BIS HCMC Student Ambassadors Join NAE Global Summit to Drive Change Through the UN Sustainable Development Goals

We were extremely proud of Devon, Martin and SeeEun, our three Student Ambassadors, who were selected to attend this year’s 2025 Nord Anglia Student Summit in Houston, Texas, a transformative leadership event focused on global citizenship, sustainability, and student-led innovation.

Through Nord Anglia Education’s collaboration with UNICEF, this annual summit brings together over 160 students from 54 Nord Anglia schools worldwide, offering a unique opportunity for young leaders in Years 10–12 to collaborate on real-world challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Hosted once again by The Village School and the British International School of Houston, the event ran from 21 to 28 June and was themed around LEADERSHIP.

We hear directly from Devon, Martin, and SeeEun as they share their inspiring journey in a beautifully written blog—capturing every moment, reflection, and discovery along the way. 

From Saigon to Houston: Our Life-Changing Journey at the NAE Summit 2025 that Taught Us About Leadership, Connection, and Ourselves

What happens when three students from BIS HCMC hop on a plane to Houston, Texas, to represent their school at a global summit? A journey of growth, collaboration, leadership, and plenty of bubble tea, of course. Over the course of 11 unforgettable days, we joined more than 160 students from Nord Anglia schools around the world at the 2025 NAE Student Summit, hosted by The Village School. It was a week of learning, laughter, late-night chats, and life-long memories, and we’re so excited to share it with you.

Thanks to BIS HCMC’s unique global connections through Nord Anglia Education, we weren’t just participants, we were creators. Through daily vlogs and a reflective diary, we documented our experience in real time, capturing the energy, the emotions, and the deeper lessons that came from stepping beyond our comfort zones.

Day 1: Planes, bubble tea, and first impressions 

We set off from Vietnam and arrived in Houston after a long journey via Taipei. The moment we landed, we were immersed in a new world. Exhausted but buzzing with excitement, we had our first taste of American breakfast and met more than 160 students from across the globe. One unexpected highlight? The strawberries in Texas are amazing!

Day 2: Settling in and making friends 

Waking up on day 2, we found ourselves immersed in the foreign, yet incredibly welcoming environment of the summit. As the official arrival day, it was a relaxed start to the week, giving new students time to settle in and those who arrived the night before a chance to recover from jet lag. Although there was no formal schedule, the day was far from quiet. We filled our time meeting new friends, playing casual sports, and exchanging personal stories from all corners of the globe.

Arrival day also offered a first look at the week ahead, with schedule overviews, introductions to our chaperones, and a warm welcome from special guests – setting the tone for an exciting and unforgettable summit experience.

Day 3: Building bonds and baseball nights

This marked the true beginning of our summit journey, as we dove into the wide range of enriching activities planned for the week.

We kicked off with team-building exercises designed to foster trust, collaboration, and a sense of community among participants. This laid the perfect foundation for the day’s main focus: a leadership-themed workshop inspired by this year’s summit theme. Using the learner ambitions guide we had completed before arrival, we reflected on our personal strengths and areas for growth, setting intentional goals to work towards throughout the week.

After a full day of connecting and learning, we wrapped up with a truly American experience – a minor league baseball game in Texas. From cheering in a private balcony suite to indulging in classic stadium food, it was the perfect way to unwind and soak up the local culture.

Day 4: Giving back through service 

As the jet lag began to fade from the faces of student leaders, we stepped into Day 4—Food Bank Day. The morning began with engaging sessions led by special guests from UNICEF, refreshing our knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

In the afternoon, we had the incredible opportunity to volunteer at the Houston Food Bank. Before getting to work, we learned about the realities of food insecurity and how initiatives like the Food Bank support SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Students were divided into small teams and assigned a variety of hands-on tasks including sorting donations, packing boxes, and moving pallets. After hours of hard work, we had collectively packed over 6,000kg of food—equivalent to more than 12,000 meals for those in need.

Looking back, the experience was both meaningful and rewarding, knowing our efforts would have a real-world impact. To round off the day, we returned to campus for a well-earned evening of fun: a Texas BBQ, shaved ice, sand volleyball, and plenty of laughter and connection.

Day 5: Exploring science, sharing our voice

We began with an exciting visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where we took part in a high-energy scavenger hunt through the Weiss Energy Hall and explored fascinating exhibits, including King Tut’s Tomb, the dinosaur gallery, and a mesmerising planetarium show on black holes.

Afterwards, we headed to POST Houston—a vibrant, modern food hall filled with unique vendors and stunning views of downtown. Over lunch, conversations flowed, connections deepened, and appetites were happily satisfied.

Back at The Village School, we prepared for one of the summit’s most meaningful activities: Peer Talks. These sessions gave students and chaperones the opportunity to share their personal journeys, social impact projects, and insights from their home communities. A special highlight was hearing from SeeEun and Devon, who proudly represented BIS and the incredible social impact work happening at our school.

The evening brought another inspiring moment as we welcomed Emmanuel Ellerbee, a former NFL athlete turned educator, who spoke about bridging the gap between sports and STE(A)M—leaving many of us motivated to rethink what’s possible.

To end the day, students were given time to explore their interests on campus. We chose to connect with other Vietnamese student leaders to begin planning future social impact projects and collaborations—which we’re excited to launch very soon!

Day 6: Finding our purpose 

Waking up with excitement for Day 6, we kicked things off with a workshop on advocacy led by Isabel Geddes, an intergovernmental advocacy specialist. We learned about the different tools used to inspire change and were able to explore which type of activist best matched our personality and passions. Later in the day, we shifted our focus to leadership and purpose in a session led by inspiring graduates from Houston.

Overall, Day 6 was all about self-discovery and reflection.

In the afternoon, our capstone project was revealed: to design a solution for an SDG-related issue within our own community. It was a real test of our innovation, collaboration, and critical thinking. The three of us faced our fair share of setbacks and failed ideas—but we kept going. Eventually, we developed a mental health initiative, addressing SDGs 3, 4, and 10, a topic we felt was especially overlooked in Vietnam.

We divided the workload—Martin and See Eun took charge of the slides and research, while I (Devon) created a prototype website to showcase our idea.

After wrapping up for the day, we were treated to a well-deserved break. The Global 100 headed to the cinema where we had an entire theatre to ourselves to enjoy How to Train Your Dragon—the perfect way to unwind after a day of big ideas and hard work.

Day 7: Proud traditions and future visions

Today was a special day for all of us. I (SeeEun) wore a beautiful Hanbok handmade by my grandmother, and Martin wore a traditional Ao Dai. Wearing our cultural clothing made us feel proud and connected to where we come from as we walked into BIS Houston. Our capstone event project, which we will present to our school and community back home, took up the morning. It was very exciting to share our ideas with other peers and teachers. After presenting our project, we received insightful advice and suggestions that helped us see things from new angles and improve our future plan. Knowing that people had heard our vision and wanted to help us was encouraging! In the afternoon, we wrapped up our last workshop of this NAE summit with an amazing talk from UNICEF members and other leaders. We learned that true leadership isn’t just about the person’s intelligence or taking responsibility—it’s about listening, showing empathy, acting with purpose, and respecting other team members. Our 7th day came to a joyful close as we spent time socializing and smiling with our friends.

Day 8: One last adventure 

With Day 8 marking our last full day at the summit, delegates made the most of every moment—spending quality time with one another during a full day of fun, excursions, and bowling. We had a choice between visiting the Houston Space Center, shopping at the famous Galleria Mall, or exploring Houston’s art galleries. I (Martin) opted for the Space Center, while SeeEun and Devon chose to explore the Galleria, the largest mall in Houston.

Each trip had its own highlights, and despite it being the final day, we still met new friends and made more unforgettable memories. After our excursions, we had time to pack and enjoy a relaxed afternoon with friends before heading off to our final big activity: Bowling Night! It was an evening filled with laughter, friendly competition, arcade games, and plenty of shared moments between students and chaperones.

Goodbyes and Gratitude

Day 9: Our final day arrived
Emotions were high as we approached our final day. The week had flown by, and the reality of saying goodbye began to set in. We had formed lifelong friendships—connections that transcended borders and backgrounds—and parting ways was incredibly tough.

I (Devon) and Martin were among the earliest to leave, each heading off to explore different parts of the U.S. before returning home. Meanwhile, SeeEun stayed on a little longer with students from the other Vietnamese schools, enjoying some last moments of shopping and sightseeing around Houston.

Days 10–11: Houston → Taipei → Ho Chi Minh City
Our final day in Houston was filled with heartfelt goodbyes. As the last group from Vietnam to depart the NAE Summit 2025, we gathered on the football field of The Village School one last time, watching the sun set over the horizon. It was a quiet, emotional moment—one that captured the spirit of everything we’d experienced throughout the week.

Earlier in the day, Martin had flown to Chicago and Devon to New York. That evening, I (SeeEun) departed for the airport, beginning my journey home to Ho Chi Minh City via Taipei.

Looking back, the summit was one of the most transformative and unforgettable experiences of our lives. From the inspiring workshops to the deep friendships and meaningful projects, we leave with lessons learned, hearts full, and memories that will stay with us forever.

More Than a Trip—A Global Experience 

This summit wasn’t just about travelling abroad or ticking off activities. It was about stepping into the global stage as learners and leaders. Being part of BIS HCMC meant we were ready to rise to the challenge—with confidence, compassion, and creativity.

Through this journey, we didn’t just take part. We told our story—through daily video reels, written recaps, and social media updates—showing how BIS students experience the world with purpose. Using storytelling to connect our local actions with global ambitions is something we’re proud of. And it’s just the beginning.

A Final Thought 

The Nord Anglia Student Summit gave us an incredible platform to learn, lead and grow. It reminded us that we are part of something bigger—an international community of students working together to shape a better world. Thank you to everyone at BIS HCMC and Nord Anglia Education for giving us this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We can’t wait to share what we’ve learned with our peers back home.

Thank you from BIS HCMC

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible student ambassadors—Devon, Martin, and SeeEun. Your dedication, passion, and willingness to go the extra mile have been truly inspiring. You should be immensely proud of yourselves; you are a shining credit to BIS.

We’re eagerly looking forward to the presentation of your capstone project, where you’ll share your ideas with peers and teachers. We're excited to see how these ideas evolve into meaningful action in the next academic year.

The NAE Student Summit is not the only way students get engaged with the SDGs and social impact efforts at Nord Anglia schools. Through the Social Impact Distinctions, schools work toward three levels of accreditation (bronze, silver, and gold) showcasing how they have embedded children’s rights and the SDGs. Each year, students can also receive funding from the Social Impact Grants to expand and enhance their community activities addressing the goals.

*UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product, or service.