Vivian Liu

Vivian Liu (16), from the United States, saw firsthand how unequal access to education can be. Her grandmother died without ever having read a single word. In the rural village in China where her mother grew up, school was not a guaranteed right. Vivian also observed how Asian American children in the United States often learn little about their own history, which can make them more vulnerable to racism.

For that reason, Vivian founded Origami for Good, a youth-led initiative that teaches children through workshops about important moments in Asian American history. It covers topics such as the Japanese internment, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and the story of Sadako Sasaki, the 12-year-old girl who folded paper cranes during her illness.

Origami for Good brings children around the world together through a simple gesture of connection. Volunteers fold origami made from recycled paper and send it, along with personal messages, to hospitals, nursing homes, military bases, and care centers. The initiative grew to more than 250 chapters in over 50 countries. Together, they delivered more than 820,000 origami pieces and reached 5.1 million people.