From Theories to Ideas and Practice: Stories of Good Doings by UWC Short Course Students

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.

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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.”

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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!

Good Work for Brazilian Educators Featured on CNN

Professors Valéria Arantes and Ulisses Araújo of the University of São Paulo have for the past several years been working on an investigation of “good work” with Brazilian educators, part of The Good Project Brasil (link) initiative. Our team has been excited to observe how ideas from The Good Project have been applied in the Brazilian context.

Recently, this work appeared on CNN Brasil in two video features that highlighted ongoing research and implications for teachers, which we share below for our readers. (Note that the videos are in the original Portuguese.)

The first video spotlight described the investigation that Arantes and Araújo have done of “good teaching,” including the 3 Es of good work (excellence, ethics, and engagement). In interviews with 2,000 Brazilian public school teachers, participants were asked about their values and sense of purpose within education. Questions included:

1. What are your goals and plans for the coming years and a brighter future?

2. Tell us about your life purpose, describing in detail your thoughts, feelings, and actions about them.

83% of teachers in the sample described education as central to their vision of life. 88% commented on excellence, while 56% described a commitment to ethics and responsibility. Arantes, Araújo, and their colleagues conclude that teacher trainings should support educators to develop purpose and foster socioemotional skills.

The second feature includes teachers’ responses to a question regarding their “dream school,” with 97% of respondents desiring change from current educational models. Themes discussed by teachers included more democratic and inclusive institutions; active learning pedagogies; and a focus on citizenship.

We congratulate Valéria, Ulisses, and their team for this recognition of their work and look forward to continuing to follow their progress! 

Announcing Two Workbooks on Better Arguments and Good Work

At a time when divisions between people feel like they are deepening, we believe that encouraging Better Arguments can lead to Good Work.

Check out two new workbooks we created in partnership with the Better Arguments Project, a collaboration between the Aspen Institute, Facing History and Ourselves, and The Allstate Corporation.

The first workbook is intended to spark dialogue in workplaces, while the second is intended for educators and schools. Both workbooks use an original dilemma from The Good Project as a tool for exploring the five principles of better arguments and the three Es of good work.

We hope these resources will assist all people in learning how to have better, more productive arguments. Click the buttons below to access.

This resource and others can also be found at http://betterarguments.org.

Announcing: New Research Paper

We are excited to announce that we have added a new research paper to our collection:

Professions in the Age of Information Technologies and Artificial Intelligences:

The Case of Medicine, Law and Education in China by Xin Xiang

This paper, by Xin Xiang, examines “the possible futures of the professions in China: Will the Chinese professions be able to leapfrog over the professionalism stage and become global leaders in the age of information technologies and artificial intelligences, or will they be crippled by the under-development of professionalism throughout the 20th century?"

To read the paper, visit our publications page or click here.

Announcing: New Animated Dilemma Series

Elena is a high school student in New Jersey who immigrated with her parents to the United States from Mexico at a young age. She is proud of her Hispanic heritage, and she volunteers at a cultural center after school to share her culture with others. However, Elena notes that Hispanic people are treated unfairly in America, something she has witnessed personally with her father, who often has a difficult time staying employed in the construction industry. She is currently required by her school to take part in a senior internship experience, and she is applying for a few different opportunities. Elena is worried she will be discriminated against in her job search like she has seen happen to her father. She wonders if she should “hide” certain aspects of herself, such as her full name and experiences related to her ethnicity, from her resume when she is applying for the internships in order to eliminate the possibility that she will be discriminated against by hiring managers.

What would you do if you were Elena? If you were her friend, what would you advise Elena to do in this situation?

This dilemma and others are part of a new set of animated videos produced by The Good Project.

In the currently four-part series, we spotlight the following dilemmas from our collection, all of which are based on true stories from our research:

• Beyond the Science Club

• Tough Love

•   Money Troubles

• Hiding Your Heritage

Each of the stories concerns a central character who faces a challenging circumstance or difficult decision related to their work or an area of passion. For example, Tough Love is about a driven young gymnast who sometimes feels pressure to attend grueling practice sessions even when she is exhausted. Money Troubles is about a nonprofit leader who must decide whether to return donations to supporters after the promise of a matching grant falls through.

Intended for use with students ages 12 and up, educators can use these videos in a variety of ways in both in-person and virtual classrooms. For example, the videos can serve as:

• The basis of a group discussion or individual reflection, in real-time or on a discussion board, about the predicament or choice each character faces, taking into account the “3 Es of good work” (excellence, ethics, and engagement)

• A chance for students to make personal connections to similar situations that they may have encountered in their own lives, or an example that students can emulate as they make their own storyboards, comic strips, or videos about their own dilemma

• Inspiration for a role-playing game or debate, assigning students to play the parts of different interest groups in each dilemma and engage in perspective taking and conflict resolution

You can view all four of the videos in the slider below, and check back in the future for additional videos to be added to our resources under our Videos page.