Mr. Thanh Bui - Singer | Songwriter | Entrepreneur |Music Educator
Thanh Bui is an award-winning Australian-Vietnamese singer/song-writer, with numerous Gold-Records and Number 1 hit songs throughout his career. Upon returning to Vietnam in 2011, he is established as one of the leading artists in the country but more notably, Thanh has won the hearts of the people through his passion in raising the awareness of the importance of music/arts education to develop a new generation of Vietnamese children.
An artist, a singer, a song-writer, a public figure, an entrepreneur and a music educator, Thanh is committed to improving the lives of those around him through his various roles, and inspiring the next generation to lift Vietnam onto the world-stage.
An artist, a singer, a song-writer, a public figure, an entrepreneur and a music educator, Thanh is committed to improving the lives of those around him through his various roles, and inspiring the next generation to lift Vietnam onto the world-stage.
Ms. Rita McDermott - Educator
Rita McDermott has been a teacher at SSIS for three years and has been regularly involved in community service activities since she was a middle school student in the club Youth Rise. She feels especially drawn to issues regarding gender equality and education, as you can see on her blog 30 by 30: Reflect Back, Pay it Forward, which details her experience creating over 30 dance videos and raising over $16,500 for girls' education. Before moving to Vietnam, Rita lived, worked, and volunteered in Colombia, Costa Rica, and the USA. When she is not teaching or volunteering, you can find her on the dance floor, on her bicycle, or reading in her hammock.
Ms. Kim Miller - Blue Dragon Foundation
This year, Ms. Kim will share her story of deciding to join the Blue Dragon Foundation (www.streetkidsinvietnam.com) to rescue trafficked children and heart-warming stories that will inspire all of us.
Blue Dragon Foundation is a foundation for the street kids of Vietnam. On top of providing long-term care, shelter, educational opportunities and escape from their places of slavery, they also provide more services tailored to the individual needs of each child: education, nutrition, health care, counselling, physical and creative activities, rescue, legal advocacy and safe shelter led by their team of social workers, psychologists, teachers and lawyers.
Blue Dragon Foundation is a foundation for the street kids of Vietnam. On top of providing long-term care, shelter, educational opportunities and escape from their places of slavery, they also provide more services tailored to the individual needs of each child: education, nutrition, health care, counselling, physical and creative activities, rescue, legal advocacy and safe shelter led by their team of social workers, psychologists, teachers and lawyers.
Ms. Hang Tran - Pacific Links
Ms. Hang Tran is a Program Specialist at Pacific Links Foundation, an NGO that leads counter-trafficking efforts at the frontiers of Vietnam. A Seattle native, Hang graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelors degree in Psychology, and has recently graduated from George Mason University with a Masters degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. As a writer, she has covered issues relating to East Asian affairs, with a focus on the interplay between theory and practice and its effects on international development planning and policy.
Ms. Hang will be facilitating two workshop sessions for students and one workshop session for teachers during the conference.
Ms. Hang will be facilitating two workshop sessions for students and one workshop session for teachers during the conference.