Newsletter 3: June's Greetings
1 June 2023
Happy June, everyone!
June is the gateway to a new season in both the northern and southern hemispheres and it also serves as a halfway point (!) for the year. As a former university counselor, I've noticed that this time of year is when university graduations take place. I have been seeing many, many caps flying on social media posts over the past couple of weeks!
During my tenure as a university counselor at UWC Changshu China from 2017 to 2020, I had the privilege of guiding approximately 160 students on their journey to universities around the world. A significant part of my role involved writing letters of recommendation for these students, and my letters often included phrases along the lines of: "I am excited to see [ ] blossom in university and beyond!" As I have kept in touch with many of my former students, I have witnessed firsthand how they have seized the opportunities presented to them during their university years. Now that I am involved in the UWC Vietnam Campus Project, I wanted to delve into the realm of "beyond." Specifically, I was eager to explore how my students have continued to embody the core values of UWC and apply the lessons learned during their UWC experiences beyond the confines of university. I decided to ask two questions to some of my students who graduated last year and has gone through a whole year of “real life,” and here are some responses I received:
1. What three words would you use to describe the most important lessons you learned from UWC?
2. How have you applied these lessons to the real world in college or after graduation?
"Thanks to UWC, I believe I am even more loving than I was before." -student from Belgium
"Pulling from the unique strengths of one person to offset/balance/uplift/leverage the assets of a team as a whole." -student from Canada
"Every day...with the people you meet and how you relate with them...and set me up for university as well which made my transition so much easier" - student from Ghana
"I have been involved in as many as possible activities to raise awareness of the importance of sharing your ideas and becoming active listeners.” -student from Italy
"I seek opportunities that align my desire to make a positive change in the world. My work allows me to contribute to providing solutions for the energy crisis and helping corporations transition to renewable energies.” -student from Morocco
“Managing and enhancing relationships. Building long-standing relationships." -student from Lebanon
“The lessons I learned in China shaped me into the man I am today. Everything that I do, everyone I interact with, and everything that I am, embodies those lessons." -student from the USA
"All of my relationships, romantic, friendship and professional and still growing as a person!" -student from Luxembourg
It goes without saying, but my heart is full. I feel so grateful and lucky to be working on a project that will have a direct, real impact on students, many years after their graduation takes place.
Cheers to all the graduates!
Introducing Chris Day to UWC Vietnam Campus Project's Core Team
I met Chris in March of this year through a friend’s introduction. Chris came recommended to me for his expertise in helping build up international schools in Asia, and he helped me streamline my thinking in just 45 minutes. After our call, Chris messaged me to offer to meet with me bi-weekly to exchange ideas and progress, and has since joined us as a Senior Advisor. In this role, Chris provides strategic guidance to the core team, encompassing both long-term and short-term goals and projects, holds weekly individual meetings with core team members, and offers input and comprehensive support for intermittent projects. Welcome, Chris!
Chris is an experienced international school project director and non-profit executive based in Hoi An. He previously led the establishment of Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi in 2016, was a member of the founding team of Dulwich College (Singapore) in 2014, and served as secretary of the board of management for all Dulwich College campuses internationally. Chris has been living and working in Asia continuously since 2007. He holds an MBA with finance concentration from CEIBS and a BA in Philosophy from Mount Allison University.
Introducing Sam Nguyen to UWC Vietnam Campus Project's Core Team
I had the pleasure of meeting Sam during the UWC Vietnam selections in Hanoi in 2020 when she was volunteering for the event as an intern. Sam was one of the first individuals I spoke with about establishing a UWC campus in Vietnam, and I'm thrilled that in less than three years, it is becoming a reality! It is fantastic to have Sam join the core team.
Sam Nguyen’s lifelong goal is to educate, connect, and inspire young changemakers of diverse sociocultural backgrounds. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Northwestern University and is currently pursuing a dual master's degree in International Educational Development and Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania. Sam is committed to leveraging her intercultural competence and experience in teaching, project management, communication, and research to advance our collective work in multilingual and multicultural education, DEI, and youth and community development.
Setting Up a 501(c)(3) Entity in the United States
After discussions with the leadership team of United World Initiatives (UWI), the organization responsible for overseeing UWC Vietnam's National Committee selection process and granting scholarships to Vietnamese students studying abroad at one of the 18 UWCs, we have mutually agreed to separate the two entities. The UWI will be entrusted with managing the Vietnamese student selection process, while the UWC Vietnam Campus Project team will oversee the campus project. This decision stems from recognizing the distinct scope of responsibilities each entity carries. Consequently, we are currently seeking to incorporate a 501(c)(3) organization in the United States and establish an operating company here in Vietnam.
Updates on UWC Vietnam Impact Fellows Program
Since advertising for the Impact Fellows Program last month, we have received a significant number of applications for the program. The goal for the core team is to interview the shortlisted candidates in June and make a decision by the end of the month. We are honored to have received so much interest for the program in its first year, and look forward to kick starting the program this year. We thank all the candidates for their thoughtfulness in their applications!
UWC Vietnam: The School Model
While the core team of the campus project is actively engaged in strategic discussions about the future school model for UWC Vietnam, we highly value your input as fellow villagers and want you to be a part of this conversation. We encourage you to share your visions, thoughts, and comments regarding the UWC Vietnam school model. For any inquiries or contributions related to the school model, please reach out to Mai Nguyen, Senior Team Member, at mai.nguyen@uwcvn.org. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Fundraising
The core team is eagerly preparing to commence fundraising efforts for the project this month. Our objective is to secure seed funding to cover the initial 12 months of operations. We are eager to initiate discussions with philanthropists and individuals who share our belief in the transformative impact of a UWC education within the Vietnamese context. If you have any contacts in mind whom you believe would be interested in connecting with our team, kindly reach out to Sam Jeong, Director, at sam.jeong@uwcvn.org. Thank you in advance for any leads!
As we start June, I invite all of you to breathe, smile, and take in the present moment. Whether it’s enjoying the summer sun, a walk, the water, or spending time at home with family, I hope you remember there is much to be grateful about.
I, for one, am grateful for all of you! Thank you for being on this journey with me.
Yours,
Sam