When you stay at Sumba Hospitality Foundation, you're more than just a hotel guest because you're empowering local Sumbanese youth.
With a strong vision for responsible tourism in the region, Sumba Hospitality Foundation welcomes visitors to stay at their on-campus hotel school which includes five beautiful, bamboo guest pavilions tended to by students.
During their stay, visitors are encouraged to interact with the students to explore Sumba, or share any experiences that will be of value to the students.
Students are hand-picked every year to attend the immersive one-year programme, where they are mentored by industry professionals. The foundation also offers scholarship to promising Sumbanese youth to be trained for future employment in the hospitality industry.
The school also comes with full boarding, meals, and healthcare to support the eradication of malnutrition in youth in Sumba.
Jeffry, one of the student at Sumba Hospitality Foundation, worked in a family farm before attending the school. Along with other 40 students from all over Sumba, Jeffry not only acquire vocational skills, but also learn English, personal development, and permaculture farming, so that he can share with their communities back home.
“Now I get to meet people from all over the world,” said Jeffry to Our Better World, a storytelling initiative of the Singapore International Foundation.
To inspire other communities with the foundation’s model, its founder, Inge De Lathauwer, boldly chose to kickstart this project in the least resourced region of Sumba. It is also powered entirely by solar energy.
The students each have personal ambitions they’re working towards. Jeffry dreams that “one day I can build a decent house for my parents to stay in their old age.”
We'd love to hear from you - would you consider staying at a hotel school for your next getaway?
How You Can Help
Reserve a stay in a guest pavilion
Learn more about Sumba Hospitality Foundation
A story by Our Better World – telling stories of good to inspire action.
