Hôtel de la Paix - Sewing Training Centre
The training centre is a vocational facility which provides skills and training to disadvantaged young Khmer women.
Based at Wat Damnak (just 5 minutes by tuk tuk from HDLP) and overseen by a network of local monks from the Life and Hope Association (LHA), the sewing centre provides an opportunity for those who are vulnerable and without a future.
During a recently expanded ten month course the students are not only taught sewing skills but also attend daily English classes and develop basic life skills. During the initial stages of operation, the Centre soon realised that many students were unable to even read and write Khmer script, therefore this subject is now a essential precursor to learning English.
Upon graduation from the program each student is provided with a sewing machine and start-up kit of materials so they may return to their village and start their own business - thereby being able to build a bright future and support themselves and their families.
The last intake of the Hôtel de la Paix Sewing Centre graduated early 2009. The latest batch of students will finish their tuition in December 2009 and comprises 20 students. As usual; the students come from under-privileged backgrounds and employment involving very rough manual labour.
A recent survey of graduates from the first three years of operation revealed that all graduates were currently using the sewing machines provided by the center for generating income. The knowledge and specific skill they have attained allows them to practice their work towards a better future. Their skills also contributed to reducing expenditure because they can make clothes for their families.
Encouragingly, while some have additional work as rice farmers and pig-raisers, none have abandoned their skills and left their sewing machines or sold them off.
Based on the recent surveys and the success of the new expanded ten month course, Hôtel de la Paix is currently developing plans to redevelop the center itself and to improve facilities and expand capacity for future years.