Nam Harrison is a senior high school student, DJ, music producer, and philanthropist who was adopted from Vietnam as a baby. What started as a simple wish to give thanks has become a powerful partnership with Children of Vietnam — improving education and opportunity for hundreds of students.
How It All Began
Before adopting Nam, his parents worked with Children of Vietnam (COV) and saw the urgent need for education in rural communities. When Nam turned nine, he skipped birthday presents and asked for donations to build a playground for a kindergarten in Da Nang. He raised $15,000, inspiring other children to host “FUNdraiser birthdays” and give back too.
Building the Nam Harrison School
Later that year, Nam returned to Vietnam for the first time since his adoption. In the Truong Son Mountains of Quang Nam Province, he met children learning in a one-room shack without clean water or restrooms and vowed: “We have to do better than this.”
Partnering with Children of Vietnam, Nam and his family rallied friends, sponsors, and their Los Angeles community — including Mendocino Farms, Disney Publishing, the Plum Spring Foundation, and the MoneyGram Foundation.
In 2019, at just 11 years old, Nam helped open the Nam Harrison School, a bright new primary school serving grades 1–5. With modern classrooms, a playground, clean water, and safe sanitation, it became a cornerstone of opportunity for local children.
Continuing the Mission
This summer, Nam returned to the village to visit the school, reconnect with the community, and assess the needs of its students and teachers — a reminder that giving doesn’t end with one act; it grows with the people it serves.
Together, Nam and Children of Vietnam are expanding the campus. The Computer Lab and Library, nearing completion, will provide access to books, technology, and digital learning tools that open new worlds for young minds.
Music With a Mission
Now a senior, Nam channels his creativity into purpose through community-powered fundraisers:
- Supper Club Dinners — Nam DJs and chefs a gourmet sit-down meal, enlists classmates as waitstaff, and turns dinner into a dance party that inspires giving.
- Halloween Teen Fundraiser Dance Party — an annual, high-energy night of music, community, and impact.
These events blend youth leadership, art, and philanthropy — fueling the continued growth of the Nam Harrison School.
“I just want the kids who weren’t as lucky as me to have a chance — because when you give a kid an education, you give them their future.”
— Nam Harrison
Join Us
Your donation helps expand access to education and opportunity for children in rural Vietnam.
Make a contribution through Children of Vietnam and note it’s for The Nam Harrison School Project.
Cảm ơn bạn — thank you for helping us build brighter futures.