“When I was born in poverty, only education could help me change my life” – That is the confession of A Dung, a young man from the Central Highlands, where people’s lives are still difficult and deprived. Born and raised in a poor ethnic minority family, A Dung had to face life’s challenges early on. His family lived on subsistence agriculture, had an unstable income and had little opportunity to move forward.

It was thought that A Dung's fate would be bound by poverty all year round, but in his heart he always nurtured a big dream: to escape poverty, change his life and help his family and community . A Dung always believed that only the path of studying and vocational education could help him realize that dream.

Despite the lack of education in his hometown, A Dung always tried to learn, helping his family and taking advantage of his time to study on his own. But when he finished high school, he had to face another difficult problem: how to continue his education and achieve his dream of becoming a professional chef?

It was at this time that Francis Restaurant School (FRS) appeared as a golden opportunity. Upon hearing about the free vocational training school for disadvantaged youth, A Dung did not hesitate to apply for the scholarship and was accepted.

The journey at FRS not only helped A Dung learn specialized professional skills in cooking, but also helped him develop his thinking, confidence and courage. With the dedicated guidance of the instructors, A Dung found his passion for food preparation and developed a career in the restaurant and hotel industry. Day by day, from a shy boy, A Dung gradually became a skilled chef with the dream of opening a small restaurant in his hometown, bringing exquisite cuisine to everyone and creating job opportunities for young people in the area.

“Without FRS, I don’t know what I would have done. FRS not only taught me a profession, but also taught me how to overcome difficulties and have confidence in myself.” – A Dung shared at the graduation ceremony.

A Dung’s story is a clear demonstration of FRS’s mission: not only to teach a trade, but also to give disadvantaged youth the opportunity to change their lives. With determination and timely support, anyone can overcome adversity to write their own success story.