Driving Change Through Innovation and Collaboration
This inspiring project was created and led by Devon at BIS HCMC, in collaboration with students from the British Vietnamese International School (BVIS HCMC) and British Vietnamese International School Hanoi (BVIS Hanoi). It's a shining example of how collaboration across Nord Anglia schools can create meaningful impact.
A Highly Competitive Achievement
This Social Impact Grant is one of only 24 awarded globally this year, as part of NAE’s US $985,075 investment across 86 student-led projects in its network of 80+ international schools.
The application process is rigorous. Each proposal is first reviewed by Nord Anglia’s Student Advisory Board, ensuring students’ voices are central to the decision-making process. From there, applications undergo a detailed evaluation by the Grants Committee, which includes members of the Education Advisory Board, Nord Anglia Principals, and teachers. To be selected from such a competitive pool is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the strength, creativity, and impact of Devon’s project, Lovien – Lotus.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it marks the first time the NAE Grants Committee has awarded a cross-school Research & Development Grant to student leaders for a project addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). After a competitive review by the NAE Student Advisory Board and Social Impact Grant Committee, the project was recognized for its strong potential to transform lives.
Giving Back the Gift of Movement
In Vietnam, over 100,000 people live with limb loss, yet only one in five has access to a prosthetic limb. This lack of access doesn’t just limit mobility—it restricts independence and impacts quality of life in profound ways.
Lovientus – Lovien Lotus, is an initiative determined to change that. By designing and producing prosthetic legs for people with disabilities who face financial hardship and have limited access to mobility support, Lovientus aims to restore freedom of movement and improve quality of life to those who need it most.
Every prosthetic provided will be more than a device—it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to walk, to work, to connect, and to live life with dignity and confidence. Together, we can help transform challenges into possibilities and give hope where it’s needed most.
Sustainable Development Goals Addressed by Lovientus
Empowering students to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is about more than global awareness—it’s about shaping changemakers. By connecting their ideas to these goals, students learn to tackle real-world challenges with creativity, empathy, and purpose. They see how innovation can drive impact, and how collaboration can create lasting change. Initiatives like Lovientus – Lovien Lotus show that when students align their projects with SDGs, they’re not just learning—they’re leading.
The idea for Lovientus –Lotus was born during the NAE Global Summit in Houston, Texas, where BIS HCMC Student Ambassadors joined peers from around the world to explore how to Drive Change Through the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since then, Devon and her team have independently managed sourcing, research, and problem-solving for this truly exceptional achievement.
Celebrating Leadership and Collaboration across our NAE Family Mr. Simon Higham, Principal at BIS HCMC, shared: “This achievement is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and leadership of our students. Devon and her peers have shown what is possible when young people across our NAE family, collaborate with purpose and passion. Their work not only addresses a critical need in Vietnam but also demonstrates how the education we provide at BIS can empower students to make a real difference in the world. I am simply bursting with pride with what they’ve accomplished and look forward to seeing Lovientus grow in Term 2 with the NAE Social Impact Grant”
Devon expressed her gratitude:“I’m incredibly grateful to have received the NAE Social Impact Grant for our project, Lovien Lotus, and to be working on it alongside my peers from BVIS HCMC and BVIS Hanoi. It was especially meaningful that teams from all three schools involved were also successful in receiving the grant for each strand of Lovientus. The idea came out of discussions at the UNICEF Summit, where we became aware of how limited access to prosthetic limbs is for many people in Vietnam. This project is particularly important to me because it combines innovation with social impact in a way that can genuinely improve quality of life. Our aim is to develop affordable, 3D-printed prosthetics for low-income communities, and in the new year we plan to continue prototyping, testing, and building partnerships to move the project forward”
With investment from Nord Anglia’s Social Impact Grants, BIS HCMC students are able to use the funding to expand and enhance community activities while aiming to address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Through its collaboration with UNICEF, Nord Anglia Education is committed to helping to make a global impact on these goals before the 2030 deadline.
Building Skills for the Future
Dr Leslie Williams, Senior Programme Lead for Social Impact and Giving at Nord Anglia, said: "As well as taking initiative to make change in their communities, these grants are about learning valuable skills that have real-world impact. Whether that’s budgeting supplies or balancing schoolwork with their projects, these are the skills that can set up our students for real future success.”
Why Collaboration Matters
This project is a powerful example of how collaboration amplifies impact. By working together across BIS HCMC, BVIS HCMC, and BVIS Hanoi, students have combined their strengths, shared resources, and developed innovative solutions to tackle a pressing social issue. It shows that when young people unite behind a common goal, they can achieve extraordinary things.
Looking Ahead: Turning Vision into Reality
The journey of Lovientus is just beginning. With the support of Nord Anglia Education’s Social Impact Grant, Devon and her team are now equipped to take their ideas from concept to implementation. Their next steps include refining prosthetic designs, sourcing sustainable materials, and collaborating with local organisations to ensure these life-changing devices reach those who need them most.
This project is more than a technical challenge—it’s a movement for equality, dignity, and opportunity. By addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), these students are proving that young people can lead the way in solving global challenges.
At BIS HCMC, we believe education should empower students to make a difference beyond the classroom. Lovientus – Lovien Lotus exemplifies this mission, showing how creativity, compassion, and collaboration can transform lives.
Congratulations once again to Devon and her peers from BVIS HCMC and BVIS Hanoi. What started as an idea at the NAE Global Summit is now a reality—proof that when students unite behind a shared purpose, they can create extraordinary change.
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