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The Hotel Apprenticeship Program was launched by SiRCHESI in Nov., 2006. The program aims to develop safer, secure career opportunities for women in the hotel industry. With the sponsorship of M.A.C. Aid Fund and three partnership hotels in the first cohort, women at risk in entertainment industry jobs were offered daily literacy and English language classes (with health and social/life skills added) at the SiRCHESI school. They then received on-the-job mentored apprenticeship training shifts (9 hours) for 8 months, followed by a 16 month permanent contract. Fair wages of $110 are maintained throughout the 24-month period by this NGO-industry-foundation partnership eliminating turnover while trainees develop skills and move up the hotels' internal promotion and salary ladders. The 12 women in Cohort 1 graduated from the SiRCHESI school in July, 2007; Cohort 2 began in August, 2007, with 17 students in 6 hotels. Job and academic performance ratings are made regularly and fed back to students.

SiRCHESI's planned third cohort: 2008-2010

Funding is now being sought for a third cohort of 20 students, who will be selected by SiRCHESI and hotel management staff in Sept, 2008, for a 24-month career-change commitment, away from the risks of beer-selling. SiRCHESI has sought with its funders to create a model program, which, when evaluated for performance and cost-effectiveness, could be eventually handed over to the hotel industry, to run themselves. SiRCHESI, its primary funder M.A.C. AIDS Foundation, and 6 partner hotels have committed to complete training and follow-up of the first two cohorts during 2006-2009. During this time SiRCHESI operates the school, supplies the program manager, counsellor, financial officier, and teachers for English, Khmer literacy, health, life and social skills education. The cohort partnerships are for 24-months. Participating hotels provide on-the-job mentors and supply SiRCHESI a training fee for each apprentice selected, equivalent to their regular probationary salaries (for 8 months); they then contract the women at their regular salary schedules during the following 16 month period. SiRCHESI and its funders offer continuous "top-up" scholarships for up to 2 years, or until salary, tips/service charges and raises combine to reach $110 monthly. This ensures that each participant earns a fair/living wage and can meet family obligations without taking a second job, or leaving for another hotel's higher salary offer.

Generally, SiRCHESI's programs are designed to become self-sustaining models which can be adopted by public health agencies or private industry groups. We develop the basic program materials, curricula, train local staff with new skills, and demonstrate cost-effectiveness. Following Cohort 3, SiRCHESI expects the now partnered progam should become fully locally adopted by hotel industry.