Celebrated Author Speaks to Concordia Students

On Monday, January 20, our high school had the privilege of welcoming bestselling author Loung Ung to Concordia International School Shanghai. Ms. Ung has been a keynote speaker at several important events and organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing and the recent Global Peace Summit. She is a survivor of the Cambodian genocide who uses her story of resilience to advocate for peace, therefore it was an honor to host her in our community. 

To begin the high school program with Ms. Ung, the Grade 10 students, who recently read her powerful memoir, First They Killed My Father, in their English classes, had the unique opportunity to engage with her during an intimate panel discussion. The students had prepared thoughtful questions in advance, related to concepts such as hope, justice, and advocacy. Ms. Ung shared deeply personal stories of how she found peace amidst tragedy and how those experiences inspired her current work. The panel discussion was a profound learning opportunity for students, as Ms. Ung addressed their questions with honesty and vulnerability. 

Following the panel, Ms. Ung spoke to the entire high school in a special assembly. Her message about the importance of love and peacebuilding deeply impacted the audience, encouraging students to reflect on how small acts of kindness and understanding can create meaningful change. After her speech, students in the audience had the opportunity to ask questions. Students proposed thoughtful questions related to the relationship between love and war, the process of memoir writing, and the process of deciding what memories to include in the film adaptation of her book and what to omit. Overall, this unforgettable visit left a lasting impression on our community, reminding us of the strength of the human spirit.