IBDP CAS Journey: The Smiling Eyes Fund – Learning Through Kindness

From this simple yet heartfelt idea, Chi Mai, an IB Diploma pupil at Brighton College Vietnam, founded the Smiling Eyes Fund. What began as small gifts for young patients has gradually grown into a sustained act of kindness and dedication. Over the past four years, the initiative has brought comfort, encouragement and joy to more than 2,000 children, particularly those receiving treatment at the Cardiovascular Centre of E Hospital in Hanoi.

Smiling Eyes Fund also became Chi Mai’s CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project, an essential part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Through CAS, pupils are encouraged to step beyond the classroom and engage with the world around them. By developing and leading their own initiatives, they learn to collaborate, reflect and respond to real community needs. In doing so, they nurture qualities such as empathy, resilience and a sense of responsibility, turning thoughtful ideas into purposeful action.

Along the way, Brighton College Vietnam has proudly supported Chi Mai and the Smiling Eyes Fund, reflecting the spirit of compassion that lies at the heart of the College community. From Prep School pupils decorating more than 100 Mid-Autumn gift bags for children at the “Kidney Village”, to teachers and pupils joining hospital visits, the project has become a shared effort to bring warmth and encouragement to those who need it most.

At Brighton College Vietnam, this is what education looks like in practice: supporting each pupil to pursue their own ideas, develop their character, and use their talents to contribute positively to the wider community.