Founded in 2009 and based in Hoi An, Vietnam, STREETS is an 14-month-long program which teaches students English and trains them on the extensive skills needed for the culinary and hospitality industries. Disadvantaged and vulnerable youth living in poverty are chosen to participate in this no-cost program.
Each trainee participant is provided classroom instruction with hands-on experience in the culinary arts and/or hospitality services as well as given nutritious meals, supervised housing, clothing, uniform, monthly allowance, and basic medical care.
This is the only real chance for many of these disadvantaged young adults to transition from poverty and life on the streets to the dignity of self-sufficiency that comes with a successful career in hospitality. STREETS is committed to providing trainees with the opportunity to build a life marked by achievement and economic independence for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Since our partnership began, Grand Circle Foundation has funded 57 life-changing scholarships. Each 14-month course now costs $2,800—about $233 per month to change someone's future. We began our partnership by sponsoring class #16 in 2022, and those students have all finished their orientation period and started their Hospitality classes. They are well along in developing their English language skills and building confidence as they interact with guests as part of their hands-on apprenticeship at a restaurant called Oodles of Noodles.
Class #17 began their journey at STREETS at the end of March 2023. The 22 new trainees from throughout Vietnam arrived at the training center in Hoi An. They now also have a safe, healthy, supervised home at STREETS' trainee houses. This new class includes three young women from the Duc Son Pagoda in Hue, which is home to the Minh Tu Orphanage—a partner of Grand Circle Foundation since 2002. Based on our decades of experience with this incredibly supportive organization, we have no doubt that these young women will embrace their new opportunities and shine. In 2024, we invested $33,600 to fund an additional 12 students, further expanding our impact on young lives in Vietnam.
Grand Circle Foundation Chair Harriet Lewis visited STREETS for the first time
in April of 2025.
In the spring of 2025, Harriet Lewis, Chair of Grand Circle Foundation, visited STREETS for the first time. "It’s a great program. It should be in every single nation," says Harriet. "These young people are so proud to be learning the fine art of cooking and presenting food—which was beautiful and meticulously prepared." She joined a group of O.A.T. travelers as they met the STREETS trainees, and then toured the training center to meet members of the STREETS team—who were thrilled to finally meet the Foundation’s cofounder.
During her visited, Harriet led an interactive discussion with O.A.T. travelers.
"We’re delighted to welcome all the O.A.T. tours to STREETS, and especially appreciate the Foundation’s continued support—from sponsoring individual trainees to supporting entire classes," says a STREETS representative. "Thank you, Mrs. Lewis, for visiting STREETS in Hoi An and for all your ongoing support."
Learn about the lives of rural villagers in Vietnam during A Day in the Life experience in Tho Ha Village when you join us for Inside Vietnam.
