(VNF) - In Hanoi, on March 7^th, 33 young people in many localities nationwide officially ended their 6-month vocational training program at high-end hotels in 2017 – 2018 course. Upon graduation, 29 out of the 33 trainees were admitted to work at five-star hotels and other high-end hotels and restaurants.

Trainees, REACH and five-star hotels’ representatives at the graduation ceremony on March 7^th. (Photo: VNF/Minh Anh)

Youth Career Initiative (YCI) is an international employability programme for young people who are unlikely to have a viable route into legitimate employment or be able to improve their situation without external help, currently deploying in 19 countries worldwide, included Vietnam.

The 2017-2018 YCI programme has been implemented with collaboration between the non-government organisation REACH and a number of five-star hotels, including Hilton Hanoi Opera, Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi, InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, JW Marriott Hanoi and Sheraton Hanoi.

All 33 students come from poor, near poor, orphaned, poorly-orphaned families. In addition to receiving free-of-charge training, trainees also receive support for living expenses, uniforms and travel expenses throughout the course.

"When I first stepped into the hotel, I was really overwhelmed, surprised and wondered whether I fit in this luxury environment. But after 6 months I got used to the harsh and professional environment in here. I learned new skills, confidently worked and completed the assigned tasks. The program has helped me to train my perseverance, improve self-discipline and self-motivation skills and overcome difficult circumstances," Nguyen Van Cuong, one of the YCI students in 2017-2018 course practiced in the Hilton Hanoi Opera’s Bread section, now a seasonal employee of the hotel.

Throughout the course, students are trained by high-level executives and managers from internationally acclaimed hotels, with 80 per cent of the program's duration being taught and trained according to the standards of five-star hotels. Students are also rotated through various positions in the hotel such as cooking, baking, banqueting, chamber departments ... to continuously improve skills and obtain new experience. Apart from the training hours, the remaining 20 per cent ​​of the program will be for students to learn specialised English language courses, life skills, personal financial management and extra-curricular activities.

Attending the closing ceremony of YCI’s 2017-2018 training programme as a former student, Pham Van Cuong shared, “During the course, I have received the help of many teachers and the hotel’s staff.”

After finishing the training course, with the help of the school, Cuong has applied for a job in Ha Long and continued to improve his skills. Currently, he is working in the Bhaya Legend Private Cruise as head chef. Through his story, Pham Van Cuong expected all new graduates to try and love the profession that they have chosen.

Trainees demonstrate skills at the ceremony. (Photo: VNF/Minh Anh)

Launched in June 2013, 173 disadvantaged youths have benefited from the YCI programme after five years of its implementation, with 84 per cent of trainees getting a job, 54 per cent working in five-star hotels, local high-end hotel and restaurants upon completion of the training course. In 2018, the YCI programme plans to extend its partnership to more five-star hotels in Hanoi in order to increase the number of beneficiaries.

"This multi-year sustainability and expansion is evidence of a particularly effective collaboration program between large corporations and non-governmental organisations in equiping disadvantaged youth with the skills to work in the luxurious hospitality industry, "said Pham Thi Thanh Tam, Director of REACH./.

Translated by VNF