Sala Baï: Twenty-three years of excellence in the service of social and economic transformation in Cambodia

For over two decades, the Sala Baï professional training program, launched by the French NGO Agir pour le Cambodge (APLC), has stood out as a major lever in the fight against poverty and exclusion in Cambodia. More than just a hospitality school, Sala Baï embodies a true engine of social and economic empowerment serving young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly women.

A gateway to stable employment and economic security

With an impressive employment rate of 97% among its graduates securing a contract within three months after their training, Sala Baï succeeds in realizing what many social initiatives aspire to: enabling young people in precarious situations to access sustainable employment and advance in their careers.

This success is confirmed in the long term, as five years after leaving the school, surveyed alumni show an average income of 950 USD per month, including benefits, well above the national poverty threshold. The majority now hold semi-skilled or higher positions, demonstrating the relevance and quality of the program, which combines technical education, language skills, soft skills, and practical internships in companies.

An impact beyond the individual: family support and generational progress

Beyond professional integration, the impact of Sala Baï is measured in the lasting changes carried out within families and communities. Seventy-eight percent of graduates financially support their family, contributing on average to 71% of the amount necessary to lift a household out of poverty.

Moreover, many alumni still live with their parents, thus providing both economic and social support. Investment in the education of younger relatives is also notable, with facilitation of schooling conditions for brothers, sisters, or children, illustrating an essential intergenerational effect for sustainable social mobility.

A school committed to gender equality, but challenges remain

One of the program’s strong focuses is support for young women, who represent 70% of the students welcomed. Yet despite undeniable progress in access and success, the wage and professional disparities between women and men remain concerning.

Female graduates earn on average 22% less than their male counterparts, a gap that widens in the hospitality sector, reaching 30%. This wage gap also reflects the underrepresentation of women in management positions and a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic work. Sala Baï integrates training modules on gender equality, but these findings call for broader mobilization and stronger advocacy for structural change in the sector.

Future outlook: consolidation and international opening

The evaluation report makes several recommendations to strengthen and diversify the offer of Sala Baï. The development of language skills, especially in English, is a priority, as well as strengthening capacities in financial management and entrepreneurship. These focuses aim to better prepare graduates to seize career opportunities and secure their economic future. Furthermore, the creation of international internships is of strong interest, allowing young people to gain professional experience in English-speaking environments, a key factor for openness and professional advancement.

An initiative that transforms lives

Since its creation 23 years ago, Sala Baï has trained over 2,200 young Cambodians from low-income families, offering a comprehensive, free program accompanied by material support (housing, meals, medical expenses, bicycle). This exemplary commitment has enabled graduates to assert themselves in Cambodian and international hospitality, consolidating the role of this school as a strategic player in Cambodia’s socio-economic development.

Sala Baï is proof that targeted professional training, combined with holistic support, can sustainably open the doors of autonomy and help build a better future for vulnerable populations. As the country recovers from recent health, economic, and social crises, the Sala Baï model offers concrete and inspiring hope for future generations.