Regional General Manager Johnny Cuong discusses his team's outstanding community service efforts

In keeping with Grand Circle's company-wide commitment to giving back, each one of our offices around the world participates in at least one annual community service project. These events are organized by our worldwide associates themselves, who best understand the needs of the local communities.

In Vietnam, our Regional General Manager Johnny Cuong has always been passionate about making a difference in his homeland—even before he worked for a company that shared his dedication to philanthropy. "I used to be a tour guide for different companies," says Johnny. "During that time, I would raise money independently among my tour groups to support the local people." Among the contributions he orchestrated were 438 water buffalo for farmers throughout the country and four houses built for the poor. "I was so happy each time I could do something good for my people," Johnny says.

No wonder, then, that our associates in Vietnam go above and beyond in their community service efforts. Johnny's fellow associates Truong Nhu Quoc Khanh and Nguyen Thanh Tung share in his desire to make a difference—and together the team has completed several outstanding events in 2009, each of which has had a unique impact on the villages to which we travel.

Nha Trang's Basket-Weaving Village

In the Dien Phu district of Nha Trang, residents make their living by weaving baskets from the abundant bamboo that grows there. OAT visits this village as part of the Day in the Life experience in Vietnam—but less than a year ago, the village looked very different from what travelers see today. Johnny and his team made a huge impact by renovating four dilapidated houses in the village.

Nha Trang Homes, Before (top row) and After (bottom row) Renovation:

A few months later, the team returned to Dien Phu as part of a training program for Vietnamese Trip Leaders. They all joined together in cleaning up the village, which had begun to collect litter. "We not only made the village look nicer," says Johnny, "but we also taught the people why a clean village is better for their health."

Finally, they paid a visit to the Dien Phu School, which is supported by Grand Circle Foundation and featured as part of A Day in the Life. Foundation funds had helped to provide the students with 15 computers, but these alone could not accommodate a full class of students. "So we decided to give them three more computers as part of our community service," says Johnny. In order to ensure the computers can be maintained on an ongoing basis, Johnny encourages area vendors to pitch in whenever he negotiates with them. "As a result, there is always a small budget at the school for fixing computers," says Johnny.

Dalat's Banana Village

OAT travelers also have the opportunity to experience daily life in a Dalat hill tribe village, which subsists primarily on agricultural crops like coffee beans, rice, beans, and cassava. "This is a very poor village with a low standard of living," says Johnny. "We encouraged the whole team to collect secondhand clothes and bring them to the local people."

But another project in Dalat has a special place in Johnny's heart: the renovation of a classroom at the village's only primary school. Due to the primitive construction of the classroom's original roof, it could not be used during the rainy season—and the school was short on space to begin with. So the Vietnam associates helped repair it for year-round use.

"I never went to university due to my family's economic background, so I fully understand the importance of education," says Johnny. "I was so happy when we handed over the key to the renovated classroom." It was an emotional moment for everyone who witnessed it—including teachers, the village chief, and the local authorities. "We all knew that from that day forward, the kids would have a new place to continue their education," says Johnny. "I knew it would absolutely be good for their future."

Banana Village Classroom, Before and After Renovation:

For these children and so many others, the future does indeed look brighter, thanks to the efforts of Johnny, Khanh, Tung, and our Trip Leaders in Vietnam.