Center - Pimali

Pimali Hospitality Training Center, Nongkhai

NongKhai is located next to one of the poorest regions of Thailand and has very few professional schools, particularly for girls. Once their mandatory education behind, the disadvantaged youths work in the fields or tend to move to the metropolitan areas in quest for work. Lacking any diploma, they are frequently exploited or have to resort to prostitution to survive.

The tourist industry being one of Thailand’s economic pillars and a growth industry, there is a constant demand of qualified personnel with some knowledge of English.

The address is 182 / Moo 10 -Ban Kok Kong, Prah That Bang Phuan, Amphor Muang , 43100 Nong Khai.

The time-line

2009
Stéphanie is staying with an orphanage, not far from where Pimali is now located. In the middle of the night, a dream shows her the direction of her future life.
2010 - 2013
Project put on the drawing board, search and collection of funding, prospecting land to purchase, meet with potential instructors and hotel groups to find out on the spot their interest to back the project.
2013
Land purchase near Nong Khai in north-east Thailand.
Dec. 2014
Leaving Switzerland with our 19-month-old daughter to settle in Nong Khai.
Feb. 2015
Construction of the Centre is kicked off.
Dec. 2015
1^st course launched with 6 students.
2016
2^nd course, doubling the number of students to 12.
2017
3^rd course with 40% more students.
2018
4^th course with +56% students.
Dec. 2018
Construction of dormitory for 30 girl, thanks to our generous donors.
2019 - 2020
5^th course: the number of students declines by 30% vs the previous course due to the Corona epidemic during the training period.
2020
6^th course: 20 students due to Covid

ORGANISATION

Mission and objectives

PIMALI is a humanitarian (NGO) project based on the practical training concept of “Learning by doing”.

The aim of the PIMALI project is to assist underprivileged youth and orphans aged minimum 17 and older, who have finished their compulsory schooling in Thailand. The aid will involve providing them with a basic practical hotel training of one year, in order to secure a professional future for them in the hospitality industry as well as financial independence.

PIMALI will help fight exploitation of disadvantaged young people and reduce poverty in the north-eastern region.

Beneficiaries

Target population concerned by the project / type and number of beneficiaries.

Disadvantaged young women and men coming from families who live in difficult circumstances and have a very low income, as well as orphans in the Nong Khai area. These young people must have reached the age of 17, they should have completed compulsory schooling (a must but not obligatory) and be very motivated to work in the hotel industry.