The 21st Jetwing Youth Development Project (JYDP) was completed in Jaffna recently. This was also the second program for youth in Jaffna, who will soon take up employment at the second luxury hotel venture in the Northern peninsula under the Jetwing brand, North Gate by Jetwing. JYDP empowers underprivileged rural youth who do not enjoy the opportunity for higher education or have meaningful career prospects.
Providing free training to school leavers from disadvantaged families in locations of Jetwing Hotels around the country, the program offers practical and theoretical training – ranging from English language proficiency, skill development, on the job training – to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry.
Upon the successful completion of the six month program, Jetwing Hotels guarantees employment to the youth within the Jetwing family unless chosen otherwise. With the completion of 21 projects to date, over 600 youth from 40 villages have been absorbed into the hospitality industry.
A region that was ravaged by the terrors of war for 30 years saw the first luxury hotel established, absorbing the youth of the area to be a part of the Jetwing Jaffna success story.
Over 60 youth from the locality was trained under the first program in Jaffna and those who successfully completed the program were subsequently absorbed into the Jetwing Jaffna family. Coming from various backgrounds, these young adults grew up in a world that saw no future due to the war, with such an opportunity opening up they were more than happy to take a step towards reconciliation through career development.
The associates here are ready to share with the guests their vibrant culture and customs, which was for long years disrupted. With the second property in Jaffna due to be opened soon, the 21st training program saw to a group of over 30 youth being trained in the hope of being provided employment at North Gate by Jetwing. Today, these young adults have been assigned for training at sister Jetwing hotels in preparation for operation at North Gate by Jetwing which will open its doors in 2018.
Head of HR said, “Embarking on JYDP in Jaffna was for us an initiative that aids reconciliation, and it has far surpassed our expectations – the youth in the area are passionate and committed, and eager to learn. We look forward to continuing JYDP in the North and in the East, and open up this industry to those who are enthusiastic about hospitality.”