Inaugural Bridging Futures Lecture delivered by Phan Thị Kim Phúc

Inaugural Bridging Futures Lecture delivered by Phan Thị Kim Phúc

Author: Sophie Spooner

Looking back at the Bridging Futures General Assembly event, July 2025, and more specifically, in this account, the inaugural Bridging Futures Lecture. At the heart of the programme was a deeply moving and widely praised lecture by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Phan Thị Kim Phúc. Known internationally as the ‘Napalm Girl’ from the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of the Vietnam War, Kim has since become a powerful advocate for peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness.

Compassion and Global Responsibility

Her address left a lasting impression on all who attended, interweaving her personal story with a broader call for compassion and shared global responsibility. She was introduced by UWTSD’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Elwen Evans KC, who offered a heartfelt and warm welcome, reflecting on Kim’s global impact and the significance of her message in today’s world.

In her lecture, Kim shared how for a long time she had struggled with the fame and shame associated with the image, feeling it defined her as a victim. However, her journey of healing and forgiveness has transformed her inside and allowed her to find personal peace and freedom. Kim’s life and how she shaped her path forward, is truly a testament to the healing power of love and forgiveness.

Powerful advocate for Peace

Kim’s personal journey has also transformed the image of her to the world from a symbol of victimhood into a powerful advocate for peace. She has spent decades travelling the world, sharing her story, and using her platform to promote compassion and reconciliation. She does this in her work as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and through her own foundation, The KIM Foundation International, where Kim focuses on providing aid to child victims of war and violence.

“Peace begins with compassion for ourselves, for each other, and for the planet,” Phan Thị Kim Phúc said, reflecting on her time in Swansea.“I shared not only my story, but a message that pain can be transformed into purpose, and that together, we can build a more just and peaceful future.”

A Message of Hope and Forgiveness

Kim’s incredible personal journey shows the strength of mind, heart, and spirit that Kim holds within, that enabled her to transform her pain into purpose. She spoke about the power of forgiveness as an active process of releasing bitterness and pain and finding choices and freedom. She recounted her eventual meeting with the American officer who participated in coordinating the attack on her village, a moment she described as a testament to the profound healing that can occur through empathy and reconciliation. This was one of the many moments in Kim’s speech that held the audience breathless.

Her message resonated deeply with everyone, serving as a message of peace; that even in the face of unimaginable trauma, the human spirit can choose compassion, reconciliation, and hope. Her life’s work demonstrates that personal transformation can, in turn, inspire global change, highlighting the importance of building bridges across cultures, generations, and divides.

Capturing the hearts of all present

The energy in the hall was tender with shared emotion as Kim Phuc Phan Thi concluded her lecture. The audience, a diverse group from Wales and across the globe, rose as one in a spontaneous and sustained standing ovation. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as people clapped, the applause a powerful wave of appreciation for Kim’s courage and her message of peace and forgiveness.

Kim's words were truly informative with wisdom and lessons for present times, while deeply moving everyone present; they were a balm for the heart, a testament to the power of human resilience and the tenderness that can emerge even from the deepest suffering. The feeling of shared empathy and hope was palpable; Kim’s lecture was a deeply transformative, hugely emotional and connecting experience.

After Kim’s incredible speech and the resounding applause, the room fell silent. It felt like everyone shared the same sense of needing to just be, and to just feel, for a moment. Instead of the scheduled round table, it felt right to sit with Kim’s words for longer and to give everyone present the opportunity to ask Kim questions, which were met with the same enthusiasm and tenderness that Kim shared throughout.

A Catalyst for Building a Better Future

The Bridging Futures lecture series was ignited with an astounding inaugural lecture by Kim, that embodied the ethos of the series perfectly, and a true testament to the idea that we can and must shape a more just and peaceful world for future generations.

The lecture series encourages participants to think of themselves as "bridge-builders"—individuals who connect "now to later" and who carry wisdom forward to create systems that serve all life.

Kim Phuc's lecture was a perfect embodiment of this mission, offering a living example of how a single person's decision to choose peace and forgiveness can create a ripple effect of positive change. Her address left a real indent in the hearts of those present; a lasting impression, inspiring everyone who shared in this experience to reflect on their own roles in fostering a more compassionate and sustainable future. And it really seemed to touch and open the hearts of all who were there, with loving kindness, that could tangibly be felt in that shared space in Swansea.

A very special and moving shared experience.

Check out the other inspiring sessions that took place at the Bridging Futures General Assembly Event.