Bad News

In recent times I have alluded to problems at work and stresses and strains that I, and other KOTO staff have felt.  For a million reasons I haven't been able to talk about it on here but as part of our most recent newsletter (Download may20062.pdf ) we made the following announcement:

To KOTO’s Many Friends:

As a supporter of the KOTO project there is some difficult news that we need to share with you as regards the future of the organisation.

You will be aware that we have been in the process of relocating to a new restaurant as a result of difficulties with our current Van Mieu site.

It was recently announced, at our graduation ceremony that we have a new location – 18 Hang Quat. It is my unfortunate duty to tell you now that at a very late stage, complications and situations that could not possibly have been foreseen have caused us to withdraw from the location.

It is not a decision we have taken lightly. Time and resources have already been spent on the site – including funds that KOTO can ill afford.

There now remains the problem of relocating KOTO. Obviously, while much of the investment made to date, can still be relevant for any subsequent move, we are in a position of being yet again forced to find a new location, but with less funds to invest in the project.

This is not a call for financial assistance. It is a plea for understanding and hopefully your on-going trust and faith in the KOTO project. Staff at KOTO have worked hard and diligently on this project and the problems we have faced could in no way have been forecasted. I believe that it is fair to say that, in may ways, the difficulties are simply symptomatic of working in a developing country.

While lessons continue to be learnt there is no doubting that KOTO has faced extreme bad luck in our efforts to relocate.

There WILL be a new KOTO. There remains no other option for us to safeguard the future of this organisation. The staff here continue to be both resolute and united in finding a way out of these difficulties. We work with the most amazing young people who are a constant source of inspiration to us. We also know that if we are to carry on meeting their needs we need to find a solution fast.

In the meantime the search is on again for a “new home for KOTO”. For KOTO’s friends we just want to say – thank-you for believing in this project and please have faith in our organisation that we will find a solution to our current difficulties.

Jimmy Pham

KOTO Founder

Comments

[Miss Kitty]

Ugh. This makes me heartsick to read. I'm sorry to hear about this turn of events, OMIH. My fingers are crossed for all of you.

[Jo]

What horrible news, and what unneeded stress amongst all the hard work you've all been putting in.

I hope this all works out. And soon.

[rachie]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all over there, and if there's any way I can help, please let me know.

[Oanh]

This is so unfortunate, my sympathies go to everyone involved in the KOTO project. Don't let this bring your spirits down. There is a hard working team at KOTO and you all deserve a wonderful new place for the restaurant, I know you will find it.

[omih]

Thanks everyone for your understanding. Believe it or not there are some good things that have come out of this. The staff are more together and united and detemined than ever. And on a personal note there is no way I am jumping ship till this is sorted.

Strangely tough times at KOTO makes it even harder to leave. Certainly, this has become something of a mission for all of us. And we'll see it out till the end.

After so long I dream about opening night at the new KOTO, smiling kids, grinning VIPs and me in the middle of it, in wonderment at it all.

Somehow we are going to make this happen.