Sanon Training Restaurant
Bagan, Burma
Impact
The training program at Sanon is well known as a “foodie” experience in Bagan. Graduates have gone on to work for organizations like Pandaw Cruises and several international hotel chains. All profits generated from the restaurant are used to fund student’s training, accommodations, uniforms, food, trainers and even a social worker. The Myanmar Youth Development Institute (MYDI) is confident that their holistic training model will result in all students finding employment, helping youth that were orphaned or from difficult family situations pave a future for themselves in the hospitality industry.
Critical Need
Bagan is located in one of the driest areas of Burma. Long dry seasons make it difficult for families to rely on agriculture for income. This leaves families and youth with a need for new, sustainable income sources. Our partners at MYDI are working to do just that, while paving a future for marginalized youth in the process.
Our Involvement
MYDI started the Sanon Training Restaurant in Bagan as a means to provide accessible hospitality training for youth in the region. This restaurant employs 30 marginalized youth every year, providing them the training and education they need to succeed in the hospitality industry. The youth are also provided with room and board during the training period. A major focus of the training is practicing verbal English skills to better accommodate international travellers and set these trainees apart from other hospitality workers. Once the students have graduated, Sanon goes beyond to provide two years of mentorship to the graduates, helping them find a job and succeed in the workforce. Planeterra provided Sanon with a small grant to purchase a television in their dining hall to better communicate with travellers and showcase their impact.
