Bermas and his students at the Streets International Restaurant in central Hoi An Town

Dozens of underprivileged, street kids are experiencing a life-changing opportunity with a free hospitality vocational training program under one roof called the Streets International Restaurant in central Hoi An Town.

Opened in June last year, the culinary training center and restaurant at 17 Le Loi Street is a brainchild of Dr. Neal F. Bermas, a consultant who taught courses in hospitality management and entrepreneurship at both New York University and the Institute of Culinary Education.

It is also the first facility of a U.S.-based not-for-profit organization named Streets International dedicated to transform the lives of street kids and disadvantaged youth.

The organization was founded in 2007 by hospitality and food industry educators and businesspersons, along with international development organization.

The idea of setting up Streets International came to Bermas when he set foot on the S-shaped country for the first time a decade ago.

The professor traveled across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the poverty-ridden Central Highlands and central Vietnam where he witnessed the hardship of local young children, who were forced to toil on the street as chewing gum and postcards sellers at early ages.

Bermas said it was the eyes of the disadvantaged kids he saw on the street that prompted him to materialize his idea of the restaurant in Vietnam instead of other poverty-stricken areas in Asia or Africa.

The American man decided to give up his teaching career in the U.S. to focus on his newly-found inspiration, the Streets International organization and its first center in Hoi An.

Hoi An, first Streets International’s location

“It took me five years for the preparation work in both the U.S. and Vietnam,” he said.

Bermas explained Hoi An was his choice to carry out the project as the town had yet to have a foreign organization to aid impoverish kids compared to some major cities, such as Hanoi and HCMC.

The training program, which takes place at the restaurant, includes lessons in culinary arts, hospitality service and management, as well as life skills and English language skills designed for hospitality.

Students will undergo an 18-month curriculum which requires them to work in every area of the restaurant, from front-of-house duties to cooking and management.

Each trainee is also provided with housing, active community-based support, and medical care.

The students obtain hands-on experience by working at Streets International.

They receive lessons from carrying some basic tasks, including cleaning dining utensils, arranging table, flower and greeting guests, under the guidance of Bermas and Sondra Stewart, a senior member of the organization.

Bermas said his style of teaching was to let the trainees carry out the tasks and point out their mistakes to help them remember the lessons.

During its initial stage, most of the Bermas’ students were recruited from local charity centers but an increasing number local kids have began registering to attend the classes.

“The students learn English really fast because the ancient town has many visitors, making it easier for them to practice the language,” he said. “The most difficult thing is to train them about living skills as lots of the kids have gotten used to the life on the street.”

 

Bermas said it took a lot of time for him to encourage the kids to get used to a disciplined and healthy lifestyle.

Memorable encounters

The American professor said his encounters with some special students at the center and their compelling life stories had left him with unforgettable memories.

D. was among the students enrolling to Bermas’ training facility from a local charity center. The fatherless kid left Streets International on the second day of his arrival after stealing a bike at the restaurant.

“You should think about what you did,” Bermas told D. after he managed to reach the student. “If you still want to study again then contact me.”

It only took D. a few days to knock on the school’s doors again.

“When I was young, I used to make some mistakes like you,” Bermas told the student. “My father told me if I knew that I had done something wrong then be honest and brave to fix my mistakes as a man.”

Bermas also encouraged D. to come clean to the police and give back the stolen bike. The kid has since then a trainee with remarkable performance at the restaurant.

“Don’t be sad, just cheer up,” Bermas said. “The first thing I ask my students to remember is to respect their and others’ dignity.”

The professor also gives a monthly allowance of VND400,000 ($21.66) for each of his students.

“I know lots of the kids will have difficulties when staying in class as they still have to work to support their families,” he said. “This small sum of money will partially help them to continue their study.”

Bermas and Stewart also make frequent visits to the separate housing facilities for their male and female trainees to cook and have meals together.

 

“I love this type of get-together meals,” Stewart said. “It makes me feel as if I were with my family.”

“Neal often told us to be confident,” Nguyen Thi Ly, a student at the facility, a young girl whose mother remarried after her father passed away.

“He told us to talk to our friends and teachers to help each other,” Ly, who is currently living with her grand mother, said. “For me, this class is my family while Neal and Sondra are my parents.”

 

Streets International is planning to expand its operation to other locations in Vietnam, as well as Laos and the Philippines with the main goal: the success of the trainees.

(Tuoitre)