121 / 192
[
] 121
Further Education Institute in July 2010. Furthermore,
this project enticed groups like Hutchison Whampoa
Properties and various individuals from the German and
Japanese communities to develop their own CSR projects
with the school. With much success in the first year, the
hotel will continue to upgrade the school’s facilities such
as Internet and multimedia learning points, sustained
student after-school activities and teacher training and
development. By 2020, Xin Jia Primary School should
be able to graduate from the Embrace project and pay
its own fees going forward, as well as help other schools.
Shangri-La Hotel Wuhan believes that sufficiently
nourished and cared for children are in the best position
to learn and excel. In 2009, the hotel used its skills in
project construction, cooking and food safety to build
a Love Kitchen for the children of the Wuhan Caring
Rehabilitation Center. The Love Kitchen aims to provide
simple but healthy meals for the children, carefully
crafted by the hotel’s able chefs. It also doubles as a learn-
ing hub for the centre’s workers, who shadow the hotel
chefs and learn simple culinary skills. Around 15 per cent
of the hotel staff are regular volunteers who come to fix
water sources, electrical appliances, classroom and drain-
age improvements. Over the next ten years, the hotel
aims to prepare 10-15 per cent of the children for normal
schooling, increasing their capacity for independence.
The subject of environmental sustainability
In the resorts, a concerted effort is made regarding habitat
restoration and species conservation. Shangri-La empha-
sizes the commitment to environmental protection, which,
in many island communities, is at odds with the sources of
livelihood. Two resorts have linked their Embrace projects
This initiative has given rise to the inspiring story of Andrew
Yong, who currently works at the registration and towel counter by
the poolside and is able to interact with guests. The hotel is currently
raising funds to help purchase a Snoezelen centre, a learning device
that is designed to engage and stimulate students’ senses and provide
a method for nurturing sensory integration.
In Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore, 18 students from
Delta Senior School, another special needs institution, have been on
a hotel work placement in the kitchen, housekeeping, grounds and
gardens and other areas. Just as any new intern or employee would,
these students participate in hotel orientation classes and prepare
for the busy days ahead in a bustling resort. Two students have
already graduated and are now full-time employees at the hotel. The
heartfelt rationale of this project is its capacity to restore a sense of
purpose, normalcy and dignity to these young people’s lives.
Capacity-building for sustainability
Providing an environment conducive to learning with modern study
materials is a constant challenge, especially in remote areas. Two
Chinese hotels used Shangri-La’s Embrace project as platforms to
address access to modern facilities to ensure high levels of literacy
and quality of children’s health.
In the Yitong county of Jilin, China, 20 per cent of middle school
students drop out each year due to a lack of financial resources.
Shangri-La Hotel Changchun pledged to reduce this to ten per cent
in 2015 through the provision of a strong basic education facility.
It raised funds in 2008, was built in 2009 and by 2010, opened up
the school to over 140 students. Knowing that it cannot succeed
alone, the hotel involved partners from the East Asia Economic and
Trade Newspaper and German International School to supplement its
commitments. Through this private cooperation, over 2,000 books
and 50 desks and chairs have been made available to over 140 chil-
dren, and two teachers were enrolled in the Changchun Teachers’
Seri Mengasih Center’s children enjoy eating independently
A child finishes up the Love Kitchen mural by placing her handprint
Image: P. Gallardo
Image: Shangri-La Wuhan