Hanoi - On Sunday 15th November, the 14th annual KOTO DREAM RIDERS began cycling 65 km starting from the United Nations International School of Hanoi (UNIS) and looped back to UNIS from Chua Thay Pagoda – about 20km southwest of central Hanoi, and back.
The fun challenge took the 120 cyclists through some beautiful countryside, pagodas and rice fields on the outskirts of Hanoi, raising money and creating opportunity for the local community to raise money for the good cause of supporting at-risk and disadvantaged youth through the KOTO nonprofit vocational training program.
KOTO DREAM RIDE has been occurring annually since 2002. Growing from 30 riders to over 100 riders, the event has raised over US $200,000 to date. This year, KOTO Dream Ride raised over 10,000 USD.
“This ride is a tradition. It is about raising money and bringing attention to the work that we are doing to give the at-risk and disadvantaged youth the start in life that everyone deserves. The money raised this year will be used specifically to cover the annual rental cost of training centers and housing for 200 trainees,” said Jimmy Pham, Founder/Executive Chairman-KOTO International.
Thanks to our major sponsors including Gold sponsor: UNIS, Silver Sponsors: International SOS, Pasteur Street Brewing Company, Starbucks, Ugether, and The Kafe, Bronze Sponsors: ANTON Bike Store, PePe la Poule, Vietnam Velo, and Coca-cola; General Sponsors: Crown Relocation, and Ticket Box.
KOTO - Know one, teach one.-, is a nonprofit social enterprise transforming the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam through its holistic hospitality training program founded by Jimmy Pham AM in 1999, and trained in over 618 Vietnamese youth in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.