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As part of its commitment to the professional inclusion of disadvantaged Yout, Hyatt has launched the RiseHY program. A global initiative designed to give opportunities to Youth aged 18 to 24 who are neither in school nor employed - by providing them with immersive training in the hospitality industry . Participants engage in a 6 to 12-month program that offers hands-on experience across various hotel departments, including housekeeping, food and beverage, front office, and Culinary. During their training, these young individuals receive a stipend to support their development, with the goal of equipping them for long-term careers within Hyatt or the broader hospitality sector. LP4Y and Hyatt started to collaborate around this initiative in 2024 in Nepal, Indonesia and India. The testimonies are the LP4Y Youth who finished the program. The program has enables a first group of young people, the very first batch, to benefit from training, workshops, and professional meetings with Hyatt teams. A unique experience to develop their skills, confidence, and employability in an inspiring environment. Here are some testimonies of the first batch: Priyanka When I was learning in LP4Y, they teach how we can communicate in English in public place, with new peoples, teamwork and a lot of new things. When I was working in Hyatt Regency, there are many things I learned at LP4Y that helped me . Like team work, friendly behavior, and a lot of other things. I am very glad to have the opportunity in Hyatt Regency. It was very helpful for me, I developed communication skills by talking to different guests daily. I learned time management as well. When I was in culinary class, I also grown my cooking skills. At my first day in Hyatt, I was very confused that how can I work, I don't no things about Hyatt regency this is very new for me I don't know what is my next step and in which department am I going into, but I tried my best and after some time I get comfortable there. Now I am trying to get an opportunity to work in a good hotel. Deep Kumari I am Deep Kumari I joined LP4Y on 1st May 2018 and completed it on 1st May 2019. I learned a lot from LP4Y so I did not face much difficulty in training at Hyatt Hotel. As I was already told what we should do for the interview, like it is mandatory for us to wear professional clothes for the interview so that our chances of getting selected in the interview are high. Secondly our grooming should be good and thirdly we should know how to give a good interview. Hyatt did not ask us much in the interview. Only basic things were asked in the interview like your name, education and date of birth. Apart from this, nothing else was asked from us.  And we were not asked too many questions because they liked our professional look , and since we have worked for the first time in Hyatt Hotel, we had to face some challenges so we faced some problems but we faced those things and did our work well and the employees there helped us so we got to work very easily and our training in Hyatt Hotel was very good which we liked a lot and we also got to learn a lot. Hema Yadav Hello everyone, I hope you all are well. Today I am going to share my experience at the Hyatt Regency Delhi Hotel. It was a golden opportunity for me that I joined LP4Y and I am still associated with it . I have learnt a lot here and because of LP4Y, I got the opportunity to work in big hotels like Hyatt Regency. I feel proud and confident after completing this hotel management training. It has been a valuable experience where I’ve developed strong skills in customer service, front office operations, housekeeping procedures, and food and beverage service. I also learned the importance of teamwork, time management, and attention to detail. Overall, I feel well-prepared and excited to start applying what I’ve learned in a professional environment.The most challenging part of my first job was handling difficult or dissatisfied guests. At first, it was intimidating, but I quickly learned to remain calm, listen actively, and offer solutions that meet their needs while maintaining professionalism. It taught me the importance of patience, communication, and problem-solving in the hospitality industry . The next step for me is to start gaining real-world experience in the hotel industry. I am actively looking for a role where I can continue learning, contribute to a team, and grow within a professional hospitality environment. I’m eager to apply my skills and take the next step in building a successful career in hotel management. Priya Kumari I got the opportunity to do hospitality training during my LP4Y journey and my coach prepared me for the interview as it was my first interview and I was a little nervous.  During the training I took training in 4 departments: food and beverage department, housekeeping, kitchen and front office department. My favorite department was food and beverage so I will tell you a little about it. I learnt a little in food and beverage service how to greet the guest, our grooming should be very good and most importantly if we choose the food and beverage department then we should have knowledge about food and beverages. This training developed my hard work , patience , and active listening skills . I am feeling good after completing this training. My challenge was to stand for 9 to 10 hours but as the time passed I got used to it. My next step will be that I will now prepare more about hospitality and will give interviews. Priyanka, Deep Kumari, Hema Yadav and Priya Kumari, Youths from TDC Sangam Vihar, India

I joined LP4Y in February 2023. At the time, I was living in Toronto, Canada, finishing a VIA mission, a French program that allows young professionals to work abroad for up to two years. When I received the news of my departure, everything changed quickly. Within a week, I went from -15°C in Canada to +30°C in India, with a short stop in France. The transition was intense. But I was not unfamiliar with India. I had previously spent a semester studying in Kerala and had come back to visit after that experience. It made it easier to adapt. Why Empowerment through Volunteering Matters to Me? I was assigned to the Training and Development Center (TDC) in Howrah, near Kolkata, where I spent a year and a half working for the communication team, followed by six months at the TDC in Kathmandu, Nepal. Even if I was not worried about cultural adaptation, I still had concerns about being able to adapt to LP4Y’s frugal living conditions . Could I stick to a fully vegetarian diet? Share a home with a bunch of new people that keep coming and going? Even more importantly: Could I carry the emotional weight of the Youths' stories , or would they overwhelm me? These uncertainties led to deeper, more uncomfortable questions about my real motivations to volunteer, and about the white savior complex . In short, I did not want to be part of a system where people like me give without wondering if by giving, they truly help. One of the things that convinced me about LP4Y was its pedagogy : it believes in the Youths' capacity to find solutions on their own and gives them the keys to become autonomous. By essence, it aims at making them independent . This approach perfectly embodies the idea of empowerment through volunteering, where the goal is not to save but to enable Stepping back now, I believe these questions were an essential part of my volunteering mission , and it helped me feeling more comfortable about the way I chose to volunteer. If I was not there to save anyone , then I had to be honest about what I came for. I feel no one joins a mission like this solely out of altruism, and it is okay as long as we acknowledge it. I joined LP4Y to fight for values that are close to my hear t: social justice, equality, and especially equal opportunities for women . Like many Catalysts, I often feel the world we live is not working the way it should. LP4Y gave me a way to act on that frustration. Volunteering would not change the system overnight, but when I went to sleep after a day working with Youths and Catalysts, I felt I had done my part to contribute to the change I want to see . While volunteering, change also happens within ourselves. Some interactions that we have during our mission have a deeper impact than others. Here are two that left a mark on me: A conversation that changed more than one’s perspectives During my mission, I met Youths, listened to them , played with them , witnessed their doubts and breakthroughs . Slowly, I started understanding how powerful our own life stories can be. A year later, I still remember a bus ride to a company visit at TAJ SATS in Kolkata. I sat beside Afreen, a bright young woman from a conservative family. She began asking playful, curious questions, which sparked an open and joyful mood among us. Then she asked, What’s the one thing you’ll never compromise on?” Without hesitation, I replied, “My freedom” and told her why it mattered so deeply to me . Two months later, my friend and LP4Y partner Archita visited the center and asked Youths what they had learned from their time with Catalysts. Afreen raised her hand and recounted our conversation. “That day,”  she said, “I realized I should never compromise my freedom for anyone, even my own family.”   She shared her daily difficulties , fighting with her family to have a chance to work, and that she would never forget this life changing conversation. At this moment, I fully took the measure of how words yet so basic to me could completely change someone else’s perspectives . When I returned to Kolkata near the end of my mission, I met her again. She was still living by this principle. Her family would not let her leave the house to work, so she and her sister started a tutoring business from home. It was working so well they ran out of space and were now negotiating with their father to expand it. The determination in her eyes still fuels me today, and I know it will continue to. Turning a tragic event into a boost of energy In August 2024, just before I left Kolkata, the city was shaken by a terrible rape case that drew attention to the lack of safety for women in India . Protests broke out, and tragically, some women were attacked returning from them. It made me sad and angry. It brought back memories of all the times I was disrespected or harmed simply for being a woman. At that moment, I was scheduled to run a job search session for a group of young women at the TDC. I used to begin each session by asking how they are feeling. That day, they asked me the same question back. I admitted that the news had left me shaken. That simple honesty opened a floodgate . The Youths began sharing, slowly at first, then all at once. We decided to postpone the conversation for later and create a safe space to talk about it . With the help of their Coach Léa, we organized a women-only session. Shy at first, the Youth began opening up once Léa and I shared our stories. What followed was powerful: every single woman around the table shared something . Many stories were hard to hear, but the collective strength was overwhelming. One story after another, solutions started coming up, with one as a red thread: the need to better educate boys and men . That discussion changed something. It did not leave us broken, it lit a fire instead! That day, each woman reclaimed a piece of her power. And it was beautiful. Months later, I returned to Howrah and saw some of the women from that conversation. They had completed the program. All of them had found ways to work or study, even when their families disapproved at first. Empowerment does not happen overnight . Motivation keeps going up and down . But once that spark is lit , it keeps growing . Witnessing it remains the most meaningful reward of this mission. At LP4Y, I have heard hundreds of stories , some joyful , others painful . Far from discouraging me, each challenge only strengthened my resolve . I have learned that harsh conditions do not stop people from blooming , even though they can delay growth, and obscure the possibilities that exist just beyond the fog. Our role as Catalysts, but it can be extended to anyone, is to walk alongside Youths until they find their own path forward. And in doing so, we often find pieces of our own power , too.

Namaste, My name is Sulochana Angdembe. I’m 22 years old. I am from Panchthar. Currently I live in Jadibuti Kathmandu. Nowdays I am working as an accountant at Creation Driving School. So now talking about my journey of Growth, it was an amazing platform I would like to say because from TDC I get to know lot of things like how to talk with people, time management, respect, care attitude, team spirit etc. My biggest challenge was while giving computer training to Manjubaha Hotel school’s students. Because I never felt like oh I can’t do it, but I did my best and I successfully completed it . Yeah there are many good and bad experiences . Sometimes we have to support those who are not able to do the tasks and another thing is you don't need to feel bad for someone else if you're doing good they always try to help just believe yourself and do what you want. My proudest moment during the training was that I always complete my tasks on time and I achieve what I want in my life . I always use to be on time and proactive so that is why I am in this position. After LP4Y training I found a job at jadibuti near my home as an accountant at a driving school. Nowadays it's going very smoothly and nicely . This is another of my proudest moments as well. My working environment is also very friendly and cool . My boss always motivates me and my colleagues. He is very friendly and calm. Working life is totally different as I expected. When we work practically on the field it is totally difficult. We need to face different kinds of challenges , but yeah it's kind of similar to the training. Yes, I feel LP4Y training prepared me so well . The biggest lesson that I learned last year is personal growth and overcoming challenges I learned the importance of self-care and setting boundaries . It made a big difference in my mental health and productivity . I learned that facing challenges head-on helps you grow stronger . Even when things didn’t go as planned, I found valuable lessons in every setback. This is a very useful lesson for my current job. Personally In the future, I want to focus on personal growth by continuing to learn new skills, whether it’s picking up a new hobby, improving my health, or working on my mental well-being. I also want to prioritize spending more time with family and friends , maintaining strong relationships, and creating meaningful experiences. And professionally, I’m aiming to develop my career by taking on more challenging projects and gaining deeper expertise in my field. I want to expand my network, learn from others, and eventually take on leadership responsibilities or work on projects that make a bigger impact. I also hope to continue learning through courses or certifications that can enhance my skills. Lastly, one and only tip I would like to give current Youth is, be patient and persistent , keep focusing on your growth and find your passion , success takes time . Be patient with yourself and stay persistent . Keep putting in the work, and you’ll see the results eventually. Always be open to learning, whether it’s from your experiences, people around you, or even mistakes. Growth is key , and it’s okay if things don’t always go perfectly. Keep pushing for ward and be better than you were yesterday . Just explore different interests and find what excites you. You don’t need to have everything figured out right away, but discovering your passion early can help you stay motivated and focused on your future . Thank you!!

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The Youth, Stars, Catalysts and LP4Y partners are the Voices of LP4Y, through inspiring testimonies, they tell us their stories. The Youth, Stars, Catalysts and LP4Y partners are the Voices of LP4Y, through inspiring testimonies, they tell us their stories . Each month receive LP4Y's newsletter with a preview of the most inspiring stories and set foot on the ground alongside the Young adults. SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER Looking for a specific story? CATALYSTS INITIATIVES LIFE PROJECT MEI & PROFESSIONAL WORLD PARTNERS VIDEOS WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Latest LP4Y stories A First Encounter with Art: Youth Discover Silk Paintings on Women’s Rights Day My name is Léa Maury, I am the new project manager of Youth Inclusion Network , and I am based in Sangam Vihar, New Delhi, India. The... 1 day ago Empowering Women: The Strength, Resilience, and Impact of Female Role Models On Women’s Day, the wonderful Youth of TDC Beirut delivered a heartfelt and impactful presentation , highlighting the women who have... 1 day ago Resilience Unleashed: Nurima’s Journey from Struggles to Strength My name is Nurima Khatun. My story is ne of resilience. I grew up in Roumari, Kurigram, a place where the river kept eating our land,... 2 days ago Geetha’s Transformation: From Young Mother to LAA Catalyst Geetha, a 22-year-old mother of two, joined LP4Y in search of a better future for herself and her children . Faced with financial... 5 days ago Life Project 4 Youth LP4Y is an international movement of local organisations specializing in the development of innovative solutions for the professional and social integration of excluded Youth living in extreme poverty. MORE ABOUT LP4Y 9,533 Accompanied Youth since 2009 73% Integrated Youth 18 Training & Development Centers 4 Green Villages 1,405 Youth trained in 2024 If you are part of LP4Y ecosystem and want to share your story, send them to lp4ystories@lp4y.org to be featured.