{"id":53,"date":"2025-06-28T12:36:32","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T12:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/index.php\/home\/who-are-the-friends-sala-bai-fosba-2\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T05:58:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T05:58:10","slug":"sala-bai-school","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/sala-bai-school\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sala Ba\u00ef School"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Students<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

A lifeline for a <\/span> future<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Sala Ba\u00ef, launched in 2004, offers Cambodian youth training in hotel and tourism sectors, providing accommodation, food, and education. The program targets the poorest families, transforming lives with a 98% job placement rate within a month of graduation.<\/div>
Read More<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/path><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Being<\/span>
from humble beginnings<\/div><\/div>

Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia, still grappling with the aftermath of the tumultuous 1970s when the Khmer Rouge regime wreaked havoc across the nation. This period of violence and upheaval displaced millions and plunged the country deeper into poverty\u2014a struggle that continues today. Sala Ba\u00ef, launched in 2004, has been a beacon of hope, offering Cambodian youth and their families a chance to build a better future.<\/p>\n

At Sala Ba\u00ef, it\u2019s all about helping students secure jobs that change their lives. The school provides a year of focused training in five essential hotel and tourism departments: front office, kitchen, restaurant service, housekeeping, and spa operations. Alongside these, students receive classes in English and computer skills to prepare them fully for the professional world. What\u2019s more, they get hands-on experience at some of Cambodia\u2019s leading hotels, restaurants, and spas, ensuring they\u2019re ready to step into meaningful careers with confidence.<\/p><\/div>

\"Housekeeping<\/span>
Housekeeping trainer Sotha teaching at Sala Ba\u00ef<\/div><\/div>

Throughout the school year, students are set up for success with everything they need\u2014accommodation in dormitories, food, cooking facilities, uniforms, books, access to computers and the internet, and even bicycles. It\u2019s more than education; it\u2019s a community where lifelong friendships are forged.<\/p><\/div>

\"The<\/span>
The joy of learning<\/div><\/div>

Students are carefully selected by Sala Ba\u00ef\u2019s social workers, who assess their family\u2019s financial situation to ensure the program reaches those who need it most\u2014the poorest of the poor. Take 2023\/24, for example: after conducting 356 interviews, the school welcomed 147 new students in September 2024. Most of them are around 18 years old, with a majority being young women. Students hail from all over Cambodia, representing 14 provinces, though Siem Reap and Battambang remain common sources. In recent years, the school has also made strides in inclusivity, expanding recruitment nationwide and opening its doors to students with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Since its beginning, Sala Ba\u00ef has transformed the lives of over 2,000 students plus their families, with a remarkable 98% of graduates landing jobs within a month of completing their education. It\u2019s not just a school\u2014it\u2019s a lifeline for a brighter future.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/span>
Get involved<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/svg><\/span>
\n

Students share how the school has positively transformed their lives!<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Headshot<\/span><\/figure>

\"Coming from a poor family, I couldn't attend university due to financial constraints. Sala Ba\u00ef provided free education and accommodation, treating us like family. Now, I am a receptionist at Angkor Grace Residence and Wellness Resort, supporting my family with my salary.
\nI am grateful to Sala Ba\u00ef for the professional skills that changed our lives. In the future, I want to pursue university studies and work in an NGO school to help Cambodian youth, just as Sala Ba\u00ef helped me\".<\/p><\/span>\nSeak Khun<\/span>
Front office student from Intake 19
2021-2023<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Headshot\"<\/span><\/figure>
\"I still remember my first day at Sala Baï, I was so excited and happy to be learning again and something that I love. Thanks to Sala Baï School, I acquired professional and life skills that have helped me build my future and my life. Sala Baï really changed my life, and I don't know what it would have been like without this school\"<\/span>\nSamit Kong<\/span>
Kitchen student from Intake 14
2015-2016<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Headshot\"<\/span><\/figure>

Proeun gained employment at Heritage Suites Hotel and Artisans d\u2019Angkor after graduation. During COVID-19, she started a laundry business and produced bakery items.
\nThis year, Proeun returned to Artisans d\u2019Angkor as the PR Manager's assistant. Widowed, Sopheap has supported her son and extended family throughout her journey. She recognises that the skills and resilience she learned at Sala Ba\u00ef have led to her successful position today.<\/p><\/span>\nProeun Sopheap<\/span>
Front office student Intake 5
2006-2007<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Headshot\"<\/span><\/figure>
\"After graduation, I want to work in a hotel housekeeping department. I want to study more foreign languages. My dream is having a good job and one day to continue to study at university. I want to be a housekeeping manager in a 5-star hotel.“
24-year-old Yet Sreyno, an orphan from Battambang province, learned about Sala Baï from her best friend. Now, as a student, she believes housekeeping is an ideal work path.<\/span>\nYet Sreyno<\/span>
Housekeeping student Intake 20
2023-2024<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A lifeline for a future Sala Ba\u00ef, launched in 2004, offers Cambodian youth training in hotel and tourism sectors, providing accommodation, food, and education. The program targets the poorest families, transforming lives with a 98% job placement rate within a month of graduation.Read Morefrom humble beginningsCambodia remains one of the poorest countries in Asia, still grappling with the aftermath of … <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-blank-4.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-53","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215,"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/53\/revisions\/215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/friendsofsalabai.com.au\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}