His big dream of pursuing higher education had finally come true.
After being born into poverty in the southern Vietnamese countryside, and then losing his father at a young age in a tragic explosive accident, Hieu felt even secondary education was out of reach.
“Having no shelter, my mum and I had to move into an abandoned temple where we lived for nearly 20 years,” Hieu said.
“When I was in seventh grade, I begged my mum to let me drop out of school to reduce her financial burden, but my indomitable mother strongly objected and insisted that I had to remain in school until graduation.
“Upon finishing high school, I started to work in a bread factory where I had to wake up at 4am to deliver cakes and bread until very late at night.”
Hieu often dreamt of a lecture hall and how the power of knowledge could change his life.
His hope of a better education was rekindled after he learnt about the non-profit social enterprise KOTO, and its mission to empower at-risk and disadvantaged youths in Vietnam through its internationally recognised holistic hospitality training program.
“Although my chances of receiving an offer from KOTO weren’t very high, I decided to give it a try,” Hieu shared.
Hieu’s decision to seize the opportunity when it arose led him to not just employment at renowned businesses in the hospitality industry, but also a pathway towards the education that he was seeking.
“I was accepted as a KOTO trainee in 2011, completed its program with the Box Hill Institute in 2013, before working at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay resort, Nha Trang, and then KOTO Saigon Restaurant, in the five years that followed,” Hieu said.
During that time, Hieu was eager to learn new skillsets and explore opportunities and experiences, as well as support others when required.
All of his hard work, gratitude and dedication paid off when Hieu received a KOTO scholarship in partnership with TAFE NSW in Australia, to study the Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management in 2018.
“Hieu is one of the most dedicated students I have ever witnessed in over 20 years of teaching,” said a senior teacher in hospitality from TAFE NSW Karen Laws. “He had a true respect for the opportunity he had been given, and a clear goal of assisting other young people who came from very difficult backgrounds and wanted to achieve something of worth in their lives.”
His thirst for knowledge and great determination to further his education also made a strong impression on the founder and CEO of social enterprise HopeBox Huong Dang, who was also Hieu’s mentor.
“I have witnessed Hieu’s successes in many milestones, from the young boy with low-self-esteem who first entered KOTO, to a completely transformed young man who is confident and has a heart full of hope.
“Hieu is indeed a rising star among 1000 KOTO alumni and has always been a role model to the KOTO trainees.”
After passing a rigorous selection process at KOTO, Hieu finally made it to higher education through the RMIT Vietnam 2020 Scholarship program at the age of 28.
“My biggest goal is to create a bigger impact in the society in which people are able to give helping hands, and together we can make a stronger community to continue to support disadvantaged youths in Vietnam,” Hieu said.
