Park Hyatt Siem Reap | Spoons Cambodia
Spoons Cambodia
Relationship with Hotel: For seven years, Park Hyatt Siem Reap has partnered with Spoons Cambodia (formerly known as EGBOK Mission). Colleagues regularly speak to students about their experience in the hospitality industry to help inspire the youth to find their niche within the industry. Additionally, the property has provided on-the-job training and internships in various departments, along with hosting fundraising events to raise money for Spoons. Property leaders have also served as board members in an advisory role to Spoons leadership.
NGO mission: Spoon Cambodia enables underprivileged Cambodian young adults to be self-sufficient by utilizing a comprehensive approach with an emphasis on life skills development and providing education, training and employment opportunities in the hospitality industry.
Grant purpose: Cambodia is home to the largest youth and adolescent population in Southeast Asia, with 20 percent of the population between the ages of 15 and 24. The opportunities for education and economic advancement for these youth are limited, especially for the majority of the population living in rural areas and the 18 percent of Cambodians that live on less than $1.25 a day. The COVID-19 pandemic has only decreased the already limited opportunities for entering the formal labor market, as one of Cambodia’s most robust industries, tourism, was hit hard with the absence of international travel. As the tourism sector begins to recover, opportunities are set to increase tremendously for youth entering the tourism sector. Spoons Cambodia works to ensure that youth have the skills needed to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the return of tourism to the region.
Spoons Cambodia’s Training and Internship Program (TIP) creates highly relevant vocational and employment opportunities for the country’s underprivileged communities. The TIP consists of a 12-month, residential, intensive vocational program focusing on core hospitality areas: housekeeping, food & beverage, or cooking. The Hyatt Community Grant from Hyatt enabled 20 students to be part of the 2022-2023 intake, which included English language coursework, IT and computer training, and professional life skills. To gain critical hands-on experience, students also completed two internships at local hospitality companies.
