Founded in 2013 by Stéphanie Loup and her husband Alexandre des Arts, Pimali Foundation is a hospitality training center that offers underprivileged and orphaned young Thais the chance of a professional future in hospitality, to become financially independent and have a better future. The initiative was set in motion by Stéphanie’s experience during a stay in an orphanage in North-East Thailand, which made her realise the difficulties encountered by disadvantaged youths in finding a decent job after completing their education. With her background in management in a 5-star hotel in Switzerland, hospitality training was the obvious direction to go. Through a practical learning experience for the underprivileged youth and orphans through a 6-11 month training at Pimali, followed by a 3-6 month internship at its partner hotel, Pimali is helping to fight the exploitation of disadvantaged youth with the aim of reducing poverty in the north-east of Thailand. Their goal is to one day become a small sustainable resort–Pimali Resort–which promotes the local Isan way of life, and where every baht spent is a donation to the foundation.