J676N Open Arms

The Situation

Open Arms is a capacity building development project aimed at empowering the youth of Phnom Penh Cambodia providing them with skills that will enable them to gain employment and begin income generation activities.

In 2008, Open Arms established in Phnom Penh a Hairdressing and Beauty Salon with an incorporated training centre, which offered new skills for trainees who might otherwise be at risk of trafficking, abuse or slavery. Since 2009, the project has established a similar operation in Phnom Penh, providing graduates of the Open Arms beauty program with employment opportunities in Cambodia’s largest city.

The Objectives

1. Teach skills that empower young people to create new lives and careers. In 2010, Open Arms expanded the training centre, consolidated a newly opened tearoom where girls are trained in cooking and hospitality.
2. Open a tailor shop to train young people in tailoring
3. In 2009 Open Arms started teaching English in Konchey. In consultation with commune leaders from Konchey village, Open Arms aims to expand its development activities to improve the living standards and future opportunities of the local village community. This aspect of the project aims to provide clean hygienic water in order to minimize risk of water-borne diseases in the community, to rebuild homes when needed.