Behind the Scenes of a Bootcamp Breakthrough: The Story of a True Educational Ally
In the world of education and community engagement, partnerships come and go. But every now and then, you meet someone whose dedication cuts through the noise — someone who not only says “yes” to possibility, but brings it to life with remarkable speed and spirit. That someone, for us, has been Đỗ Diệu Linh, the dynamic head of LS Education.
Our first encounter with Linh was memorable. Energetic, thoughtful, and laser-focused on what really matters in learning — her passion for education was evident within minutes of conversation. Naturally, we wanted to see that energy in action. So we invited her to collaborate with us on our very first bootcamp, titled The Resilience Series, which took place in June 2024.
Without hesitation, Linh gathered her team of teachers and committed to the idea. It wasn’t just about sending students to a workshop — she mobilized her educators, activated her students, and brought a mindset of contribution, not consumption. The theme of the bootcamp was resilience — but what stood out most was the resilient spirit of her team itself.
Together, we took to the streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, one of Vietnam’s most culturally rich and complex environments. The goal? To critically examine how local businesses and communities were engaging with sustainability. Armed with curiosity and clipboards, the students interviewed shop owners, observed practices, and reflected on what sustainable operations could look like in the real world — beyond textbooks and theoretical models.
But this wasn’t just an academic exercise. It was an invitation to see, feel, and connect — and the LS team responded in full force. Their presence elevated the entire experience. It transformed our bootcamp from a workshop into an urban learning lab, filled with exploration, empathy, and real-world tension. The feedback we received afterward made it clear: Linh’s team had added a layer of richness that could not have been planned for — only inspired.
From that first collaboration, a sense of trust was built. And that trust would be tested — and proven — again.
Fast forward to mid-2025.
We were in the early planning stages of another bootcamp — this time in partnership with a new organization that had a promising vision but lacked structure. From the outside, things looked like they were moving. Internally, though, it felt like walking through fog.
The dates were fixed. The location was penciled in. But as we approached the 72-hour mark before the event, reality hit hard. After pressuring the partner for updates and final confirmations, we were met with a tangle of miscommunications and logistical gaps: unclear participant turnout, lack of facilitation roles, missing materials, and — most worryingly — no confirmed audience.
In short: it was falling apart. And we had three days.
At that moment, we needed more than a solution. We needed a reliable force — a team that could handle ambiguity, move fast, and stay grounded. Naturally, we called Linh.
We explained the situation — fully expecting her to say she was too busy (and honestly, she had every reason to be). LS Education was in the middle of ongoing programs, her teachers were engaged, and her calendar was packed. But her response was as clear and unwavering as ever: “We’ll help.”
From that moment, she was all in. Linh showed up on every coordination call, helping us untangle the chaos piece by piece. Despite the disorder on the partner’s side, she stayed patient, focused, and firm — even jumping into late-night Zoom meetings, night after night, balancing her own demanding schedule without complaint.
She wasn’t just lending support — she was co-steering the ship through the storm.
What followed was nothing short of a rescue operation, carried out with the calmness and conviction of a seasoned educator who’s seen chaos before and knows exactly how to handle it.
Within hours, Linh began rallying her network. She reached out to students and parents, mobilized her teachers, and even brought in educators from a nearby training center to support the camp. People started arriving from across the region — some from LS Education, some from partner institutions, all driven by a shared belief in the value of experience-based learning.
By the time the bootcamp began, the room was buzzing with energy, ideas, and people. What had seemed like a potential cancellation just days earlier had transformed into a lively, purpose-driven gathering — all thanks to Linh’s quiet leadership and her team’s willingness to show up, adapt, and act.
What We Learned
This experience taught us something deeper about what it means to be an educator — and what it means to be a partner.
Linh and LS Education didn’t just show up. They didn’t ask for guarantees or detailed plans. They trusted the process, trusted us, and more importantly, trusted their own capability to make things work.
They modeled the very mindset we aim to build in young people: resilience, collaboration, and courage under pressure.
It’s easy to talk about flexibility and innovation in theory. It’s harder to step into a broken situation with little information and still say, “Let’s do this.” That’s what LS Education did — and it’s why they remain one of the most valuable partners we’ve ever worked with.
The Ripple Effect
The impact of that bootcamp extended far beyond the event itself. For many of the students, it was their first time joining a mixed-age, multi-school program built around uncertainty. They learned how to adapt, how to lead when there was no script, and how to learn by doing — not just by listening.
Educators from LS Education also brought fresh perspectives to the room, challenging both our methods and our assumptions in healthy ways. They helped shape not just the content, but the culture of the bootcamp — one rooted in mutual respect, creativity, and real-time reflection.
And for us? It was a powerful reminder that the best partnerships are not just strategic — they’re human. They’re built on mutual faith, shared values, and a willingness to get our hands dirty when things go off-track.
Look at the Face Book for LSE
It was the start of the new journey….