Newsletters
June- July - August - September 2010
SRE AMPIL
SALA BAÏ
FRANCE
CALENDAR
June - July - August -September 2010
Edito
The 9th intake has just been welcomed at Sala Baï. For its 100 students, this beginning of the school year means hope, the hope for a better future thanks to the training they will receive in this vocational Hotel School meant for underprivileged students. The results of the last intake are extremely encouraging since two months after their graduation, 81% of the students were hired with an average salary of $66. These excellent results do not let us forget Sothy?s death, occurred last June when she was a Sala Baï student. Our thoughts are turned toward her family.
The beginning of the school year is already far but it was marked by several changes in the APLC teams, in France as well as in Cambodia. This new school year is also placed under the sign of a strong engagement of our partners. Régis Marcon, the three-star Michelin chef and a patron of our organization, sets up a fundraising dinner on November 15th. The Hotel High School of Grenoble follows the same trend in inviting you to a dinner on November 17th in its training restaurant.
We thank them both for these initiatives since we know that without their help, without your help, we would not be able to go on giving a free of charge and quality training at Sala Baï, nor greet children at Sre Ampil in proper conditions.
We are sincerely thankful and hope that your generosity will enable us to pursue our action.
Xavier Eschermann
Chairman of Agir pour le Cambodge
Sre Ampil: An international summer
The children of the Residential Care Home of Sre Ampil, supported by Agir pour le Cambodge, have successfully finished their school year.
The four students of 9th grade have all been admitted to 10th grade and among the four 12th graders, three have been graduated. The summer visits have enjoyed them all. From Taïwan, Japan, Canada and France, young volunteers and boy scouts have come to spend some of their summer holiday at Sre Ampil. A wonderful experience for all, and an opportunity to organize celebrations, sports events and cooking sessions, where different cultures have met in harmony.
While some would play soccer or volley, others would benefit from English conversation session. A playful way of getting ready for the next school year.
Sala Baï : livelihoods on the up-trend
Though the economic crisis induced a substantial lower frequency of tourist groups from travel agencies, the Sala Baï training hotel and restaurant have seen it increase, as well as the sale of its cookbook during the school year 2009-10.
As the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia has announced in its 2009 survey that the hotel frequency had only reached 63,60%, the training hotel of Sala Baï has seen its occupancy rate reach 74%, an increase of 11% compared to 2008-09.
Due to the economic crisis, travel agencies had to cancel many of its tours, leading to a decrease of the occupancy rate of the Sala Baï training restaurant, from 35% in 2008-09 down to 25% in 2009-10. But thanks to walking guests, Sala Baï School was able to over achieve its income. Their frequency, from 47% in 2008-09 reached 56% in 2009-10, increasing its income by 14% from the previous year. Both increases indicate clearly that the geographic location of Sala Baï is an asset.
The Sala Baï Cookbook sales are another substantial livelihood. A new publication, smaller in size, was published in October 2009, the first one being exhausted. Both French and English versions meet a great success among tourists, happy to take back home Amok or Khmer curry recipes that they had tasted and enjoyed in Cambodia. 426 books were sold, 238 English versions and 188 French versions, at the school itself or at partners? boutiques.
Thanks to these three livelihoods, Sala Baï has earned $64 640, representing 27% of its annual budget.
Sala Baï : « I discovered the one I carry the name »
After their graduation, Sala Baï students went to Sihanoukville that has become the traditional end of the year destination, a new experience and the discovery of the sea for all.
« I discovered the one that I carry the name! I am called Samuth which means "the sea" in Khmer. I was so happy, it is so beautiful, so huge,? explains with emotion Samuth Dy on his way back in Seam Reap. Samuth, a Restaurant student of 18, finished the school year 10th out of 30 students of his department.
July had been rich with emotions and worries. After two weeks of ultimate studying, they took the final exams from July 19th to the 23rd. One day of written tests followed by four days of practice, their work being assessed by a board of professionals from the hospitality industry in Siem Reap.
Then the graduation ceremony on July 28th, offered the opportunity to congratulate the 99 young graduates of Sala Baï. H.E. Pich Sophoan, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and H.E. Sdoeung Sokhom, Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, attended the ceremony, together with some Sala Baï partners among whom, a member of USAID and the Asia Foundation.
Like all his fellow students of the year 2009-2010, Samuth looked for a job early August. As the 9th class of Sala Baï was ready to start school, he learnt that he was hired at L'Héritage, the Relais et Château of Siem Reap, the only one in Cambodia, where he had already done of the compulsory internship.
Between August 6th and 31st, 62 students were hired in renowned hotels and restaurants.
France in brief
The Bocuse Foundation makes a donation of Euros 5000. On last June 21st, the Paul Bocuse Foundation handed to Jacques Marcon, Régis Marcon's son, a check of Euros 5000. This donation enables two students to follow their school year and finances a training month for a third student. Agir pour le Cambodge thanks the Bocuse Foundation for its support and its granted trust.
Renewal of Siem Reap and Paris teams. Two volunteer missions ended last August. Agir pour le Cambodge thanks Ampor Sam Oeun, Director of Sala Baï since May 2007, for her work as well as Caroline Jouve, Fundraiser and Communication Manager since September 2008. They have both been respectively replaced by Jean-Paul and Emmanuelle Dethomas. Anne Rolland, the Training Manager, in charge of updating the training program with the Sala Baï teachers since August 2008, continues her mission there.
Fundraising and coordination of Communication actions at Agir pour le Cambodge have been administered in France by Virginie Drouet since February 2009. Anne-Charlotte Carré replaced her on September 2010.
Online donation with American Express. Since early September, it has been possible to make a donation through American Express from Sala Baï website www.salabai.com.
Calendar
On 15th November, Fundraising gala dinner at Régis and Jacques Marcon. Régis and Jacques Marcon organize a fundraising dinner for Sala Baï on November 15th in their Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid (43) restaurant. The price for the dinner has been fixed at Euros 130 per person, drinks included, a tax deduction receipt will be given for the amount of Euros 80. Furthermore, for those who wish so, it will be possible to stay at one of their two hotels.
A lottery will be organized during the evening with prestigious prizes offered by our partners, such as a return ticket to Cambodia by the Guide du Routard and a diamond on a gold neck-chain given by Adamence.
You are kindly requested to attend this event, hoping many of you will be there to support Sala Baï students under the auspice of this great chef.
On November 17th, dinner at the Training High School of Grenoble. The Training Hotel High School of Grenoble, following path, proposes a dinner in its training restaurant to raise funds for Sala Baï. The price for this flavored dinner that will take you to the heart of Cambodia, has been fixed at Euros 43 per person, wine included. Do not hesitate to forward this information.