At Cambodia Jaya House River Park, a Focus on Changing Lives

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA—Each one, teach one. It’s an African-American proverb that has its roots in slavery, a time when the enslaved were denied an education. When a vital life skill such as reading or writing was learned, it was their duty to teach another person.

A life without education and opportunities is like a bird without wings. It is a life without freedom. While some hoteliers talk about the importance of education and training, here at the Jaya House River Park that notion is put into practice through life-changing educational programs.

“I am inspired by the most amazing people of Cambodia, their resilience, their positive attitude, their amazing personalities and even though they have suffered so much, they continuously strive for a better future,” said Christian De Boer, managing director, Jaya House River Park.

De Boer gathers his employees up under his wings, treating them like family. “Happy staff means happy guests,” he said. “This is one of the many lessons I learned from Sir Richard Branson [founder of Virgin Group.]I believe it’s my job to take away any problems my staff might have so they, in turn, can focus on our guests.”

Working in hospitality for many years, De Boer developed a love of travel. He’s worked in Lagos, Nigeria, Paris, Singapore, Vietnam and eventually settled in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is here that he’s shared the lessons learned through the years with his team, focusing on education, healthy eating and sustainability.

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