Newsletter 21: 🎉 We are Rebranding! 🎉
1 December, 2024
TL;DR
Rebranding Education for Good: New logo & Linkedin Profile (please follow us!)
Consider volunteering for our Virtual College Essay Writing Party and help spread the word
The inaugural Vietnam Changemakers Hackathon was a huge success!
We are hiring! Please scroll below
Please considering giving to Education for Good
Education for Good is Defying Gravity
Last weekend, I watched Wicked in the movie theater—twice. Wicked was the first Broadway musical I ever saw, back in 2007, with my high school best friend, Kate. It’s also the first album I memorized entirely, lyrics and all. A closeted Korean American teen in Seattle meets the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz—what’s not to love?
My favorite song from the show, “Defying Gravity,” contains a line that has always resonated with me: “Everyone deserves a chance to fly!” Today, it reminds me of my dad’s philosophy, one I’ve carried with me my entire life.
As long as I can remember, my dad has always said, "공부해서 남주자," which roughly translates to: “Let’s study for others” in Korean. This ethos has driven me to strive for goodness—not just for myself, but for the communities I’ve been privileged to serve. I believe education, at its core, is about lifting each other up, giving others the chance to fly, and empowering them to realize their fullest potential.
This is the very reason Education for Good exists: to create transformational, purpose-driven opportunities for youth in Vietnam and beyond. Our mission is to nurture a joyful and inclusive community of changemakers who embrace their authenticity for holistic growth, purposeful study, and impactful service.
Later this week, I’m going to FaceTime my dad to tell him about his philosophy on education, Wicked (which I am making him watch tomorrow! 😁), and how all of this ties into the name of our organization. He doesn’t yet know about the connection, and I can’t wait to see his reaction.
In the spirit of “defying gravity” and soaring to new heights, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of Education for Good’s official LinkedIn profile! Please follow us! We will soon update our Facebook and other social media platforms in the coming days. They will be our hubs for sharing updates, celebrating milestones, and connecting with our growing community of supporters and changemakers.
If you believe in giving youth the chance to fly, just like we do, we’d love for you to follow us on these platforms and consider giving to our initiative.
Your support makes all the difference. Let’s empower the next generation of leaders—together.
🎶 ”If we work in tandem, there's no fight we cannot win 🎵”
📢 Join Our Virtual College Essay Writing Party! ✍️✨
After the success of our in-person event in October, we’re excited to bring you a VIRTUAL College Essay Writing Party—open to students in Vietnam and Cambodia applying to U.S. universities on financial aid who lack access to school or independent counselors. We are proud to be co-organizing the event with Education USA, a part of the Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate, as well as outreach support from the National Committees of UWC Vietnam and UWC Cambodia.
🌟 Special Guest Alert 🌟
We are honored to welcome Lee Coffin, Vice President and Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at Dartmouth College (and my former boss! 🙌), as our keynote speaker.
📅 Event Details
🗓️ Date: Sunday, December 8
⏰ Time: 10:20 AM – 12:20 PM Vietnam time (GMT+7)
📍 Where: Zoom
👩🎓 Students: Scan the QR code above to register! Please also help us spread the word by sharing out the official Facebook post from the U.S. Consulate General HCMC to your network.
🤝 Volunteers Wanted!
If you’ve navigated the U.S. college admissions process or have experience supporting students with applications, we’d love to have you join us.
💡 Volunteer Roles:
✔️ Provide 1:1 essay feedback to Grade 12 students
✔️ Help students refine their stories
✔️ Familiarity with U.S. applications preferred (training provided!)
💬 Interested? Sign up here. Let’s make an impact together! 🌏🎓
🎉 Vietnam Changemakers Hackathon 2024: A Huge Success!
We are thrilled to share that the Vietnam Changemakers Hackathon 2024 was an incredible day of learning, innovation, and collaboration! With 46 students across 12 teams from 10 schools (including a team all the way from Bảo Lộc!), the event was a powerful showcase of young talent, creative thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit.
💡 Students gained hands-on experience pitching business ideas and learned from inspiring entrepreneurs. A huge congratulations to our awardees:
We are so proud of all participants for their innovative ideas and dedication to addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. There will certainly be more events coming in the future!
Here’s to the next generation of changemakers! 🚀✨
We are hiring!
We are hiring for the following positions:
If you or anyone you know might be looking for new and exciting opportunities to become a part of our project, please have them reach out directly to via sam.jeong@uwc.vn!
🎉 Thank You for Celebrating My Birthday with Purpose! 🎉
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to the UWC-Inspired Vietnam Campus Project (VNUWC) for my 33rd birthday. We raised over $3,000 to support transformative education in Vietnam! Your generosity truly makes a difference. 💙
As the holiday season approaches, I’d love to ask for you to continue the spirit of giving. Every contribution brings us closer to our mission of empowering future changemakers.
Ways to Donate:
Use a credit card to donate directly to VNUWC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization & Education for Good’s parent entity
Vietnam Bank Details:
Account Name: Education for Good Co. Ltd
Bank: MB Bank
Account Number: 318684746
Thank you for your continued support—whether it’s through a donation, following our Linkedin page, or cheering us on.
Warm regards,
Sam Jeong