PROJECTS | Cambodia | Income Generation and Vocational Training

There are almost 10,000 children living on Sihanoukville’s streets and in its slums.  While some of these children aspire to further education, many have limited choices due to a lack of formal education or practical employment skills.  Rather than leaving these youths to earn meagre wages as unskilled labourers, this project provides comprehensive vocational training courses to help them gain skills linked to local employment opportunities.

This project offers training courses in welding, electrics, motor-mechanics, and, newly established, t-shirt printing.  The initial phase of the programme (4-6 weeks) ensures that all trainees are sufficiently prepared to begin the course by teaching them basic numeracy, literacy, English, IT, and social skills.  They are exposed to a range of trades, allowing them to make an informed decision about which course is best for them.  This period allows the students to feel at ease in their new learning environment as the transition from menial jobs or working on the streets to a more structured programme can often be difficult. 

The second phase ensures that all trainees are equipped with the practical skills necessary to succeed in the professional environment of their choice.  Skills training is delivered in three stages with exams required after each stage: safety and work ethics; theory; and practical training e.g. repairing community shelters and printing t-shirts for children and staff at M’Lop Tapang.  To gain further practical experience, trainees are then placed with locally approved businesses or at one of M’Lop Tapang’s own on-site business initiatives, such as their motorbike repair shop, for between 6-12 months.  The quality of the graduates’ skills means that many of these local businesses are extremely willing to take them on permanently.  Most graduates are now earning between $60 and $80 per month.

“Working here at M’Lop Tapang is really motivating and I am learning new things fast.  I am happy to have a job I like and at the same time to be helping others”.