Education For Growth

The best start in life

When designing our community education programmes, we prioritise initiatives that improve livelihoods, provide pathways out of poverty and meet local needs.

Our signature Seedlings Mentorship programme teaches vocational and life skills for a better start in life, while our Apprenticeship Programme trains disadvantaged youths in the hospitality industry.

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A sweet taste of success

José Manuel Montes Morales grew up in a crowded home dreaming of becoming a baker to help his mother and five siblings. Thanks to the Seedlings programme, he received a bachelor’s degree in gastronomy and today works as a chef at Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués’ staff canteen.

Nursing a dream

Pai grew up in a slum community in Bangkok. The family struggled financially, putting higher education out of Pai’s reach. Through the Seedlings programme she received a scholarship from Banyan Tree Bangkok to study at the Royal Thai Army Nursing College. Today she is a nurse at Fort Chiraprawat Hospital.

The law of attraction

Growing up in a village in Indonesia, Jade Aurora wanted to be a lawyer, but tuition fees were out of reach. Thanks to a Seedlings scholarship, Jade got a law degree and is now well on her way to fulfilling her dream to become a prosecutor and serve the public.

From a mentee to mentor

When Orachon Torwong (Nok) joined the workforce to support her family, she struggled to find a well-paying job due to lack of experience. With Seedlings, after an 18-month apprenticeship with Banyan Tree, she was offered a full-time position at Angsana Laguna Phuket, and mentors younger Seedlings in her free time.

Seedlings Cafés

Leveraging Banyan Group’s Food and Beverage expertise, Seedlings Cafés provide internship opportunities within hotel outlets, with graduates working at a Seedlings Café before permanent job placement at local outlets.

Education Projects
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Seedlings

Designed for young people aged 12 to 18 at risk of societal exclusion, Seedlings is our signature educational programme which, over the years, has helped scores of disadvantaged young men and women to advance in life.

Our “big-brother” or “big-sister” approach combines one-on-one mentorship sessions and scholarship support.

Hospitality Apprenticeship Programme

Following the success of the Seedlings Café internships at Laguna Phuket since 2014, in 2021 we launched a new Apprenticeship Programme that provides trade, service and life skills development and job opportunities for local community members to forge careers in the hospitality industry post COVID-19.

Laguna Phuket Kindergarten

Laguna Phuket Kindergarten was established in 1992 to support early life emotional and intellectual development. Since then, the centre has continuously offered free child care services and preschool education to children of community members and of associates.

The centre is widely acknowledged as one of the best in Thailand.

Impact Snapshot
  • 144 Children enrolled at Laguna Kindergarten in 2021
  • 1,724 Students enrolled and 1,095 graduated from Laguna Kindergarten since 1992
  • 177 Seedlings mentees since 2007
  • 900 Apprenticeship applications for 25 places received in the first year