Quyen Vuong
Quyen Vuong is a Vietnamese-American refugee, a Yale and Stanford alumnus, and the Co-founder and Executive Director of ICAN (International Children Assistance Network). Quyen Vuong's life journey has been marked by struggles, perseverance, and a deep desire to give back. As a young girl growing up in Vietnam, she faced the harsh reality of poverty and the lack of educational opportunities. But Quyen's strong will and determination, coupled with the unwavering support of her family, helped her overcome these obstacles. When she moved to America as a refugee, she was filled with gratitude for the help she received and longed to give back to her homeland and her community. With a burning passion to create opportunities for others, Quyen co-founded ICAN in 2000, a non-profit organization that initially aimed to help Vietnamese children finish high school. As the years passed, ICAN expanded its scope to include college scholarships and other programs. Quyen's dedication to helping others has been a driving force in her life and has inspired many to make a difference and change lives. Her story is a powerful reminder that with hard work, perseverance, and a heart for others, we can overcome the most difficult challenges and make a lasting impact on the world around us.
In a recent open discussion with ICAN for Black April and Vietnamese American History Month, Quyen shared her experiences growing up, her perilous journey to America, her career, and how her family history shaped her life. She discussed the challenges and triumphs of building a new life in a foreign land and what she hopes for future generations of Vietnamese Americans. Quyen's story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of family, education, and staying true to one’s heart and community to guide us through life's most challenging moments.
Reflecting on the difficult times Quyen’s family faced in Vietnam before they left, she saw her family's life turned upside down. Their house was taken away, and the threat of being sent to a new economic zone was constant. During that time, she witnessed her mother lose all her assets and go to prison, and her father went to a reeducation camp. While Quyen's mother was still in prison, she and her younger brother would commute for two hours every day to help on a farm outside Saigon. They did this for six months, carrying books and food for the pigs to prove their goodwill so that their mother could be released. Despite the hardships, Quyen and her brother never considered dropping out of school, as education was still a priority. Even then, when it was time for Quyen to escape Vietnam, she saw her family being torn further apart. Her journey to America included staying on a tiny 10-meter-long and 2-meter-wide boat with 49 other people for 5 days in stormy waters, running from dangerous pirates, and even losing their compass. Even so, after a long journey, when she eventually made it to Malaysia and stepped foot on the island, marking her escape from a war-torn country where she endured so much hardship, the police and UN destroyed her boat, she still felt an intense longing for her home. The destruction of the boat symbolized the insurmountable challenges in her future, most of which she would have to go through in new unfamiliar places, alone, and isolated.
The Journey and Challenges as a Vietnamese Refugee
“The most memorable thing that I remember the most to this day and that I’m still very emotional about is that, at the moment when they got on the boat and they destroyed the boat. I said to myself. Uh oh. I don't have a country anymore. Who am I? How am I going to get back to Vietnam? And that was when I knew what patriotism is about. Before that, I never thought of country. I'm a person. But at that moment, I realized how important it is to have a country and to have roots.”
After 4 months on the island, Quyen left for America to be with her father and three other siblings. Her family had her parents, her 5 siblings, and three grandparents. A few days before the fall of Saigon, her oldest brother and aunt were the first to escape, leaving the other five children behind. It took 17 years, from 1992, and four trips for Quyen's family to be reunited.
When Quyen finally arrived in America, her family continued to see hardships in their life in Houston. They had no money and were constantly behind on rent, receiving eviction notices every month. Quyen even considered dropping out of high school to work full-time, flipping burgers so that her siblings could move on to college. However, her grandfather advised her not to do so, urging her to move forward together as a family, even if they were poor.
“And so I wrote a letter to my grandfather. And he said no. Don't do it. If you're going to be poor, be poor together, and move forward together, nobody can make up those last years for you.”
Despite the financial struggles, Quyen and her siblings continued to work 30 hours a week each after school to support the family, and despite their losses and sacrifices, they all persevered through the challenges as a family.
As Quyen watched her siblings achieve great academic success and attend prestigious universities like Princeton and Harvard, she couldn't help but yearn for the same opportunity. She dreamed of having a school to call her own. Driven by a fierce determination, Quyen sought out resources available to her, even landing an interview with a Yale alumnus in her quest for a brighter future. Despite the obstacles she faced, Quyen refused to give up on her dream, fueled by a burning desire to succeed and make her mark on the world.
“[The Yale Alumnus] asked me the question why Yale? And I'm like, honestly, I don't know anything. I just came to America 3-4 years ago and I've been working 30 hours a week. I don't know anything. I know anything outside of Houston, TX. But all I know is that my brother and my sister argue. All the time. As to, you know whether Princeton is better or or Harvard is better and I just want my own school.”
Soon enough, when it was her time, Quyen was accepted into Yale.
“When I got accepted, and he called me up to congratulate me, and he actually remembered and he said, ‘Now you have your own school’.”
The Motivation Behind Creating ICAN
Quyen had always felt a strong desire to give back to others, especially to those who helped her when she first came to America. When she thought about the children in Vietnam who lack the opportunities that she was fortunate enough to have, knowing how education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and opening doors to a brighter future, it pained her to think that children in Vietnam must drop out of school at an early age, leaving them with limited options for their future.
After time passed and the resources available became better and more open, Quyen wanted to help the children reach their full potential and pursue higher education, so she expanded the scholarship program to include college scholarships. After explaining the scholarship programs, she realized that the resources available to the Vietnamese community in the US were limited, with only ESL job training and citizenship services being offered. She wanted to make a difference and provide more comprehensive services for the community and wanted to ensure that her son had the same opportunities that she was able to provide for other children in Vietnam.
Quyen’s story isn’t just about giving back, but it's also about providing hope and a way forward for the next generation. She has seen firsthand how education can transform lives and communities, and she is committed to doing everything in her power to help as many children as possible. Quyen believes that by investing in these young minds, she is helping to build a better future for all of us. Her story and work with ICAN have become a beacon of hope and inspiration for many and tell of the importance of resilience in the face of hardship and of the strength in unity and community.
How has her experience as a Vietnamese refugee influenced her work at ICAN?
Quyen believes that the Vietnamese American community is the cultural foundation for her children's generation and that it's crucial to connect with it. She feels that the community provides a sense of belonging that goes beyond just the family unit. Without it, people can feel lost and disconnected from their roots. Quyen knows this from experience, as she has seen a friend struggle with his identity for years before coming to terms with his Vietnamese heritage.
She sees ICAN as a place where young people can come and learn important skills that are transferable to any industry. But what sets ICAN apart is the opportunity to connect with the community and understand its needs. Quyen believes that active listening is key to understanding and addressing those needs. For her, it's not just about the work itself but its impact on the community. That's why she encourages young people to spend a few years working at ICAN before pursuing further education or other career opportunities. She knows that it's a chance for them to learn about themselves, their community, and how they can make a difference in the world.
Important Lessons
Quyen passionately believes that in order to truly succeed in one's career, one must have a deep-seated passion for what they do. She learned this lesson firsthand after she graduated from the Graduate School of Business and spent six years working in various roles within the business world. Despite achieving success, Quyen found herself feeling unfulfilled and questioning whether she was truly happy. She realized that in order to put her heart and soul into her work, she needed to pursue a career that aligned with her values and sense of purpose. This was when she discovered her true calling or what she calls, “the bug” in the non-profit sector giving back to the Vietnamese community.
As a Vietnamese refugee, Quyen understands the importance of finding a career that brings joy and meaning to one's life. Her family's struggles and sacrifices have taught her that life is too short to waste time pursuing something that does not ignite a passion within. That's why she believes that everyone should find their own "calling," that thing that drives them to work hard and make a difference in the world. For Quyen, that calling is the desire to help others and make a positive impact in her community.
A Message to Future Generations of Vietnamese Americans
“We need to band together to have a stronger community voice. Because if all you think about is the individual families, and being separated, then not being connected is not strong. So in order to advance our community, to get more protection, more help, and more resources for us, we need to bend together as a community.”
Quyen's words are a reminder of our own struggles and the people who have selflessly supported us. They serve as a poignant reminder of the hardships she has faced and the sacrifices she has made to create a better life for herself and those around her. Her message is one of gratitude, empathy, and resilience, urging us never to forget the struggles of our past and to use them as a source of strength to help others in need. Quyen's unwavering commitment to her community and the selfless acts of kindness she has demonstrated throughout her life are shining examples of the human spirit at its best, and her words inspire us all to strive for greatness and make a difference in the world.
It's easy to get caught up in our own lives and forget about the struggles of others, but we must always strive to be empathetic and understanding. The sacrifices made by our parents and ancestors have paved the way for us to have better opportunities and a brighter future. It's our responsibility to continue that legacy and help others in need, just as we have been helped in the past. By paying it forward, we can create a ripple effect of positivity and generosity that can impact future generations.