Over 100 underprivileged girls given employment future with the world-leading hotels and businessesBANGKOK, Thailand, 2 June 2005 — UNICEF and the 20 world’s renowned hotel and business partners this year give a life-changing opportunity to another group of 114 young girls from poor families, who, are, otherwise, in a situation of extreme vulnerability. The girls are participating in the 11th Youth Career Development Program—a five-month innovative life skills and occupational development program in hotel hospitality industry, which is linked to employment prospects and ensures their long-term social and economic security. Started in 1995, the Youth Career Development Program is a dynamic initiative pioneered by the Pan Pacific Hotel in Bangkok and UNICEF. It serves as a strategic prevention measure against potential exploitation of adolescent girls. During the past decade, the program has successfully facilitated access to skills training and employment opportunities for nearly 1,000 disadvantaged young women from poor families, particularly in the North and Northeast of Thailand. According to a UNESCO education report, nearly 1 million children in Thailand are out of school. More than half of the number is girls. Forced by poverty, economic and social disparities, many migrate to cities, where there is a high demand for the cheap labour of children. They face a risk of ending up as domestic or factory workers, street children and commercial sex workers. Girls are typically more at risk of potential exploitations. It is found that the proportion of female workers in the labour force in the age group 13-14 years is slightly higher than for males. “My life has improved because of the Youth Career Development Program and all the kind-hearted adults who gave me an opportunity to participate in it. I received a proper training in service industry and am presently working as an assistant secretary in a company. I now can support my family back in Sri Saket. This would not have been possible without this program and support from everyone involved in it,” said Pranee Ngerndee, who participated in the 4th Youth Career Development Program in 1998. “The Youth Career Development Program is one of the best programs UNICEF has been engaged with. It has moved the disadvantaged young women out of potential risk of exploitation, empowered them with education and skills for the world for work, and sparked their self-confidence to make choices and decisions about their own lives,” said UNICEF Thailand Representative Inese Zalitis. She added, “Such great success is generated by the highly commendable contribution of all our hotel and business partners. Not only are they celebrated for their exceptional service and hospitality, they should be applauded for distinct commitment towards corporate responsibility—the major elements that make this program happen and sustainable as well as create tremendous positive impacts on the lives of adolescent girls.” Twenty world’s leading hotels and businesses participating in the 2005 Program include Pan Pacific Hotel; Banyan Tree Hotel; Grand Hyatt Erawan; Holiday Inn Silom; InterContinental Bangkok; Novotel Bangna; Novotel Lotus Bangkok; Novetel Siam Square; Pathumwan Princess; The Peninsula Bangkok; Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers; Shangri-La Bangkok; Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit; Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok; Sofitel Silom; The Sukhothai Bangkok; Swissotel Le Concorde Bangkok; The Westin Grande Sukhumvit; Standard Chartered Bank; and Bumrungrad Hospital. For more information, please contact
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