Welcome to our popular feature section! This month, we are featuring REACH from Vietnam. REACH is the winner of Project Inspire 2014 – selection was done among 503 project entries from 70 countries around the world. Pham Thi Thanh Tam, Executive Director of REACH Vietnam shares with us, how REACH has been making a difference in the community it works.
What inspired the establishment of your NGO?
We started as LABS project of Plan International in 2004. In 2008, we decided to separate and become an independent Vietnamese organization called REACH with a view to help disadvantaged youth in Vietnam gain necessary work skills and obtain meaningful jobs. What inspired us to start what we are doing was because we realized a gap in the labour market.
While there are many youth entering labour force in Vietnam each year, businesses still find themselves in shortage of qualified employees. Around 1.4 million people entering the labour market each year. Only about 27% of workers currently have received training relevant to the job they do, while just 15% have completed formal vocational training. In the hospitality sector, supply only meets 30% of demand for labour.
Realizing the gap, REACH identify the problem with formal vocational training programs is that they do not link with the actual demand from businesses and job-placement after training is neglected. Therefore, REACH vocational training program is created, which is market oriented and connected closely with business network ( in developing practical training curriculum, providing internship and job opportunities)
Inherits from LABS model of Plan International in 2014, at REACH, we keep reviewing the model and make necessary change to make sure the program are up-to-date and meet the requirements from changing labour market.
What is special about your organization?
REACH is a non-profit organization but we consider ourselves to be market oriented and business connected. The nature of our organization is not all about vocational training. The other majority of our work is to scan the market changes and connect our students to businesses. We have a network of nearly 1,000 business partners, who support us in market scan, guest lecturers, training curriculum development, program quality assessment, student internship and job placement. This is the reason why we have a track record of over 80% of our graduates had stable job 6 months after their training.
How does your NGO change lives?
REACH targeted at youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. They can be school-dropouts, from poor families or ethnic minority groups. They stand lower chance of getting employed in competitive labour market. Especially women, who have very special backgrounds like industrial sex workers, victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, it is even harder to get hired. Therefore, the idea is to create different course options which are of high demand in job market. It also gives youth the freedom to learn the trade that they like. There are also course like hairdressing or nail art, which are dedicated to women. They can become self-employed right after they graduate.
REACH’s approach is providing 3-5 months intensive training course. In addition to practical, technical training in each specific discipline, students also have opportunities to receive –
English language tuition, focusing on English competency needed for their targeted occupation.- Life skills training, to build their confidence and self-esteem and to learn how to manage independently their day-to-day activities, with the goal to become self-sufficient, confident and valuable members of the wider community.
- Job readiness training, equipping them with the skills and attitude needed for long term success in their future working life.
- Job placement component, a hands-on experience either progressively throughout the training or at the end of the training program, to gain exposure to a work environment and the opportunity to practice the skills learned during training.
- Post placement services, providing 6 months follow up support after students finish the training at REACH, to ensure that students secure a job and stay in the job.
Why is your organization important to the community you work in?
The rate of unemployed Vietnamese aged between 15 and 24 was more than three times higher than that of other groups in 2012 and nearly half of the unemployed people in Vietnam last year were under the age of 25. Getting jobs even harder for youth from underprivileged backgrounds because they don’t have any qualifications or work skills to become competitive in labour market. Therefore, the project aims at helping disadvantaged youth to have job skills and a job so that they can stand on their own feet and help their families in the long-run. Basically, REACH provide a foundation, equip disadvantaged youth necessary skills and tools to achieve greater personal goal and have a better life.
Basically, REACH’s contributions to community can be summarized in two objectives:
- Transform the lives of severely disadvantaged youth and their families, by assisting them to become qualified and obtain meaningful and well-paid jobs.
- Narrow the gap between the high youth employment and employers needing skilled, job ready staff, which in turn contribute to solving unemployment among youth.
What is your NGOs vision for the world?
Our vision is a world in which all young people have the opportunities and support to reach their full potential.
