PM Visits ABV Client

Julia Gillard PM visits ABV client, KOTO, Vietnam
Wednesday, 10 November, 2010

Long term ABV client, KOTO, were honoured by a visit from the Hon Julia Gillard PM, to their Van Mieu restaurant in Vietnam on Sunday 31 October, 2010.

“We’re all honoured that the Prime Minister chose to come to KOTO during her short stay in Hanoi and we were privileged to meet her,” said Jimmy Pham, KOTO founder and KOTO International CEO.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr Allaster Cox, talked with KOTO front of house and kitchen trainees, graduates, and was presented with the KOTO cookbook by Mr Pham as a gift.

“The trainees’ faces lit up the second I told them we were having such a special visitor – I think they were nervous and excited. They really enjoyed the experience and are very lucky to have met the Prime Minister.

“At KOTO, a big part of what we do is provide trainees with an environment where they can develop into confident young adults, and having the Prime Minister come today is validation that what they’re doing is working and that they should be proud of themselves,” said Mr Pham.

KOTO graduate and KOTO on Van Mieu staff member, Mr Le Van Trieu, met the Prime Minister and said it was a wonderful experience.

“The Prime Minister was very nice. She seemed very pleased to be here and to meet everyone. She made everyone feel very proud to be part of KOTO,” said Mr Trieu.

ABV volunteer, Keith Barrett is currently working with KOTO performing an accounting systems review and was present during the PM's visit.

KOTO (Know One, Teach One) is a not-for-profit hospitality training organisation that has trained in excess of 300 street and disadvantaged Vietnamese youth in Hanoi over the past 10 years, and has recently established KOTO Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City. Its 24-month program includes both front-of-house and kitchen, as well as English and life skills and is supported by several Australian organisations.

 

 

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