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Published on February 11, 2008

 Now it's starting to come about," a 20-year-old Kanchanaphisek Remand Home inmate told The Nation.

Duang (not his real name) is one of four youngsters from three remand homes in Bangkok and Nakhon Pathom who will work for a four-star hotel in Pattaya as kitchen hands having completed a cooking course in December.

The four-month course taught 10 remand-home inmates to cook Thai and Western meals. There was theory and practical lessons and instruction into proper knife use and food hygiene.

For Duang, who is very keen on cooking, this is a good opportunity to start following his dream.

"I'm very proud I was given a chance to do what I always dreamed of and I will do my utmost," Duang said.

Wit (not his real name), 20, another young man from the same home told The Nation he was extremely glad he could get a good job and earn money for his family.

"Though I've got a job, I'm still worried about others' feelings towards me. I just want them to give me a chance to change myself. I will prove that I can do so. It's true that I used to do bad things in the past, but it doesn't mean I will do bad things forever," Wit said.

Two others heading for Pattaya are from the Ban Karuna and Ban U Bek Kha remand centres.

The Juvenile Observation and Protection Department's juvenile justice system director Apapong Kritawetin said the scheme aimed to give youths a second chance and a job when they were released from remand.

The project is a joint effort between Unilever Thai, the department and the Naval Supply School. It is called Build Chefs, Build Careers.

"We decided to choose youth who were about to be freed and willing to study cooking. The 10 were chosen from more than 100 applicants," he said.

"For the other six who completed the course, we will work with restaurants and hotels to recruit them later," Apapong said.

"I think we should provide a chance for youth to change themselves. If we don't help them, they will probably turn to doing wrong things. Our hotel will initially let them work as helpers and will treat them the same as other employees," said Sutham Phanthusak, chairman of Woodlands Hotel and Resort, who hired the young men.

Amorn Apitanakun, president of a Chinese-Thai Association, guaranteed the four. He will pay compensation if they cause any damage.

Apapong said Amorn had guaranteed eight other young men who had been released from remand homes over the past three years. "Believe it or not, I have never had to pay any compensation for damage caused by these youngsters."

Wannapa Phetdee

The Nation