CHC Institute of Hotel Management empowers youth

The CHC Institute of Hotel Management which was set up as a CSR project by the Galle Face Hotel Group conducts 12-month hotel management courses under the guidance and management of the General Manager of The Safari, Deepal Amerasinghe. The institute is affiliated to the National Apprentice, Industrial and Training Authority (NAITA).

The sixth batch of 11 students who completed theory and practical sessions in May 2014 and have now been placed at hotels within the group.

The seventh batch of 23 students began practical training recently at The Safari Hotel, The Lake Hotel and Polonnaruwa Lake House. The course which is conducted free also includes special English and IT lessons by NAITA lecturers.

Hospitality management sessions are conducted by a full-time trained lecturer. The biggest advantage is that practical training is conducted in a live atmosphere within luxury hotels and supervised by qualified and experienced executives, thereby giving the students a thorough knowledge of the hospitality and hotel management trade.

Apart from the free sessions, the students, many of whom come from financially challenged backgrounds and live in close proximity to the various hotels, are also provided free meals during the course and subsidised SLTB season tickets for travel.

"All students who complete the course successfully are given employment within the Galle Face Hotel group, and have the option of selecting their trade after the initial theory classes. Upon placement, the students draw a substantial monthly income and often become breadwinners for their families," an Institute spokesman said.