Guiding local youths to sustainable careers in tourism

Avani Victoria Falls Resort launches ‘Youth Programme’

For their first joint community outreach initiative – the Youth Programme – The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara and Avani Victoria Falls Resort have partnered with SOS Children’s Village Livingstone and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), a charity dedicated to youth employment, environmental action and human rights protection.

Designed to be a career launchpad for local youths, the six-month programme will offer a blended learning curriculum where lessons covering life skills combine with a theoretical hospitality foundation and English language classes, followed by work placements at Anantara and Avani in such departments as housekeeping, laundry, call centre, restaurant service, kitchen and stewarding.

Focusing on youths from underprivileged backgrounds, the programme was designed in consultation with SHA and SOS Children’s Village in Livingstone, a non-profit family centre providing essential health, nutrition and educational services to children, while also offering income-generating skills and parenting advice to adults, with counselling and psychological support offered to both groups as needed.

“Our sustainability projects focus on environmentally-friendly practices, protecting cultural and natural heritage, providing social and economic benefits for local communities, and inspiring our guests to become conservation savvy,” said Laurie Burr, Complex General Manager for Avani Victoria Falls Resort and The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara. “Working with SOS Children’s Village Livingstone and the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance is an endeavour by us to positively impact the lives of local young people, so that they, in turn, can impact the lives of their families and communities.”

All 15 members of SOS Children’s Village selected to be part of the first Youth Programme intake have shown an interest in developing their life and professional skills and gaining a hands-on hospitality experience to boost their chances of finding sustainable employment across various industries. Best practices identified during the next six months will be incorporated in the theoretical and practical lessons for the next cohort of students.