Semester At Sea is a global study abroad program that uses a ship as its traveling campus, porting at between eight and thirteen destinations during each voyage. Both students were accompanied by EGBOK Mission founder Ben Justus, who participated in SAS in the spring of 2007.

Somiel and Nita are 18 year-old natives of Cambodia who are studying hospitality in EGBOK Mission’s program in Siem Reap — the country’s most popular tourist destination.

After two days in Singapore touring five star hotels and sightseeing, Somiel and Nita boarded the Semester At Sea ship to get to know SAS students and faculty and to help them learn about Cambodian culture over four days. The country is a field trip destination for many SAS students.

After four days aboard SAS, the ship docked in Vietnam.

The experience included some big firsts for Somiel and Nita: leaving the country of Cambodia, flying on an airplane, visiting Singapore and Vietnam, riding a subway, and boarding a cruise ship.

EGBOK Mission seeks to provide students with new experiences to expand their worldview. The exposure to developed, international cities, the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, and see life outside of Cambodia is invaluable for students. Somiel has already expressed interest the next opportunity to “work abroad to gain more experience in a new culture.”

The EGBOK/SAS collaboration did not end on the ship. SAS participants spent a day with EGBOK Mission on the ground in Cambodia. EGBOK Mission hosted a workshop on sustainable traveling, followed by a visit to the local communities in which we work. The field trip ended with a dinner hosted, prepared and served by EGBOK Mission students.

Ben Justus sailed and studied on SAS in Spring 2007. The experience was influential, eventually prompting him to start EGBOK Mission. He has since wanted to unite the two communities of SAS and EGBOK — two organizations that share passions of open-minded learning, adventurous travel and dedication to helping others.

A sincere thank you to Semester At Sea for providing Somiel and Nita with this life changing experience.

We look forward to future collaboration between SAS and EGBOK Mission.

2011 was an incredible year for EGBOK Mission.

The Students

The first class of EGBOK Mission students graduated from hospitality school and earned full-time jobs working in dining rooms and behind reception desks of Cambodia’s most prestigious hotels, including Accor’s Sofitel, Starwood’s Le Meridien and Aman Resorts. With EGBOK’s help, many alumni continue the improve their English language skills after their workdays end.

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EGBOK Mission students typically come from a community where the average person lives on less than 45 cents a day. Many families earn just $677 a year. But students who acquire useful skills and work hard to earn top jobs in Cambodia’s growing tourism industry are proving they have the power to educate themselves out of poverty. Each graduate of our program in 2011 will earn an average entry-level income of $1,160 this year.

The Partners

In 2011, EGBOK Mission doubled the number of partners it works with to a total of eight, helping to offer more students from more orphanages, foundations and community centers a chance at a better life through education in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, the country’s hot spot for tourism, Siem Reap, and surrounding rural locations. We now serve some 200 underprivileged young adults in communities across Cambodia.

In November, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and EGBOK Mission joined forces to offer a full scholarship for one student to attend vocational school for an intensive, one-year training program.

Our Team

A dozen hard-working volunteers helped make those great achievements possible last year. Each one saw the chance to use valuable skills in the service of others. Each volunteer boarded a plane bound for Cambodia to spend several months teaching students who share a drive to learn valuable skills in hospitality and computer training.

Many more volunteers took time out their day to organize an event in their city, collect a silent auction item or simply share EGBOK Mission news online.

In addition to sharing EGBOK’s unique plan to impact underprivileged communities through hospitality training at events like the 86th Hotel Ezra Cornell conference, founder Ben Justus continues his work in Cambodia. After six months of volunteering in Cambodia, Annie Place became EGBOK Mission’s first program director, managing a host of events, volunteers and grants in both the United States and Cambodia, all with an eye for bettering students’ lives.

Events

In 2011, supporters attended six events held all across the county to learn more about EGBOK Mission’s projects. Your generous time and effort contributed to a record year of fundraising in Seattle, Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. Together with those who contributed online through our website and by mail, this financial backing has EGBOK Mission on pace to produce even more graduates in 2012.

Looking back on these achievements, we’re thrilled to announce EGBOK Mission is carrying that momentum into 2012.

The new EGBOK Mission Living and Learning Center in Siem Reap now offers a safe place for more than 50 students to study and live. Interest from volunteers continues to grow. More students are hungry to learn.

The challenges are ever-present, but our mission remains simple: to alleviate poverty by empowering underprivileged young adults with the educational and vocational training needed to support themselves as hospitality professionals.

We can’t thank you enough for all your support.

Warmest regards,

Ben Justus
Founder

Annie Place
Program Director

For regular updates in 2012, follow @EGBOKMission on Twitter and Like on Facebook.
Learn more about volunteering. Donate.

So many parts of the day now find us logging in, scanning updates and assignments, writing and replying. Many of us have been clicking and typing on these things more than half our lives. Taking advantage of everything these screens help us do is almost second nature.

But for a dedicated 18-year old hospitality student in Cambodia, a computer isn’t second nature, it’s a second chance.

When you grow up poor in Cambodia, a computer can become a personal classroom. It offers up a set of skills that could land you a well-paying job and opportunities your parents could only dream of.

In early 2011, EGBOK Mission started a program to bring laptops to hospitality students. The call went out and in a matter of days supporters from around the world responded with offers to donate their used computers. Those computers now allow dozens of students to research potential jobs, prepare presentations for classes, and practice their English.

The effort began as one idea. It is only because of contributions from caring individuals that it became a program that makes a difference.

This is just one example of how EGBOK Mission worked together with its supporters to make great strides in 2011. EGBOK Mission’s first graduates landed jobs at top hotels. A new partnership was formed with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. More than a dozen of volunteers traveled to Cambodia to assist students. Hundreds of supporters attended fundraisers to lend their support around the country.

So before you step out for some fresh air, join me in supporting an organization made up of people and students who get up every day and work hard to serve others. Think about making a donation — whatever amount you feel comfortable with — to help EGBOK Mission keep the momentum going in 2012.

Have fun out there, and make it a happy and healthy new year!

Donate,

David Klatt

We are excited to share the fantastic news that Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and EGBOK Mission have formed a partnership to fund EGBOK Mission students through hospitality education and training and by providing job opportunities at Starwood Hotels to give back to the Cambodian community.

Starwood, which includes brands such as W Hotels, Le Méridien and Sheraton, will be supporting EGBOK Mission students through hospitality training and education for the 2011-2012 school year.  Starwood’s support will provide one student with a full scholarship to attend vocational school for an intensive, one-year training program.  This scholarship includes school tuition, housing, food and living essentials, school supplies, transportation to and from school, an array of social services and supplemental computer and language courses.

Two EGBOK Mission students are already employed at Starwood’s Le Méridien Angkor hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

EGBOK Mission student Kea, is an example of how EGBOK Mission and Starwood Hotels will provide for underprivileged young adults in Cambodia.

Kea spent most of his childhood living in an orphanage. After his parents passed away, no one in his extended family could afford to support him or send him to school.

Through EGBOK Mission’s hospitality program, Kea was able to visit hotels and restaurants and meet with industry professionals. Kea was inspired to pursue a career in food and beverage service and was accepted to attend the Paul Dubrule School of Hotel and Tourism supported by EGBOK Mission.

After graduation, Kea was offered a position at Starwood’s Le Méridien Angkor hotel. He works as a server. His annual income is about $1,860, nearly three times the national average. Kea’s dream is to one day open his own restaurant to support himself and his family.

Kea’s story is just one of the many success stories to come as a result of Starwood’s support.

This partnership will provide a wonderful platform for Starwood’s hospitality professionals to volunteer with EGBOK Mission in Cambodia and engage with the local communities in which they work and do business.  Hospitality professionals will be able to share their knowledge and expertise with Cambodian young adults who are aspiring for careers in the industry.

EGBOK Mission looks forward to a lasting partnership with Starwood to increase the scope of impact in Cambodia by providing more underprivileged young adults with education and employment opportunity in the hospitality industry.

Thank you to Starwood for displaying an outstanding commitment to the social responsibility we have to support the education and employment of the world’s most underprivileged communities.

EGBOK Mission team members took off for Singapore last week to attend numerous international events to spread awareness on how our hospitality program is changing youth’s lives and alleviating poverty.

EGBOK Mission founder Ben Justus and Cambodia field manager Molly Daugherty attended the Conde Nast Traveler World Savers Congress event, which centered on the theme of “The power of travel to foster a sustainable future in Asia.” This annual global summit convenes leadership from the travel industry, NGO representatives, public figures and celebrities to discuss and debate corporate responsibility and sustainable development.  Ben and Molly had the opportunity to represent the international non-profit community and served as Cambodia experts at the event.

The next day Ben spoke at the Cornell Hotel Society’s Asia Pacific Regional Conference (CHS APAC) amongst industry leaders and innovators.  His speech educated the audience on why hospitality in Cambodia is sustainable, how it is empowering youth to live financially independent lives and changing the discourse on Cambodia’s future.

He referenced this simple yet honest quote by one of the monks we have the privilege of working with to demonstrate the impact of our work and education we provide:

“Change one person, change one family; by changing one family we will change one community; by changing one community we will change one society and the country and the world through education.”

Ben continuously reinforces the meaning of service to his audiences in both lights of hospitality, and philanthropy.  “I see service as not an industry, but instead a way of living and treating others.”

It was announced that next year’s CHS APAC 2012 conference will be hosted by EGBOK Mission in Siem Reap, Cambodia!  We are very excited to welcome the global hospitality community to Cambodia, where they will experience meaningful service — both in hospitality and philanthropy.

A heartfelt congratulations to the entire Cambodia team on a fruitful Singapore trip!

EGBOK,

Annie

Siem Reap Cambodia is flooded in more ways than one. Many of the streets are underwater and bicycles and motos are having to be replaced with trucks and boats. On a brighter side however, Siem Reap is also flooded with excitement as EGBOK Mission students are working hard all around the city.

Nearly 30 students who have completed EGBOK Mission’s introductory hospitality course have moved to Siem Reap to attend hospitality vocational school. Here the students have been taking classes in front office, cooking, restaurant, bakery/pastry, and tourism based on what they find most interesting. While many of the students are still adjusting to living in the city and attending classes for eight hours a day, they are all working hard and learning a lot. The other day six staff and volunteers had lunch at one of the schools, where we were treated to a delicious three course meal, prepared and served by many of our students.

Staff and volunteers are enjoying spending time with the students after they get home from school. Nightly study halls give us the opportunity to monitor student progress while weekend activities like arts and crafts and badminton let us hang out with the students in a more informal setting.

Elsewhere around Siem Reap, vocational school graduates are hard at work at some of the most upscale hotels and restaurants in the city. These graduates are walking success stories of all that they have gained through their association with EGBOK Mission. Some of the graduate students still come around regularly to the EGBOK Mission office. As a volunteer, it’s very motivating to see how far some of these students have come.

Staff and volunteers are working hard preparing for a busy upcoming month. Seven more students have just moved to Siem Reap to start vocational school and many students in school are beginning internships. With so much going on it sometimes feels overwhelming, but seeing the excitement and success of our students and graduates makes it all worth it.

We offer special thanks to Susan White, the host of September’s event, and to Abaca Imports. Twenty percent of all store purchases during the event will go to benefit EGBOK Mission.

EGBOK Mission events seek to help our supporters and the community at large learn about how we lift youth out of poverty in Cambodia by connecting them with sustainable employment in the growing tourism industry.

If you would like to host your own event in your city, please write us.

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Lindsey is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration in her hometown of Ithaca, New York.

It is only through our supporters’ dedication that the growth of EGBOK Mission has been possible.  We hope you can join us in celebrating accomplishments and learning how we will move forward together.

View photos from past EGBOK Mission events.

Who: You, your friends and your family.  All are welcome.

What: EGBOK Mission fundraiser with silent auction
$25 Donation includes hors d’ oeuvres and wine

Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted at the door

When: Thursday, September 22 from 6:30pm-8:30pm

Where: Abaca Imports, 1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (map)

Why: Learn about the Cambodia Project and how we are moving forward with our global mission.

EGBOK Mission is an international non-profit organization empowering underprivileged youth with the educational and vocational training needed to support themselves as hospitality professionals.

RSVP to events@egbokmission.org, on Facebook or on Twitter. Help us spread the word!

If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to contribute, donations are accepted online.

We are looking forward to a great evening with our amazing supporters.

Hope to see you there!

All the best,
The EGBOK Mission Team & Students