Newsletter 4: All About Milestones!
1 July 2023
Director’s Introduction
Dear all,
Warm July greetings from Ho Chi Minh City! After three newsletters, I realized that I haven't properly introduced myself. Please allow me to share a bit about my background and the inception of the UWC Vietnam Campus Project.
I first learned about the UWC movement when I worked as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Dartmouth College. I was responsible for reviewing applications from East Asia, including China, and my favorite application that year was from a Malaysian student at UWC Changshu China (UWC-CSC). I remember thinking, "What is this magical school called UWC, and how have I not heard of it before?! In the spring, UWC-CSC, in its second year of operations, began building a university counseling department. I was hired as one of three inaugural University Counselors.
My three years at UWC-CSC were nothing short of transformative. Students came from over 100 countries, and we all lived on campus, including staff and faculty. The open-mindedness and kindness of my students, along with their dedication to building a tight-knit community, left a lasting impression on me. It felt like I was witnessing a high school experience that I had always wanted to have.
As I helped my students think about their university destinations, I found myself being the curator of their personal narratives. From a young Afghani woman trying to raise children's literacy levels in Kabul by building a public library to a young Salvadoran entrepreneur who dreams of bringing more jobs to his country, I was captivated by the stories of every single student that sat across from me. Although I chose to leave China and pursue opportunities in Vietnam, I always knew that I would stay involved with the UWC movement in some way.
In 2020, I moved to Ho Chi Minh City and began volunteering for UWC Vietnam's National Committee as a Selection Committee Member. I learned that in Vietnam, more than 300 students from over 35 provinces apply for just ten UWC scholarship spots each year. As I reviewed hundreds of applications and participated in an intensive four-day selection round and interviews in Hanoi, I found myself spellbound by the sheer caliber of the students.
Some of the students, especially those from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, came from top-tier gifted or international schools. However, more than 50% of the interviewees came from smaller provinces around the country, many of which I had not heard of before. But one thing was the same for all of them: they were all making a positive impact on their friends, families, schools, or communities at large. They reminded me so much of my students at UWC-CSC, and selecting just ten students for scholarships was an extremely difficult endeavor. Three years later, it still is.
The initial idea for the UWC Vietnam Campus Project took place in late December of 2022 when I returned to Ho Chi Minh City from Berlin to participate in the 2023 UWC Vietnam Selections. I had been based in Berlin during my "adult gap year," where I took a year off from working to think about my career pivot, travel, and reconnect with important people in my life. However, I was still volunteering on UWC Vietnam's Selection Committee and decided to fly back for the interviews. During a one-on-one dinner with Cat-Thu Nguyen, a colleague from the Selection Committee and the Chairwoman of United World Initiative, I inquired whether there had been any initiatives to start a UWC campus in Vietnam. She informed me that there had been discussions in the past, but no one had been willing to step away from their full-time job to take on the task.
Conveniently unemployed at the time, I volunteered to steer the project, returned to Berlin, started chatting with some folks, and came back to Ho Chi Minh City in February. The rest is covered in our three prior newsletters.
My "adult gap year" proved fruitful. Directing this project has indeed involved a significant amount of work, but it has never felt like a burden or a chore. I genuinely love what we aim to achieve with our small (and growing!) yet mighty team, and I find myself looking forward to Mondays. I am so immensely grateful for this opportunity and to have all of you be a part of the journey. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this project will take a village.
Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter, fellow villagers! Welcome 😁
What is the UWC Vietnam Campus Project?
The UWC Vietnam Campus Project aims to establish a UWC school in the vibrant and culturally rich country of Vietnam, offering a three-year high school experience to students.
At its core, the UWC Vietnam Campus Project aligns with the mission that has defined UWC since its inception. We seek to unite young minds from diverse backgrounds, fostering understanding, empathy, and a commitment to positive change. While still in its infancy, our project is gradually taking shape as we engage in strategic planning to determine our specific vision and value proposition.
Driven by a dedicated core team of four members (soon to be six!), with the support of an advisory board of four members, we are working diligently to lay the foundation for a UWC school in Vietnam. We recognize the significance of Vietnam's rich heritage and the resiliency of its people, and our aim is to create a nurturing environment that embraces the local context.
Through a rigorous academic program (the International Baccalaureate) and a strong emphasis on experiential learning, the UWC Vietnam Campus will empower students to become lifelong learners and compassionate global citizens. We value your support, encouragement, and engagement as we embark on this journey together.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to build a school. Thank you for being part of the UWC Vietnam community, and I look forward to sharing more updates with you as our vision for the UWC Vietnam Campus Project continues to unfold.
Introducing Huong Tran to the UWC Vietnam Campus Project Advisory Board
Huong is a Venture Partner at Monk's Hill Ventures, a Southeast Asia-focused venture capital firm. With over 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia, she has expertise in early-stage tech companies and Fortune 500 organizations. Huong's responsibilities include deal sourcing, analysis, execution, and close collaboration with portfolio companies.
She has a diverse background, having launched consumer products for Unilever in Southeast Asian markets, contributed to the mobile launch of Yahoo flagship communications products, and founded her own travel startup, Magpie. Recently, Huong played a key role in leading a new business unit at MoMo, a Vietnamese fintech unicorn, creating Local Discovery products for merchants and users.
Huong holds an MBA from Stanford University, being the first student from Vietnam to attend the prestigious business school following the end of the war in 1975.
Inaugural Advisory Board Meeting
We successfully conducted our inaugural advisory board meeting in late June, bringing together the four advisory board members and the four core team members. This meeting proved to be incredibly valuable as it provided us with an opportunity to provide updates about the project to the advisory board and engage in a meaningful discussion regarding the potential challenges ahead. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Huong, Nam, Rocky, and Thuy for their time and wisdom!
Fundraising Efforts
We have been engaging in initial fundraising efforts in conjunction with establishing our legal identity to secure funds for the first 12-18 months of operations. We are grateful to announce that we have received an initial pledge of approximately $20,000 from a donor whose generosity and shared commitment to the UWC vision and mission are deeply appreciated.
Team Expansion
We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our core team with the addition of two exceptional individuals who will join us as UWC Impact Fellows in August. After a rigorous selection process, we have extended our invitation to these recent university graduates who possess a deep passion for education, cross-cultural understanding, and a commitment to making a positive impact. Over the next 12 months, these fellows will design and lead their own signature projects to drive forward the UWC Vietnam Campus Project. Their unique perspectives and fresh insights will no doubt enrich our core team. Please be on the lookout for a feature about the two fellows in the next newsletter!
Core Team, Core Values
The core team recently engaged in an exercise to identify the values that would serve as the basis for our team culture. The UWC Vietnam Campus Project is grounded in authenticity, belonging, family, and courage. We prioritize being true to ourselves and others, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives and ideas are embraced trust and genuine collaboration. We believe in creating a sense of belonging where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best while growing as distinct individuals. By cultivating inclusivity, we recognize and celebrate the unique strengths, experiences, and perspectives that each member brings to our collective success.
Additionally, while we are not a family, we embrace the spirit of one, treating one another with kindness, empathy, and respect. Within our team, we foster a supportive and nurturing atmosphere where we support one another and celebrate both small and large successes together. We also understand the importance of courage as a catalyst for growth and positive change. We encourage our team members to step outside their comfort zones, take calculated risks, own up to mistakes, and approach challenges with resilience. By cultivating a courageous mindset, we foster innovation, inspire creativity, and overcome obstacles that come our way.
These four core values intertwine to shape our unique culture. By fostering authenticity, promoting belonging, embodying the essence of family, and embracing courage, we hope to see team members flourish, collaborate effectively, and make a lasting impact in our relentless pursuit of our mission.