Bringing a Vietnamese Educational Initiative to the Finals of a Prestigious U.S. University Startup Competition
Recently, the Wisdom House program was named as a finalist at the New Venture Awards — one of the most prestigious entrepreneurship competitions hosted annually by Wesleyan University, ranked 14th among liberal arts colleges in the United States.
The project was developed and presented by two co-founders of Wisdom House Malaysia: Trần Thị Tường Anh, currently a sophomore majoring in Economics with a Data minor at Wesleyan under the USD 360,000 Freeman Scholarship (2023), and Trần Việt Bách, who has received an offer of admission to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at United World Colleges (UWC ISAK Japan), beginning in August 2025. On April 12, surpassing more than 30 outstanding applications from across the globe, Wisdom House Malaysia earned a place among this year’s most notable social innovation initiatives and won a prize of USD 3,000.
A Proud Milestone
Sharing his joy about the achievement, Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, founder of the Wisdom House network, said: “I had the opportunity to visit Wesleyan University in 2023. This is one of the most prestigious and long-standing liberal arts institutions in the U.S. The New Venture Awards, launched by the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship, is among the university’s most prestigious awards, recognizing initiatives that create meaningful positive impact on the community. For Wisdom House Malaysia to be named at the finals and win an award is a well-deserved outcome.
Following the Library of Congress Literacy Awards – Knowledge Dissemination Prize in 2023, this achievement once again affirms that the Wisdom House Network is joining the global movement to connect knowledge and promote lifelong learning.”
The project presented by Tường Anh and Việt Bách was built upon the successes and practical experiences of Wisdom House Malaysia since its founding in 2021. Its overarching goal is to bridge the educational gap between urban and rural or mountainous children by connecting global resources and knowledge.
The initiative is structured around three main pillars: improving English proficiency, cultivating a love of books and reading culture, and fostering personal development through mentoring and guidance programs.
English – Books – Personal Development: A Steadfast Journey
Specifically, Wisdom House Malaysia continues to expand free English classes, both in-person and online, helping rural students strengthen communication skills and practice with native teachers. The program partners with the Compassionate Bookshelf initiative to deliver books to remote areas and organize reading promotion campaigns to spark a passion for books and self-learning. Additionally, the project collaborates with the global Wisdom House network to connect professors, experts, and international volunteers to support students in personal development. Through workshops, exchange sessions, and one-on-one mentoring, students are equipped with essential life skills ranging from communication and teamwork to critical thinking and career orientation.
Speaking with us, Tường Anh shared: “So far, Wisdom House Malaysia has launched 15 free English courses with diverse content such as grammar, communication, and math in English; nearly 30 exchange sessions and workshops with international experts and lecturers. Notably, Wisdom House Malaysia has collaborated with the University of Alaska Anchorage, under the guidance of Professor Shannon Gramse, to organize regular monthly sharing sessions where American students accompany and mentor our students in essential skills for the future. These activities have created meaningful learning and development opportunities for thousands of students in Nghệ An, Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Ngãi, Đồng Nai, and Sơn La.”
More Than Just an Award
Nguyễn Quốc Huy, CEO of the Compassionate Bookshelf program, recognized the practical contributions of Tường Anh and Việt Bách to free English classes at Wisdom House Đức Phổ, Quảng Ngãi. He said: “They began teaching English in the summer of 2021, when the children were just learning their first simple conversations. The classes were held consistently every summer, and by the summer of 2024, the students in Đức Phổ were confidently communicating directly with professors and students from the University of Alaska Anchorage in online workshops without the need for translation. This journey demonstrates the long-term commitment of both learners and teachers, not only to improve language proficiency but also to open doors to invaluable connections in knowledge and culture that transcend national borders.”
The New Venture Awards is not limited to recognition and a prize ceremony. Tường Anh and Việt Bách will continue to receive guidance and mentorship from leading experts at the Patricelli Center to further develop their project and contribute to positive community impact in the future.
Wisdom House is a humanitarian initiative in the field of culture and education. To date, it has established and maintained more than 300 free lifelong learning spaces in 17 provinces and cities in Vietnam and in five other countries (Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States), enabling over 10,000 members—particularly rural residents and children from disadvantaged backgrounds—to access quality learning opportunities with the support of hundreds of leading volunteer professors, experts, and lecturers in Vietnam and worldwide.
Wisdom House has received numerous domestic and international recognitions, including the Library of Congress Literacy Awards 2023 in the “Outstanding Practices” category.
Source: Thế giới và Việt Nam Newspaper
Author: Thanh Lộc
Link: Đưa sáng kiến giáo dục Việt đến chung kết khởi nghiệp đại học danh tiếng Mỹ
