KOTO Founder Jimmy Pham advocates for dignity over pity for disadvantaged youth

Jimmy Pham, the founder of KOTO, is calling for a shift in how society and the media perceive disadvantaged individuals. After 25 years of working with thousands of vulnerable young people, Pham argues that while resilience is admirable, labeling the poor as 'heroes' or treating them with pity can be counterproductive.

Pham notes that pity can weaken individuals, while premature glorification can create a different kind of trap. At KOTO, a vocational training center, the focus is on equality and independence rather than special treatment based on hardship. For example, Pham ensures that students with disabilities are encouraged to participate in daily tasks, such as getting food, to foster autonomy rather than allowing others to automatically step in out of sympathy.

Through KOTO, many young people from difficult backgrounds have transitioned into professional roles as chefs, bartenders, managers, and restaurant owners. Pham emphasizes that once students join the program, their past hardships are no longer used as a reason for preferential treatment, focusing instead on their future professional lives.