Name: Mai

Gender: Female

Location: Vietnam

Success Story:

The Journey of Mai: A Tale of Determination and Success

Among the poorest kids we have encountered, there was a little family shack with one drywall internally, covered with a myriad of school awards and certificates. This shack belonged to Mai and her family in the Mekong region of Tan Thach, Ben Tre. The region is humid, hot, and home to millions of very poor families. Mai and her family barely existed, but now I look back and see a confident and gifted young woman who can be anything she chooses to be. Mai is exceptional in every respect.

Not long after I was first introduced to her, I received a letter at my home office in Queensland, from Vietnam. The writing was like a computer script; the English was error-free, and the grammar was perfect. It was from Mai. To this day, I have no idea who taught her, as the English teachers in her area struggled. Her picture was on the page corner – a 10-year-old! Mai’s sponsorship and ongoing assistance have seen her excel in her education, always ranking near the top at every level. When we had an opportunity to introduce her to RMIT for a special scholarship, she blitzed the field. After completing an internship after her degree, her manager saw her potential and gave her key roles and leadership positions, which continue to this day.

I remember the time she rode her bicycle in the dark to a faraway school for gifted kids. She was followed by a low-life thief who stole her bag containing all her school lessons, very little money, a calculator, and clothing. In the days following, Mai caught up on her studies, and we replaced the physical items. She wrote it off as someone more desperate and poor. I have a different view of the thief, but her reaction reflects her heart and attitude.

I asked Mai to give me an overview of her education, and her summary is as follows:

2002 – 2007: Tan Thach A Primary School

• Always at the top of her class
• Joined many extracurricular activities

2008 – 2011: Tan Thach Secondary School

• Top of her class
• Participated in numerous extracurricular activities

2012 – 2015: Ben Tre High School for the Gifted

• Excelled and won many academic competitions in Math and English

2016 – 2019: RMIT Vietnam University

• June 2018 – January 2019: Exchange to RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, with a full scholarship

2020 – 2024: Working for a subsidiary of Japanese Incorporated

• 2020 – 2021: Assistant to COO
• 2021 – 2023: Marketing Leader
• 2023 – Present: Marketing Supervisor

Mai has accomplished so much more than this brief summary. I have used her as an interpreter regularly, and she has represented me on numerous occasions and at official functions when I could not be in the country. She has progressively become our HRA manager in Vietnam. Her ability to mix and interact with people at all levels has left a lasting impression.

The future is yet to be written, but once she had the opportunity for education, Mai took it, excelled, and is paying it back in so many ways. I value her support and input immensely. To think what may have been if we had not been introduced. I have repeatedly seen that the poorest in Vietnam give back the most.

Mai’s story is a testament to the power of education and the incredible impact that sponsorship can have on a young life. From a small shack in Ben Tre to a leadership role in a multinational corporation, Mai’s journey is an inspiration to all.