fields like hospitality, management, eco-tourism, and engineering to meet Madagascar’s economic needs. With over 1,000 students, it provides high-quality education while supporting disadvantaged youth through scholarships.

EHLsmile has played a key role in developing ESSVA’s hospitality program, helping establish facilities, curricula, and professional training for future hospitality leaders.

In Partnership with:

More Than A Drop School

Moshi & Zanzibar, Tanzania

2019 - 2021 / 2025 - today

The More Than A Drop School empowers vulnerable young women (18–21) through a 12-month hospitality training program, combining hands-on technical skills, English, computer literacy, and personal development. With 90% of graduates securing employment, the school provides a pathway to independence and breaks the cycle of poverty.

EHLsmile has supported the school by revamping its hospitality curriculum in Moshi and is now helping the new Zanzibar campus expand into management and entrepreneurship training.

In Partnership with:

Abury Hospitality Academy

Marrakesh, Morocco

2025 - today

The Abury Hospitality Academy empowers young women (18–25) through a 6 to 12-month program in hospitality management, culinary arts, service, and housekeeping. Beyond technical training, the academy fosters independence with soft skills, computer literacy, and language courses, helping graduates overcome social and economic barriers to secure employment in Marrakech’s hospitality industry.

EHLsmile contributes by providing hospitality expertise for curriculum design, assisting in student selection, and collaborating with local hotels to ensure practical training and internships.

In Partnership with:

The Bodhgaya Hotel School

Bodhgaya, India 

2016 - Today 

The Bodhgaya Hotel School trains underprivileged youth in hospitality through two programs: Food Production (culinary skills and kitchen operations) and Hotel Operations (housekeeping, front office, and service). Courses also include English, hygiene, and professional conduct. All graduates seeking jobs have been successfully placed, creating sustainable livelihoods and supporting local development.

EHLsmile contributes by having initiated the concept development, budgeting and having planned the one-year curriculum. 

In Partnership with:

Sala Baï Hotel & Restaurant School 

Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia

2023 - 2025 

Sala Baï Hotel & Restaurant School offers free 11-month hospitality training to disadvantaged youth each year, specializing in restaurant service, kitchen, reception, room service, and beauty care. With a strong balance of theory and practical internships, 98% of graduates secure employment within six weeks, enabling them to support their families and break the cycle of poverty.

EHLsmile has supported Sala Baï by reviewing and refining the curriculum, assessing culinary training, and working with partner hotels to ensure the program meets industry expectations and prepares students for lasting careers.

In Partnership with:

ROPKA Hospitality Vocational Training Center

Kathmandu, Nepal

2016 - 2023

Since 2018, the ROKPA Hospitality Vocational Training has offered underprivileged youth a one-year apprenticeship-style program combining theory with practical experience at the ROKPA Guest House, Restaurant, and Bakery. Students gain skills in rooms division, food and beverage service, and food production. Graduates who meet the qualification standards receive an officially recognized certificate and support in finding employment.

EHLsmile supported the launch of the program by making an audit of the infrastructure, the concept development and development of the training program. 

In Partnership with:

Master Instructor in Swiss Hospitality Course 

Yangon, Myanmar

2017 - 2018 

As part of a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) mandate, EHLsmile designed and delivered the Master Instructor in Swiss Hospitality course. EHLsmile mission was to conduct a feasibility study for a hospitality training center in Karen State, including field research, concept development, training program, budget and planning. 

Seventeen Master Instructors were trained in advanced technical and pedagogical skills, enabling them to train 300 hotel supervisors, who in turn will pass on practical hospitality training to more than 5,000 learners. Covering front office, F&B service, kitchen, and housekeeping, the program strengthens employability in the hotel sector through a sustainable, cascading training model. 

In Partnership with:

Bongde Institute of Hospitality and Tourism

Paro, Bhutan

2014 - 2017 

The Bongde Institute of Hotel & Tourism (BIHT) was transformed from a resort into a hospitality training institute in 2013, with the mission of equipping Bhutanese youth with practical, industry-ready skills. Today, the school combines classroom learning with hands-on training in its operational 3-star hotel, offering six-month certificate programs in food production, food & beverage service, and rooms division. EHLsmile contributed by monitoring and providing a management support to the launch of the first cohort in 2015, where 30 students were guided by EHLsmile volunteers. This collaboration set a new benchmark for vocational hospitality education in Bhutan and continues to foster opportunities for young people seeking careers in the industry. 

In Partnership with:

Pimali Hospitality Training Center

Nong Khai, Thailand

2012 - 2017 

The Pimali Hospitality Training Center, founded in 2013 in northeastern Thailand, provides hands-on hospitality training to underprivileged youth and orphans, preparing them for careers in cooking, service, and housekeeping. Students complete vocational programs followed by a six-month hotel internship, giving them practical experience and a strong chance at employment—82% of graduates find jobs after their internship. 

EHLsmile supported the opening of the center by training the trainer, operations set-up and management support. This collaboration has strengthened Pimali’s ability to equip vulnerable youth with skills, independence, and long-term career opportunities in hospitality. 

In Partnership with:

Ecole Supérieure de Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie Stella Matutina

Lomé, Togo

2011 - 2013 

The École Supérieure du Tourisme et d’Hôtellerie Stella Matutina (ESTH-SM) in Lomé, Togo, is a private institution that emphasizes practical training and international standards in hospitality education. It offers professional programs such as BTH, BTS, CAP, and CFA, equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in the tourism and hospitality sectors. EHLsmile supported the school by helping restructure its curriculum and develop two clear academic tracks—a three-year bachelor-level program and a two-year professional program—strengthening students’ career prospects. Volunteers worked to refine course content, balance theory with hands-on training, and ensure the programs met evolving industry standards. This collaboration has helped ESTH-SM provide higher-quality, industry-aligned education to aspiring hospitality professionals in Togo. 

PSE Vocational Training Institute (Le Lotus Blanc)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2003 - 2010 

The PSE Vocational Training Institute in Phnom Penh provides disadvantaged youth with practical, industry-aligned education across multiple fields, including hospitality, management, mechanics, construction, and filmmaking. Its Lotus Blanc Hospitality Training School offers students hands-on experience in a fully operational hotel and restaurant, preparing them for real-world careers in culinary arts, service, housekeeping, and reception. EHLsmile supported the institute by helping develop a two-year hospitality program covering kitchen, service, housekeeping, and bakery/pastry, ensuring the curriculum was practical and suited to local industry needs. This collaboration strengthened students’ skills, employability, and access to meaningful careers, contributing to PSE’s broader mission of social and economic inclusion for underprivileged communities in Cambodia.

In Partnership with:

Jari Hotel School

Jari, Ethiopia

1997 - 2000 

Jari Hotel School in Ethiopia was established between 1997 and 2000 to provide war orphans with practical vocational training in hospitality, combining classroom learning with hands-on experience in food production and hotel operations. The school aimed to empower vulnerable youth with the skills needed for sustainable employment and social reintegration. EHLsmile’s first-ever project supported the development of a practical curriculum tailored to the students’ needs and local industry requirements, working alongside local partners to ensure effective training. This collaboration laid the foundation for EHLsmile’s ongoing commitment to vocational education, helping trainees gain the skills and experience necessary to launch successful careers in hospitality.