The privilege to serve

The privilege to serve

For RMIT Bachelor of Commerce alumnus, Tran Nguyen Ngoc Nhan, helping others and serving the community is a privilege, and she always does it with a smile.

Nhan has devoted her time and effort to transforming the lives of hundreds of ethnic minority students in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, through providing education and vocational training, and helping to build sustainable ecosystems so they can sustain themselves and their families.

Alt Text is not present for this image, Taking dc:title 'tran-nguyen-ngoc-nhan-1' RMIT Bachelor of Commerce alumnus and Co-founder of I AM IN Foundation, Tran Nguyen Ngoc Nhan

“I always consider myself as a lucky person, with opportunities to access good education and to travel to many places,” Nhan shared.

“The urge of giving back to the community has taken me on a journey that I am so grateful for.”

While building a strong profile in the corporate world, with a focus on business development and culture, as well as employee development, and social responsibility, Nhan has done community work, but she always felt it was not enough.

“It was like you came once, giving something, and left. Nothing changed, nothing happened,” said Nhan.

Guided by the philosophy "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”, Nhan and her friends co-founded I AM IN Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at building skills and providing tools for those in need to achieve a long-lasting impact.

“And we do it wholeheartedly,” Nhan said.

Little by little, her compact team of four core members has done it through building existing local knowledge, carrying out analysis, and collaborating with organisations and specialists to make sure their project outcomes match the needs of the homes and children they are helping.

“We have developed close relationships with two homes, namely Teresa Ethnic Home and Vinh Son Orphanage in the Central Highlands provinces Dak Lak and Kontum.

Alt Text is not present for this image, Taking dc:title 'tran-nguyen-ngoc-nhan-2' For Nhan, helping others and serving the community is a privilege, and she always does it with a smile.

“With the support of our community, we have implemented various projects, from organic farming to gardening, investment in music equipment and bridge construction, to providing education and life-skill training for the children living there, and improving the financial situations of these institutions.

“Fifteen years have passed in the blink of an eye. When I first graduated from RMIT, I learnt how to start and run my own not-for-profit organisation through my first employer’s Corporate Social Responsibility program. It feels like yesterday,” recalled Nhan.

Seeing children appreciate the small things they are offered makes Nhan even more grateful with what she has in life.

“It is not simply the skills and training we have provided, but the impact on the mindset of hundreds of people, showing them different possibilities in raising and supporting their families and sustaining themselves.

“I am extremely grateful to serve our community in such a meaningful way.”

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In celebration of Vietnamese Women’s Day, RMIT Vietnam proudly presents stories of transformation and impact our alumni have made to the community we serve and beyond.

Watch the video about Tran Nguyen Ngoc Nhan.

Watch the full playlist.

Story: Ha Hoang

23 October 2023

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