FED launched the Projet Employabilité Jeunes (Youth Employability Project, PEJ) in 2004 to improve the employability of beneficiaries.
We prepare them for workplace realities through training in the social and academic skills required for a rewarding personal and work life as well as work placements, mainly in Beachcomber hotels.

PEJ follows up on a joint pilot project in 2001 by FED, the Beachcomber Training Academy, Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa and an NGO in Tamarin; out of the 8 young people from this village involved in the project, 4 have secured long-term employment with the hotel following the training. PEJ has subsequently been implemented in all regions of operation of Beachcomber hotels. Since 2015, PEJ trainees receive training leading to a vocational qualification in hotel techniques along with work placements, which allows them to return to education through continuous learning.

More than 1,900 young people have benefited from PEJ, and half of them have secured stable employment; some of them are even pursuing an international career in tourism while others have successfully moved into other fields. These young people who were faced with a challenging future are now responsible adults who make a living for themselves and their family. In addition, former PEJ trainees are role models for their peers as they are living examples that hard work and willpower can lift someone out of marginalisation and into the socio-economic mainstream.

PEJ allows Beachcomber hotels to thrive in their surroundings by offering support and real career opportunities for young people. Additionally, many members of regional committees and employees in general recommend to young people, whom they know are in difficulty, to join PEJ. The project has also become a way for FED to strengthen links with civil society organisations and various government authorities. The Foundation is working with associations in the surrounding communities of our hotels to promote PEJ, attract young people and support those with particular difficulties. FED also calls upon resource persons from NGOs to provide training on specific themes such as drug addiction, AIDS and labour law.