Book Beyond Pre Form 3

Book beyond
My name is Pham Viet Yuan, or Jimmy called by everyone. I am the founder of KOTO, an
innovative not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training programme for poor desperate street
children. I had also had such hardship but for a simple twist fate. Born to a Vietnamese mother and a
Korean father in war torn Saigon in1972, I migrated at age two to Singapore with my family, just
before South Vietnam fell to communist forces from the north. Later, we went to Saudi Arabia when I
was five. By age eight , my family had settled in Sydney, Australia,, where I struggled to learn English
and adapt to a new culture. By 1996, I had an office job with a travel company, which sent me to a
two-week trip to scope out one of its new destinations- Vietnam.

I returned to Saigon, now renamed Ho Chi Minh City , to check out hotels and tourist attraction.
There, I met some street children. Feeling sorry, I treated them to beef- and- noodle soup and learned
they sold coconuts. To avoid beatings and the theft of their cash crop, they slept in the trees of the
park. The following day, I took nine homeless kids to dinner. By the end of the two-week stay, the
count had grown to 60. Back in Sydney, I asked to become a tour leader, so I could return to Vietnam.
When the company refused, I quit and joined Melbourne- based Intrepid Travel, which I supported
my goal.

In 1997, while guiding an Intrepid group, I met a charismatic young con artist, Pham Van Long,
outside Hanois Victory Hotel. I told the teen to complete his education to have a better future. I came
back with more tour groups. Then, I decided to rent a small house and support Long and eight other
youths while they completed their schooling. I poured the bulk of my salary and tips into supporting
the youths, as well as several other children around Vietnam.

I came from a disadvantaged background. If I didnt have an opportunity for an education, I

would have ended up like the old women working in the rice fields and men driving cyclos (pedicabs)

Book Beyond Pre Form 3

Book Beyond Pre Form 3

Sams views on Santa Claus Christmas

My friend, Sam hates December. Being big-sized, his boss always asks him to dress up as Santa
Claus for the childrens party, and he hates doing it.

Sam clarifies, First of all, I hate costume. The red and white trousers and jackets , the hat, the
belt, gloves and boots, all look terrible on me. I feel extremely hot in the costume. And I have to say
hohoho all the time while Im in it. Then, the children never say thank you when I gave them aa
present. I think they have too many toys and presents already; they dont need any more. Moreover,
they only want expensive presents. Lastly, Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, is no longer the most
important thing for people. All they think about is getting present.

Next, he explain how Santa Claus differs from Father Christmas. Father Christmas has a much
older history, he says. In the past, long before Christianity came to Britian, an old man went to all
the houses in every village or town, asking for food and drink. He was called old winter, and later
Father Christmas. People were kind and gave him food and drink. Santa Claus, however, was Saint
Nicholas, a bishop from Turkey hundreds years ago. He helped people and gave presents to children.
The Dutch called him Sinterklaas. When they migrated to the US, they took Sinterklaas with them and
gave him a new name: Santa Claus. So, the Americas say Santa Claus but the British say Father
Christmas.

Book Beyond Pre Form 3