Four years ago, I faced a health scare that deeply shook me. During that uncertain time, the kindness of the Vietnamese community became my anchor. My doctor went out of her way to take me to early-morning hospital appointments, my local bánh mì vendor noticed my unease and offered small gestures of comfort, and my students and colleagues provided unwavering support. These acts of compassion gave me a sense of belonging I had not expected as a newcomer to Vietnam. In many ways, Vietnam saved me, and I knew I wanted to give back.
My time as a University Counselor at UWC Changshu China had already shown me the transformative power of education. At UWC, I worked with students from over 100 countries who embraced its 60+ year-old idealistic vision: “How can there be peace if people do not understand each other? And how can they understand each other if they do not know each other?” Working alongside these young changemakers stretched me in ways I had not anticipated—it broadened my perspective, deepened my empathy, and challenged me to think more expansively about what education could be. Their drive and courage did not just inspire me; they profoundly changed me.
Each year, hundreds of Vietnamese students apply for UWC scholarships, yet only a handful are selected. That disparity stayed with me, and in conversations with colleagues from the UWC Vietnam Selection Committee, I learned that previous efforts to establish a UWC campus in Vietnam had stalled. Conveniently between jobs at the time, I decided to take on this monumental challenge.
Over the past 20 months, I have poured my heart into the UWC-Inspired Vietnam Campus Project. What began as an idea has grown into a mission to create a nonprofit boarding school rooted in the values of inclusivity, peacebuilding, and sustainability. We have started with scalable programs—short courses and workshops—that help students explore life’s deeper questions: What does it mean to live a good life? How do we contribute meaningfully to our communities? How do we become better stewards of the Earth?
Our goal is to create a deliberately diverse campus where students not only excel academically but also grow holistically and purposefully. We strive to build a space where every student feels a true sense of belonging—where they can connect across differences, find their voices, and feel empowered to make meaningful contributions. Education in Vietnam, like many other parts of Asia, often prioritizes academic excellence, but we aim to go further—to foster empathy, intercultural understanding, and a commitment to doing good—for oneself and for the broader community.
This project is deeply personal to me. Vietnam gave me a renewed sense of purpose during one of the most challenging times of my life. Now, through this work, I hope to give back by building a space where students from all walks of life can find their purpose, belong to a community, and create ripples of change that transform Vietnam and the world.
Thank you for joining me on this journey and being a part of the village.
Yours, Sam Jeong Founder and Director, Education for Good
