KOTO
Know One, Teach One
Empowering at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through its holistic hospitality training programme.
THE-ICE Sponsorship
Since 2011, THE-ICE has committed to sponsoring young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds in Vietnam to complete KOTO’s 24-month hospitality traineeship programme.
This traineeship equips young Vietnamese adults (16 – 22 years old) with hospitality training, English language and life skills, as well as providing food, healthcare, and accommodation in a family environment where they feel safe, happy, and cared for.
Meet KOTO Class 44
THE-ICE is proud to sponsor KOTO Class 44, a remarkable group of 35 passionate trainees from 14 ethnic groups across 21 provinces of Vietnam, who began their journey in 2024 and are now working towards careers in hospitality.
With trainees specialising in either front-of-house roles or commercial cookery, they successfully completed their two-year training programme in June 2026.
Supporting their education is not just an investment in their futures; it is a spark for positive transformation within the industry and beyond.
Latest updates
June 2026: Final assessment
Congratulations to KOTO Class 44 on successfully completing their final assessment, marking the culmination of their two-year hospitality training journey.
For their final assessment, the class was responsible for designing the menu, planning the service and delivering a memorable dining experience for guests.
K44 will now transition into job placements before returning for their formal graduation ceremony next year.
THE-ICE extends its sincere thanks to all members and supporters who have contributed to this partnership and helped support K44 throughout their journey.
Previous updates
How you can help
Buy a Spoon – Build a Dream School
Based around the belief that “it takes a village to raise a child”, KOTO hopes to serve as the ‘village’ in the successful stories of ‘raising’ disadvantaged youth. By working hand-in-hand with KOTO, THE-ICE, and its members become part of this ‘village’ too, helping our sponsored students to make a better future for themselves.
Not all were born with ‘a silver spoon in their mouth’ as the saying goes, but they can become equipped with KOTO’s wooden spoon. KOTO uses these spoons to symbolise how they work to help close the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged youth, providing them with the skills to have stable jobs and become leaders in their fields.
Choose from KOTO’s 3 Spoon donations:
- Caring spoon: USD 50
- Sharing spoon: USD 200
- Empowering spoon: USD 500
- Donations are tax-deductible for Australian taxpayers via Give Now and for UK and US taxpayers via GlobalGiving.
To find out more about this initiative, visit the KOTO website.
“It takes a village to raise a child”
Sponsor a Trainee
Sponsors, including THE-ICE, help provide vital funds for the KOTO Trainee Sponsorship Program. Combined with the revenues from KOTO’s social enterprises, KOTO Van Mieu and catering, the sponsorship funds enable 250 young people each year to achieve their hospitality dreams.
Sponsorship categories:
- Dream Maker Individual Trainee Sponsorship
- Dream Maker Class Sponsorship (24 months)
All sponsorships directly support KOTO’s goal of transforming lives through education, skill-building, and mentorship.
To learn more about this programme, visit the KOTO website.
About KOTO
KOTO is a not-for-profit social enterprise that empowers at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through its holistic hospitality training program. KOTO’s mantra, “Know One, Teach One”, reflects the belief that if you’re in a position where you can help someone less fortunate than yourself, then you should help them.
In Hanoi alone, it is estimated that some 19,000 young people are living on the streets. With multi-locations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, KOTO utilises its 200-trainee capacity training centres to support youths and teach hospitality (either Front of House or Commercial Cookery), English language, and life skills, such as personal hygiene and money management.
Born in Ho Chi Minh City and raised in Australia from when he was two years old, Jimmy Pham returned to Vietnam in 1996, aged 23. Shocked by the number of young homeless people, a chance meeting with four street kids changed everything for Jimmy. Jimmy’s determination to support these disadvantaged youths resulted in KOTO being established in 2000 and its continued growth since.
Every six months, KOTO recruits up to 30 young people from the streets, between the ages of 16-22. The new trainees are recruited following recommendations from a wide network of sources, including individuals, local orphanages or other organisations dealing with poverty, trafficking, physical abuse, alcoholism and other addictions.
Vocational training is the key to a sustainable future for street kids and disadvantaged youth throughout the world. It is a model based not only on providing youth with training and jobs, but also by providing them with valuable life skills to ensure they can contribute to their community. To read more about KOTO’s history, mission, and values, visit their website.
KOTO presentation at THE-ICE IPoE Forum 2025
We are deeply grateful to Mr Jimmy Pham for his inspiring presentation at the IPoE Forum 2025. His journey continues to demonstrate how education can create meaningful and lasting change. View the presentation slides here.
During his presentation, Jimmy also premiered the new KOTO Dream School Grand Opening video — watch it here.