Darcie Day

Our lovely friend Darcie from Hope Fellowship Church sent us out on a “mission” as we were leaving Canada last October of 2009. There were three terms to this mission; number one she wanted us to spend a portion of money buying her a souvenir from a place we were visiting; number two we were to spend a portion of the money to treat ourselves out (being backpackers and all it’s nice to treat oneself out every once in a while J); and number three she wanted the rest of the money to go to a local charity in the area or “someone in need.”

Darcie’s gifts will remain unidentified at this time (since she has not yet seen them) but I would like to share the joy of the rest of that day we shall now refer to as Darcie Day.

Ang and I treated ourselves to a manicure (Julie) and pedicure (Ang) and a meal at a restaurant called KOTO (Know One Teach One). KOTO trains and employs street kids of Hanoi, Vietnam. We decided as we were skimming the brochures and enjoying the good food and hospitality that we would also then donate the rest of the money Darcie had given to this good cause.

The Following is some interesting information about KOTO:

Ø How KOTO started

“A significant number of Vietnam’s youth live in poverty with little hope of finishing school, let alone finding a career. Many come to Hanoi and Saigon in search of work and a better life.

“In the late 1990’s a Vietnamese Australian, Mr. Jimmy Pham, met some of Hanoi’s street kids and asked them what they wanted from life. They replied: ‘We need skills so we can find stable jobs.’ From there KOTO was born.

“From its humble beginnings as a small sandwich shop in Hanoi run by nine former street kids, KOTO now boasts a popular restaurant, an internationally accredited hospitality training program, a second Hanoi café and a catering service, with KOTO Saigon opening in late 2009” (that means it should be open by now!).

Ø The KOTO Program

“KOTO has trained more than 300 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, now employed in some of the country’s leading restaurants. KOTO has a 100 per cent success rate in placing its graduates in their first job in the hospitality industry.

Every six months KOTO recruits around 30 trainees aged between 16 and 22, to undertake a 24-month intensive program in life skills, English language and hospitality training. KOTO provides training, employment and housing and empowers its trainees with the necessary skills to ensure they graduate as self confident adults, ready to enter the workforce and actively participate in their communities.”

Ø KOTO International

KOTO International is a registered charity in Australia. KOTO International supports KOTO Hanoi and Saigon by fundraising and raising the profile of street and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. It is made up of a team of dedicated professionals from a range of backgrounds that have seen first-hand how KOTO can change lives. For more information visit www.koto.com.au

“The greatest accomplishment for the person who has helped you, is to see you stand on your two feet and then in turn help someone else that reminds you of yourself, because if you Know One, you should Teach One.” –Jimmy Pham

May This Be For His Glory!

-Julie for the both of us