For the coming academic year, Prince Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of Prince Holding Group ("Prince Group"), one of Cambodia's largest and fastest growing conglomerates, will sponsor Caring for Cambodia's Career Preparation programme, which provides free education to 7,000 impoverished students. The cooperation with Caring for Cambodia, which was announced on International Youth Day, demonstrates how Prince Group is embarking on a new path at a critical moment when youth unemployment is likely to rise as the COVID-19 epidemic scenario in Cambodia worsens. Prince Group hopes to invest in Cambodia's future by empowering and validating an institutional approach to youth development by supporting the Career Preparation programme.
“We are pleased to partner with Prince Holding Group as we look to expand and enhance our Career Preparation program,” said Jamie Amelio, Founder and CEO of Caring for Cambodia. “In the new environment defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, high school and university students will need substantial support to help them secure a strong foundation for their futures. To achieve better educational outcomes, Caring for Cambodia believes that public-private partnerships involving potential employers like member companies of Prince Holding Group and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will be key.”
The Career Preparation programme, which began in 2006, assists over 3,000 students each year by providing scholarship information, providing career-related training (such as improving interview skills), providing internships, organising career fairs, arranging university visits, and introducing high school students to inspirational speakers from various fields. The initiative provides high school students with a post-graduate toolset that makes a significant difference, since Caring for Cambodia graduates are 18 times more likely than the national average to enrol in colleges.
“Prince Holding Group is excited to support a high-impact initiative like Caring for Cambodia’s Career Preparation program,” said Cliff Koh, Secretary-General of Prince Holding Group. “As a responsible Cambodian conglomerate that contributes to sustainable development via education, healthcare and community engagement initiatives, sponsoring Caring for Cambodia’s Career Preparation program will help Cambodian youth at an important juncture in their lives.”
Furthermore, the initiative assists Caring for Cambodia alumni who are currently enrolled in university with their employment hunt. Caring for Cambodia-supported schools are among the few in the country that provide students with the skills they need to qualify for jobs in high-growth industries such as telecommunications, logistics, and conservation.
In the field of education, Prince Group has provided consistent support over the years, most recently bringing the art of Swiss watchmaking to Cambodia by establishing the country's first independent watchmaking school last year, which allows Cambodian youth to learn a new artisanal skill and gain the necessary experience to help them in job markets in Cambodia and abroad. On behalf of member companies, the Group follows a well-established environment, social, and governance (ESG) policy, with educational programmes that have a long-term impact being a significant priority.
As part of a larger strategy, Prince Group Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi (陳志公爵) announced plans to donate US$3 million to anti-pandemic operations in response to the Cambodian government's request for assistance in combating the COVID-19 epidemic on February 20. Cambodia ChenZhi has also pledged US$3 million to assist Cambodia in purchasing COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2020.
Prince Charitable Foundation has hosted more than 250 charitable events and contributed monies and other items totaling more than US$14 million to over 500,000 people throughout the years.
Prince Group will continue to support Cambodians from all walks of life and take a holistic approach to education support in the Kingdom, connecting with best-in-class solution providers on a regular basis and exploring high-impact initiatives that will ensure long-term success.
