CRCC Asia Spotlight Interview with Chau Bui - #MyGiving Story

Teaching young people through real-world experience. Chau Bui, a Vietnamese native, grew up in an international education background; her work and personal values are deeply shaped by community, education, and cross-cultural experiences.

We at Giving Tuesday Japan had the exclusive opportunity to interview her about why she joined CRCC, what inspires her to give back, and what her future goals are.

Take a look at the My Giving Story interview between Chau and our Global Community Team Leader, Jasmine, below!

--------

Jasmine: Hi Chau! So nice to meet you! Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with us! If you could please. Give an introduction about yourself. Where you are from, what you do, your (and your family's) charitable background (how you give back, WHY you give back, ways you would like to encourage others to do so), etc.

Chau:こんにちは! I’m Chau 👋 I’m originally from Vietnam, growing up in an international education background, my work and personal values are deeply shaped by community, education, and cross-cultural experiences.

Giving back was never framed as something formal or large-scale — it was simply about helping when you could. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting someone with advice, sharing opportunities, or opening doors for younger people who need guidance. That mindset has stayed with me and been my motto ever since.

Driven by such a motto, my life purpose now is to support young talent and create pathways that feel accessible and empowering. I truly believe that access — to education, mentorship, and global exposure — can change the trajectory of a person’s life. And if there’s one thing I always encourage, it’s that giving back can be intangible; time, networks, care, and belief can be just as impactful. And that is why I joined CRCC Asia, to follow the sound of my heart.

Jasmine: When was CRCC ASIA founded, why, and by whom?

Chau: CRCC Asia was founded in 2006 by Daniel Nivern and Edward Holroyd Pearce. The idea came from a simple but powerful belief: that young people learn best through real-world experience, and that Asia’s rapidly growing economies offered incredible learning opportunities that many young talents have not had access to yet.

What started as an internship initiative has since grown into a global organization connecting students, universities, companies, and communities across Asia and beyond.

Jasmine: What is your main role within CRCC ASIA?

Chau: I’m currently the Head of Company Relations at CRCC Asia. My role centers around building and nurturing relationships with our Host Company partners — not just placing interns, but creating long-term, meaningful partnerships.

A big part of my work is focused on community-building: helping companies connect with global young talent, encouraging mentorship-driven workplaces, and developing initiatives that benefit students, companies, universities, and local communities at the same time.

Jasmine: What is CRCC ASIA's mission statement?

Chau: CRCC Asia’s mission is to connect global talent with meaningful international work experience while promoting cross-cultural understanding, professional growth, and global citizenship.

At its heart, it’s about preparing young people for an increasingly interconnected world — and helping organizations see the value of diverse perspectives.

Jasmine: What are your chapter's specific goals? As an organization and individual personal goals?

Chau: As an organization, our goal is to strengthen the bridge between education, industry, and community — ensuring internships are ethical, impactful, and genuinely valuable for students and hosts alike.

On a personal level, I aim to help build a Host Company community that values mentorship, inclusivity, and long-term impact. I want companies to feel proud of the role they play in shaping young people’s futures, not just business outcomes.

Jasmine: What services does CRCC ASIA offer? What types of services would you like to add in the future? What areas/countries are your services available in? Do you plan to expand?

Chau: CRCC Asia delivers international internship programs, career development support, and cultural learning experiences in partnership with universities and host organizations.

Looking ahead, we’d love to expand into more customized programs for niche industries, deeper community engagement initiatives, and stronger platforms for mentorship, alumni collaboration, and CSR-focused partnerships.

Our services are currently available across several dynamic Asian countries, not only Japan, but also South Korea, China, Viet Nam, Thailand, India. We are expanding further into Taiwan and a new exposure in Europe, specifically in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — and we’re always exploring thoughtful ways to grow.

Jasmine: What is one of the more challenging aspects of CRCC ASIA?

Chau: One of the biggest challenges is balancing scale with care. As we grow, it’s important that every student and partner still feels supported and seen — especially when students are navigating international environments for the first time.

Cross-cultural expectations can also be complex, but they’re part of what makes this work meaningful.

Jasmine: What is one of the most rewarding aspects of CRCC ASIA?

Chau: Seeing students grow in confidence is incredibly rewarding. When someone finishes an internship with clearer goals, stronger skills, and belief in themselves — that’s everything.

It’s also rewarding to see companies/organizations recognize that hosting young talent isn’t just beneficial for business, but for workplace culture, international exposure, and long-term community impact.

Jasmine: Does CRCC ASIA have any upcoming events?

Chau: Yes — we’re heading into one of our peak seasons, with around 100 students expected to arrive in Japan this summer, which is always an exciting time for us.

Alongside internships, we run a range of culture-connected and professional development activities, including business workshops, company visits, networking sessions, and community-focused events that bring together students, host companies, and partners.

These experiences help students better understand local business culture while allowing companies and partners to engage with young global talent in meaningful ways and there’s a lot more happening behind the scenes — and we’re really excited about what’s coming next.

Jasmine: How do people get involved with CRCC ASIA? As in partnership/sponsorship/volunteering/ etc?

Chau: There are many ways to get involved with CRCC Asia, and we’re always open to exploring new collaborations. Organizations interested in hosting international interns can partner with us as Host Companies and gain fresh global perspectives while supporting young talent’s professional growth. 

Beyond internships, we also welcome partnerships with companies or organizations interested in hosting short visits — such as office visits, industry sharing sessions, exchanges with university faculty and students to share local business or country insights and cultural exchange activities. Any organization that values learning, connection, and community is very welcome to reach out — we’d love to explore what we can build together.

Jasmine: Have you heard of or participated in Giving Tuesday before we contacted you? Is there anything you would like to do in the future in collaboration with Giving Tuesday? How can we (Giving Tuesday Japan) support CRCC ASIA?

Chau: Yes — I was familiar with Giving Tuesday and really appreciate its approach. It reframes giving as something collective and community-driven rather than transactional.

I’d love to explore future collaborations that focus on youth empowerment, education access, and global citizenship — whether through shared storytelling, awareness campaigns, or initiatives that encourage individuals and organizations to give back in practical, human ways.

Giving Tuesday Japan can support CRCC Asia by helping amplify these conversations and connecting organizations that care about supporting young talents, opportunity, and making long-term impact.

Want to share your story? www.givingtuesday.jp/contacten