The journey from a "border boy" to becoming one of 9 Vietnamese representatives invited by UNICEF to attend the ACYCS 2025 Summit

Nguyen Huu Quan - former student of K15 Faculty of Business Administration - Dai Nam University, is one of 9 Vietnamese youths invited by UNICEF to attend the ASEAN Children and Youth Climate Summit - ACYCS 2025 in Malaysia. Not stopping there, Quan also shared at a panel discussion at the United Nations headquarters in Vietnam, bringing his social enterprise story "Border Dream" to international friends. Let's learn about this determined and strong-willed young man!

Nguyen Huu Quan - From "Border Boy" is currently Founder & CEO of "Border Dream" Social Enterprise Joint Stock Company

Start a business while still in school

Born in 2003, graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing - Dai Nam University, Nguyen Huu Quan is not only an excellent alumnus in terms of academic achievements but also an ambitious young entrepreneur. Coming out of the Social Innovation Launch startup competition, while still in school, Quan founded the Uoc Mo Khuong Bien Social Enterprise Joint Stock Company (UMVB) - a social project with the mission of "lighting up millions of dreams in the border area".

Huu Quan and his teammates entered the National Finals of the SV Startup 2025 Startup Competition.
organized by the Ministry of Education and Training

Recently, Quan was honored to be one of nine Vietnamese youths invited by UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) to Malaysia to attend the ASEAN Children and Youth Climate Change Summit - ACYCS 2025. Huu Quan was also one of eight people who shared at the United Nations roundtable discussion: "Promoting human development through inclusive climate solutions led by youth".

The young man has had many activities to support people in the highlands with UNICEF.

Talking about his student, Associate Professor Dr. Truong Duc Thao - Head of the Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing commented: “In my first impression, Quan was a skinny, dark-skinned boy, with a face that exuded the hardship of a “child from the highlands” - reminding me of myself after graduating from grade 12 in 2001. On the first online class reunion during the pandemic, Quan appeared on the Zoom screen next to an old motorbike, in front of the porch of a fibro-cement house at 8 pm. Quan immediately volunteered to be the class monitor when I asked about establishing a temporary executive committee. Since then, he has always been enthusiastic and active in class and school activities, and in startup movements. Quan's face always radiated youthful aspirations, the desire to change his life and his homeland - the pride of “children from the highlands” who came to the lowlands to start a business.”

The image of a "frontier founder", slim figure but always full of energy in all activities of the faculty and the School

Quan has also been very active in volunteer activities since he was a student at school.

Originated from a simple dream

Quan grew up with love and pride for his homeland, but also felt pain when witnessing the difficulties of the people in the border areas: children lacked learning conditions, and people's livelihoods were still precarious. A saying urged Quan to make efforts to act: "My homeland is beautiful, but it will be more beautiful when people are warm and well-off, children go to school in full, and this place develops more and more."

UMVB team always strives to develop sustainable economy, spreading the image and culture of the homeland.

From the initial ideas in the Social Innovation Launch – SiL 2023 startup competition, Quan gradually realized the UMVB project with three main directions:

1. Volunteer tourism: Connecting urban youth with the highlands through cultural experiences, supporting education and spreading compassion.
2. Preserving border culture: Creating jobs for local people through tour guiding, reenacting traditional rituals, while preserving national identity.
3. Promote agricultural trade: Support people in finding outlets for agricultural products and specialties, bringing genuine, quality products to consumers.

Quan and his team's UMVB project has brought many meaningful programs and gifts to children in the highlands - the place where Quan was born and raised.

The enduring journey and memorable milestones

The early days of starting a business were not easy, but with perseverance, aspiration and the spirit of daring to think and dare to do, Quan and the project team have achieved many impressive achievements:

- Entered the SV-STARTUP 2025 Finals organized by the Ministry of Education and Training.
- Founder & CEO of social enterprise Border Dream
- Recognized by UNICEF in the category "For child survival, development and environment" (December 2024)
- Benefited more than 1,000 children, 50 households in 4 localities and helped 106 young people have a more positive mindset through the Border Dream project
- Received certificates of merit and recognition from many local authorities for contributions to social security and promoting local development such as: Ta Su Choong, Lung Tao, Vinh Tuy (Ha Giang),....
- Became one of 9 Vietnamese youth representatives to share at the Summit in Malaysia about the project "Border Dream".
- Sharing at the United Nations roundtable discussion: "Advancing human development through youth-led, inclusive climate solutions"

On August 12, Quan (in blue shirt) shared at the United Nations roundtable discussion: "Promoting human development through inclusive climate solutions led by youth".

Behind the spotlight

Quan always has deep gratitude for Dai Nam University, which not only imparts knowledge but also serves as a launching pad to help students confidently step into life. He cannot hide his gratitude:
" I would like to thank the School, the Board of Directors, and the teachers of the Faculty of Business Administration and Marketing for always creating conditions, supporting, and backing the project. This is a great motivation to help me realize my dream, not only affirming that Dai Nam students are dynamic, creative, and intelligent, but also dare to dream and dare to carry out the national mission."

Since studying at school, the boy and his friends have been given opportunities by teachers in the department to practice practical skills at businesses to practice real-life skills.

Accompanying Quan on his journey to adulthood is the Student Employment & Entrepreneurship Center of Dai Nam University - the place that advised and supported his project right from the beginning when it was just an idea. Mr. Ha Tien Dat, Deputy Director of the Employment and Entrepreneurship Center, shared: “Quan is an energetic student with many ambitions. As soon as I listened to Quan's idea, I saw a light of belief in his eyes. The days participating in the SiL startup competition opened up a new journey for Quan: receiving systematic training, connecting with mentors, and gradually turning ideas into real products. Today's results are not only Quan's own achievement, but also a testament to the spirit of daring to think - daring to do - daring to commit, and the persistent companionship of the teachers of Dai Nam University."

Mr. Ha Tien Dat (far right) has accompanied Quan since the days when UMVB was just a budding idea.

Nguyen Huu Quan is not only an example of effort and perseverance, but also a testament to the spirit of Dai Nam students - dynamic, creative, intelligent and daring to act for the national mission.

From a border boy, Quan has stepped out into the world. What about you?

Don't wait for conditions to come. Start and the conditions will come.