The Situation

SPOONS students range in age from 18-24. Many are orphans and have lost parents to murder, AIDS, malaria and lack of professional medical treatment. Most are living below the poverty line (ie, sharing small huts with a dozen family members or experiencing hunger and lack of nutrition). Some are former victims of sexual abuse and others have worked in factories in hazardous conditions or illegally in Thailand. Populations are targeted who are most in need. They are often young adults who have dropped out of school and who come from marginalised backgrounds. Factors are considered such as schooling levels of the individual/family, parents' mortality, family size, the issuance of a National Poor identification card and the family assets (including the type of and size of house, land size, number of motorbikes, bikes, cows, pigs and water buffalo). Most students coming from rural areas have worked manually harvesting rice or as laborers on construction sites, and it’s common for parents to sign contracts to send their children away to neighboring countries for factory jobs.

The Objectives

SPOONS empowers young adults to lift themselves out of poverty by preparing them for sustainable careers in the hospitality industry. The Hospitality Development Program (HDP) offers:

• Comprehensive vocational training and life skills development.
• Education designed to develop Cambodia’s next generation of hospitality managers and executives.
• Full coverage of tuition, accommodation, meals and related costs for disadvantaged youth.
• A monthly stipend, plus guidance in budgeting and financial management to support independent living.