TVET Skills Transform Life: Former Security Guard Becomes Business Owner Earning Nearly $2,000 Monthly

Yous Savuth, a Cambodian, has achieved a dramatic life transformation, moving from a security guard earning $180 a month to the owner of an air conditioning repair business, earning approximately $2,000 monthly, all through acquiring Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills. Savuth once worked abroad as a migrant worker hoping to help his family, but life did not turn out as expected. Upon returning to Cambodia, his first job was as a security guard, earning a meager salary of $180 per month. He recalls the hardship, stating, "This salary was not enough to support my family. Sometimes, I didn't even have enough money to buy milk for my child. If I continued working 8 hours a day like this, my family's life would not improve." This difficult situation motivated Savuth to seek a technical skill. One day, a colleague introduced him to air conditioning repair training through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program offered by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training. Initially, he did not immediately enroll. Instead, he rode his motorcycle around the neighborhood to observe the demand for the service. After seeing and believing in the future potential of this skill, he decided to enroll at the Cambodia Institute of Skill Development. The decision to study air conditioning repair became a turning point in his life. He worked as a security guard at night and attended classes during the day, never wasting his free time. He remembers an incident where he fell off his motorcycle on his way to school but continued to class without returning home. "Sometimes, I almost gave up, but I thought that only knowledge and skills could change my life and my family's life," he stated. While still studying, Savuth began to gain customers. After completing his studies, he continued to take on jobs for mobile air conditioning repair and maintenance, while still working as a night security guard to earn extra income. As his repair work became more stable and generated more income than before, he decided to quit his security job and start his own air conditioning repair and maintenance business. Today, Savuth is the owner of an air conditioning repair and maintenance business, earning an average of approximately $2,000 per month. This success, he emphasizes, did not happen by chance but is the result of sweat, sacrifice, and the perseverance to not abandon his dreams. "Nowadays, my family's life is not as difficult as before. We can eat what we want and go where we want. We no longer worry about money issues like we used to," he said with a smile. Savuth also encourages young people to acquire two skills to increase their future employment opportunities and income. He added that those interested in air conditioning repair can enroll for free at the Cambodia Institute of Skill Development. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local