From the landfill to the kitchen

Phnom Penh – Every morning at six a.m., 19-year-old Sovann hops on his bike and spends half an hour cycling to work.

A simple daily routine, yet one that would’ve once been unthinkable. Only seven years ago, Sovann was living on a landfill site in Phnom Penh. Today, he works as a chef at a Japanese restaurant.

It’s been a long journey from then until now.

It was a church community that first found him living alone on the landfill, abandoned by his parents. After encountering some issues with his health, including a hearing impairment, he was transferred to an NGO in Takeo province to receive healthcare and learning opportunities.

In January 2023, at 19, Sovann finally returned to Phnom Penh, this time in search of a chance to build a better life and independent future. He moved into a transitional home run by UNICEF partner Mith Samlanh, an NGO that supports youth who lack opportunities to build vocational skills.

With the support from career counsellors, Sovann discovered his interest in learning how to be a barista.

“I had a habit of cleaning the kitchen equipment, so I thought learning barista skills was a good choice,” says Sovann.

He enrolled in a private barista course at a company that partners with Mith Samlanh. He completed a month of training but was unable to advance to the next stage after failing the first exam.

Sovann, who dreamt of escaping a difficult and uncertain life, returned to Mith Samlanh for career guidance. There, he met with Pextheur Tann, the Employment & Case Management Team Leader. Pextheur noticed that Sovann was a quiet and introverted person who struggled to socialize.

“Sovann struggled to talk to people,” says Pextheur. “This might be one of the reasons why he didn’t pass the barista test. He had difficulty doing the presentation for the trainer during the exam.”

Despite his challenges, Sovann was determined. After a lengthy discussion with Pextheur, Sovann realized that he wanted to become a chef.

“I love cooking and seeing people savouring delicious food,” says Sovann. “Cooking skills are also in demand in the job market. I want to cook delicious meals for those who enjoy my cooking.”

Pextheur helped Sovann enroll in a cooking course through Mith Samlanh’s Vocational Training Centre, which provides support vulnerable youth to learn vocational skills and secure meaningful employment.

“My cooking teacher and classmates were very supportive,” says Sovann. “We helped each other when we struggled with recipes and other things.”

With support from the UNICEF Germany, Mith Samlanh provides education, vocational training, and family support to empower marginalized children and youth to build sustainable, self-reliant futures. The programme gives students a chance to learn both practical skills as well as essential soft skills like leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Lessons covering digital literacy, life skills such as hygiene and health, and Khmer and English language ensure that students are equipped with everything they need to succeed after they graduate and begin to lead independent lives. Some children arrive at the centre without any prior formal education.

“I was very interested in learning soft skills in addition to the cooking class,” says Sovann.   “I learned about money management, which taught me how to save money for the future when I have a job.”

At the centre, students also receive various training and healthcare services to ensure they study in a safe space and can take care of their health.

Over the two-month course, Sovann says he made meaningful memories and had fun with friends, teachers, and the children who study at the centre. Beyond picking up practical skills to help him land a job, he says his time with Mith Samlanh has transformed him in other ways, too.

“Those two months were life changing,” says Sovann. “I can see the difference in myself compared to the first day I arrived here. I am not a silent boy anymore. I am confident enough to communicate with others.”

“He improved day by day,” says Pextheur. “If we compare Sovann to a tree, he is the tree that started to grow a new leaf.”

“After finishing the course with Mith Samlanh, I was surprised by the tangible result. He transformed into someone who socialized, interacted, engaged, and was friendly with people around him,” he adds.

After finishing the cooking course, Sovann’s daily morning routine remained the same. He wakes up at six a.m., gets ready for the day, and hops on the same bike. But instead of riding an hour to Mith Samlanh’s centre, he bikes to his workplace at a Japanese restaurant nearer to his house. He landed the job through Mith Samlanh’s Futures Employment Programme after he was referred to the restaurant’s hiring manager.

“In terms of communication, I can tell that he has improved day by day,” says Phan Sothy, Human Resource Manager at Sovann’s workplace. “He is open to learning new things from others and applying them to his work.”

“I am happy with my current job,” says Sovann, who at first struggled with the unfamiliar Japanese recipes. “During the first week at my workplace, during probation, it was quite difficult . However, I had strong commitment. I told myself that I had to make it.”