Since early 2006 the FCC has been participating in an innovative program aimed at alleviating Cambodia's employment issues through economic empowerment.
Working closely with the development agency Hagar, the FCC has provided jobs to graduates of Hagar's nine-month Career Pathways program. Many are from disadvantaged backgrounds and entered the program though Hagar's shelters for women and children living on the street.
It's been a win-win scenario, as both employer and employee benefit from Hagar's training and the provision of quality jobs with the FCC.
And there's more ahead. According to Myriam Geach, Career Pathways coordinator with Hagar, the program expects to place as many as 160 young women in jobs each year. Conversely, as the FCC continues to expand, its need for quality employees will grow as well.
"We're hoping this is an ongoing relationship," said Geach. "Last year we connected with the FCC and sent two girls, who've now been there for over a year. One young woman, Narun, has been promoted to a supervisor and her salary has doubled."
Narun, after a six-month cooking course at Hagar's vocational training school, was placed at the FCC for $60 per month, twice the national average for civil servants. Now, as manager of four other workers -- including another Hagar alumnus -- she's making $120 per month and, in her words, "she loves her job."
With the additional income, Narun paid for daily English classes and intends to study computers and, someday, Japanese. Using money saved from tips, she recently purchased a motorbike.
"It's certainly going to be an on-going arrangement," says Michelle Duncan, FCC Group Operations Manager. "There have been some real successes and we plan to keep it up. It's quite a good organization. They continue to keep training and holding workshops and that leads to the standard of employees that we expect."
Hagar was established in 1994 to address the problems facing street mothers and children in post-conflict Cambodia. It's funded by charitable organizations, foreign governments, private individuals and returns from its commercial ventures. According to Hagar officials, the group has helped more than 100,000 mothers, children and their family members through social rehabilitation and economic empowerment.
Career Pathways begins with three months of training in "soft skills" such as maintaining a positive attitude, good communication and job readiness exercises. Next is three months of "hard skills" acquired during on-the-training with local business, including Hagar's own commercial ventures: Hagar On Time, Hagar Catering and Hagar Soya.
Along the way participants learn interview skills and how to prepare and present a professional CV. The final step is an extensive follow-up program that ensure each individual is living with an economically sustainable income.
"In many cases these are women who've been abused or abandoned and ended up at our shelters. Many had low literacy levels as well. Now they're able to leave us and become independent," said Geach. "For this we needed business partners to give on-the-job training and placement. At our end we prepare them for the work place and correct expectations. We help them with their attitude and self-esteem."
Geach now takes Career Pathway students on weekly excursions to see local businesses firsthand.
"We'd like them to look at what is out there and build their own dream," she says. "We can now ask: 'What would you like to do?'"