by Doing Good Alumni 2024, edited by Thanh Nguyen
In Summer 2024, “Doing Good: A UWC Short Course,” inspired by The Good Project’s Good Work curriculum, welcomed its first cohort of students. Over 2.5 weeks, 35 students from 12 countries connected both online and in Binh Dinh, Vietnam, exploring the Good Work framework while engaging with local partners on real-world impact projects. Our greatest pride isn’t just the meaningful experiences we shared, but the inspiration and learning that students carried forward to fuel their own social initiatives. In this blog, we’re excited to share some of their Doing Good stories, in their own voices.
1. Seohyeon Kim (Elin): Doing Good Holistically for Underserved Communities
Pictures from Growth Link's Christmas celebration on December 21, 2024.
“Doing Good inspired me to found Growth Link, an organization that promotes financial literacy and equitable education in underserved Southeast Asian communities. The program taught me the importance of making a big impact through small, meaningful steps -- this principle motivated me to organize various initiatives over the months.
First, we’ve conducted our first donation event in Cavite, the Philippines, in collaboration with a local missionary. Through fundraisers, we’ve gathered over $2,500, which was used for educational supplies, event logistics, and other community engagement activities. Our efforts culminated in an “Under the Sea” event, where we distributed essential educational resources for 100+ children and 50+ families.
Second, we organized a Christmas celebration for the same community; by transforming a small outdoors area into a festive space, we allowed more than 100 community members to bond. With personalized gifts for children and a feast (which was wanted by all members), we ensured that no one was left empty-handed. Three families with children were each given $200 to meet their immediate needs, and an elderly couple -- with the grandmother recently blinded in an accident -- was given $200 to assist with medical and daily expenses.
Last, we established and taught a financial literacy curriculum, teaching students in Cavite to understand money, banking, saving, borrowing, and smart spending. This effort is ongoing.
My project reflects the pillars of good work -- excellence through thoughtful planning and sustained efforts; ethics through an emphasis on equity, social responsibility, and long-term empowerment; engagement through active community involvement and personalization.”
2. PK Nguyen (PK): “How Do I Want to Do Good?” & The Important First Step
PK (in white shirt on the right) and her friends performing at Nguyen Nga Center during Doing Good 2024.
“Growing up, art was always an outlet for me to communicate emotions that I couldn't articulate. It allowed me to be myself, express my emotions, feelings, and I want to help other children experience the same freedom.
I first thought of Art Across Boundaries before Doing Good, but it wasn't until the short course and more specifically our visit to the Nguyen Nga Center that I realized its importance. Seeing the children's joy and excitement while we shared stories and created art made me certain that I wanted to make "something" that would allow every child to express themselves freely, as art should never be a privilege, it should be as free, as limitless as our imagination.
Doing Good also made me reflect on how I want to make change, not only in my own community, but also on a larger scale: our world. It demonstrated how tiny gestures can make a significant impact, and that change begins with people who are willing to take the first step. Art Across Boundaries would be that first step: a project that connects artists and students from big cities with children in disadvantaged regions, providing creative workshops in painting, storytelling, traditional crafts, and so on.
To gain more insight and help make this project a reality, I interned at a kindergarten, where I taught in three different languages. Now, I want to share my vision to gain the support I need to start this initiative. Art Across Boundaries is about art, connection, and ensuring that every child’s creativity and imagination are seen and celebrated.”
3. Abdalrahman Mohamed (Mekkawy): Putting Doing Good Theories to Action
Mekkawy performing in a cultural activity at Doing Good 2024.
“After the Doing Good short course, I had this whole new idea of what “doing good” really meant. It was about actively making a difference. I started thinking, “I want to be a global citizen, making good work wherever I go.'' That's what pushed me to pack my bags and head to Cape Town, South Africa for an apprenticeship at Cape Town TV.
All the way from Egypt to South Africa, stepping outside my comfort zone. I joined the ''Cape Town Daily News Show'' as a news reporter, and it was intense. I was all in on advocating for human rights. I teamed up with over 30 international journalists and 15+ NGOs, and together, we put out more than 40 news segments. We reached 1.5 million viewers across South Africa.
But it wasn't just about the numbers. I also got to create two of my own segments. I focused on issues I cared about -- social and environmental problems, freedom of expression, giving local voices a platform. It was my chance to really put those 'Excellent, Ethical, Engaging' principles into action.
This whole experience totally changed me. It was a journey where I discovered a whole new dimension to 'doing good.' It's about being active, it's about being ethical, and it's about making a real, tangible difference. It's about seeing the world as your home and using your skills to make it better.”
4. Nguyễn Phan Trà Giang (Giang): Recognizing the Internal Transformation in Doing Good
Giang (in white T-shirt on the left) & Co-Founders at ArtSci’s first comics exhibition.
“With my two best friends, Bội Trân and Bảo Anh, in July 2023, I founded ArtSci – a community initiative – to bridge the gap between art and science. We wanted to create a space for those who never knew if they were artists or a scientist -- so we chose to embrace both. Through original bilingual scientific comics, we make complex concepts engaging for students. But ArtSci is more than just education, it’s a platform for impact.
So far, we have created 11 comics, reaching 540+ followers and bringing science to life through exhibitions, including one at Wellspring Saigon Bilingual School with 800+ visitors. Recently, we expanded from 3 to 8 members, growing our creative and outreach efforts. Every success came with sweat, tears, and countless hours perfecting details.
Beyond education, ArtSci fuels real-world change. We sold comics to fund INSPIRE Eco-Empathy, a campaign supporting pediatric patients with educational gifts, medical devices, and eco-conscious learning, having sold 570+ copies. By turning learning into action, we bridge education with social good.
But impact isn’t just external -- this journey has changed us too. We’ve evolved in how we see the world, bonded over meaningful work, and navigated the chaos of being full-time students with a passion project. We lost our way at times, argued, laughed, and figuratively died -- but we persisted. And there’s strength in that.
To us, Doing Good isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about creating, sharing, and letting impact grow. Through Excellence, Ethics, and Engagement, ArtSci is making science come alive -- not just on paper, but in the real world.”
5. Thân Minh Nhật (Nhật/William): Doing Good as Part Of One’s Core Values
William at Cultural Night - Doing Good 2024.
“Since the short course, I have been working on a project called PlastiTrade Ecosystem, and it has changed me a lot.
I launched PlastiTrade Ecosystem with the aim to change community perceptions about disability. The center of this project is a marketplace that buys plastic from households, collects processed waste from MRF (materials recovery facility) stations. We partner with the Centre for People with Disabilities in Binh Dinh to recycle and sell recycled products, as well as provide tutorials on waste segregation.
This circular economy approach not only encourages public participation for waste disposal but also provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Recently, we have extended this project to collaborate with Den Cafe, where the staff are people with physical disabilities and hearing impairments. In addition, we’ve also established a series of innovative educational campaigns and conferences, hoping to elevate the voices and roles of young people in protecting the environment and building a sustainable green community.
Attending Doing Good made me realize that these initiatives aren’t just about helping the vulnerable. They are also a medium through which we can create strong connections, deep understanding, and systemic & sustainable change in society. It was at the Doing Good family that I came to understand how much I care about addressing social issues. It's a core part of my values and a way of showing who I truly am.”
We hope that students' stories from the “Doing Good” short course have highlighted the impact of the Good Work curriculum and the incredible potential of our generation to create meaningful change in their own unique ways.
After the priority deadline on April 6, Doing Good: A UWC Short Course 2025 is still accepting applications. Late applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, while spots remain.
Help us expand the reach by sharing Doing Good: A UWC Short Course with your networks:
Website & FAQs: https://www.forgood.education/doing-good
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uwcshortcourses.educationforgood
Two-pager: https://bit.ly/Doing-Good-Two-Pager
Email: doinggood@uwc.vn
You can also support students in financial need through donations. Every contribution makes a difference, and we deeply appreciate your support!