Working for social good in Vietnam through the RARE Program

Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies student Peter Trani participated in our Remote and Rural Enterprise (RARE) Program in Vietnam through the International Business Special Project - IBUS3106 unit of study. Peter and his fellow RARE team members were awarded the Richard Seymour Memorial Prize in Social Entrepreneurship in 2019 for their outstanding work in Hanoi.

See what Peter learned by working with Vietnamese social enterprise TASA to improve their marketing and communications.

What is the RARE Program and why did you decide to get involved?

The RARE Program is a rewarding university program that connects students with local communities. It allows students to work in the real world, helping real clients develop real solutions for their real problems. I got involved as I'm passionate about social good, which is all about taking action that serves the purpose of improving the world around you.

How did you apply for the RARE Program?

RARE has quite a thorough application process, which involves written applications whereby students reflect on their past experiences, suitability for the role and, most importantly, their underlying passion for making social impact. 

What did the RARE Program involve?

The RARE Program is a much more 'complete' program than a two-week experience suggests. As a class, we had several pre-program workshops in Sydney that were extremely rewarding – learning about Social Impact concepts, speaking with our Vietnamese partners and getting to know our colleagues. Whilst in Vietnam, students truly have the freedom to approach the tasks how they wish – some focus on collecting primary research, some strategise business plans with their internal entrepreneur, some communicate with external business partners. The beauty of RARE is that each team has a totally different experience based on their own skills, their client’s needs and their ideas on what’s most important for their business. At the end of the program, students are provided an opportunity to reflect on their experience through an enjoyably presentation day, the final business report and independent reflections. 

How do you think the RARE Program has helped your career?

RARE acted as my entry point into the world of Social Impact, and has inspired me to pursue a career where I can improve the lives of individuals, communities and the world as a whole. After finishing the program, I realised there were so many long-term entrepreneurial opportunities whereby I could combine my learned business skill-set with my passion for social good. I’ve also found that RARE provides a distinct point-of-differentiation when talking to interviewers, as it truly is a unique program that only a few students will ever experience.

What was the best part of your experience?

Overall, I’ll be forever thankful for all the opportunities RARE provided, but the most important impact was certainly the most immediate: as a team, we were able to solve a real problem with real solutions for real social entrepreneurs. To me, having a lasting, positive impact on the social enterprise culture within the rapidly emerging Vietnam will always be the most valuable takeaway. The friends you make aren’t bad either – it is a great opportunity to branch out from your traditional Commerce peers and understand the perspectives of other students via RARE's unique inter-disciplinary teams.

Peter Trani

What was the biggest challenge and what did you learn from it?

I think the biggest challenge for all students was adapting to how other cultures conduct business. As USYD students, we are taught theories, concepts and case studies from Western contexts, so having to quickly comprehend how Vietnamese entrepreneurs differ in their approach to market research, bookkeeping and strategic planning can be initially overwhelming! However, it’s well worth it – RARE provides a great opportunity to get outside your comfort zone, experience other cultures and broaden your thinking.  

What advice would you give to other students?

Get outside your comfort zone and embrace the foreign culture! When in Vietnam, our team made a conscious effort to try local foods, meet local people and understand the day-to-day local culture. This allowed us to more holistically understand how Vietnamese people think, act and feel, which in turn helped us develop real-world solutions that were actually practical for our social entrepreneur. Beyond that, RARE and the Australian Government provide students a unique two-week experience in a completely different culture – why not make the most of that and have some fun?

Learn more about the RARE Program and see how you can get involved.