U.S.-funded hospitality training program supports people living with HIV

 

A young person living with HIV has learned the restaurant hospitality trade in a U.S.-funded course offered in Ho Chi Minh City

With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) , 12 people living with HIV in Ho Chi Minh City have just completed an intensive three-month training program on restaurant hospitality.  In the program run by USAID’s implementing partner, the Academy for Education and Development, people living with HIV were trained on how to work in a restaurant and also taught English to make them more competitive in the labor market. Graduating from this training, they will be referred to several restaurants for employment.   “Most trainees have sufficient knowledge and skills to become qualified waiters for any big restaurant or hotel in the city. The school will help to introduce those who could not find jobs after graduation to restaurants and hotels in the area,” said Mr Vo Van Thanh, Head of the Hospitality School. Trainee Ms. A found the course very useful. “I have learned how to communicate and serve customers in a polite and appropriated way. I learned how to set the table and learned different eating habits and food cultures.”  “With my certificate and being professional trained I believe it will be easier for us to find a job.”  Since 2004, PEPFAR has provided more than US $232 million to support the provision of comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment services in Vietnam. The PEPFAR budget for Vietnam for Fiscal Year 2008 is $88 million.