That 1972 image, captured by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Nick Ut, is called The Terror of War, and after its publication, Phan Thi became known as “napalm girl.”
“I wanted to escape that picture,” Phan Thi said. “I didn’t want anyone to recognize me as that little girl anymore.”
After an incredible recovery from her physical injuries and a daring journey to Canada, first to Gander, Newfoundland, then to Toronto and finally to her current home in the Greater Toronto Area, she now embraces the iconic image to promote peace.
Phan Thi shares her experiences at GBC book launch event
Phan Thi, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Culture of Peace and founder of The KIM Foundation International, shared her experiences with George Brown College students and alumni on September 20, 2024, in honour of the International Day of Peace on September 21. The event, hosted by George Brown College Alumni Relations, was also a book launch for her memoir Fire Road: The Napalm Girl’s Journey through the Horrors of War to Faith, Forgiveness and Peace.
“It is my honour and privilege to share my story with young people,” she told GBC ahead of her visit to the college. “I can share with them my experiences, not only of the consequences of war but also encourage them to value peace. Each one of them can make a difference. Each student and graduate can do something to build peace for our world.”
Praising the power of education
Speaking to college students and alumni is particularly important for Phan Thi, who praises the power of education. With The KIM Foundation International, she builds libraries, orphanages and schools, providing educational opportunities for children and young people.
“Education is the best thing for human beings all around the world,” she said. “I always fought for my education because I know its value and ability to help people build a much better life.”
Inspired by the doctors and nurses who helped her recover from her severe injuries, Phan Thi started studying medicine, but the Vietnamese government removed her from school in 1982 to act as a “national symbol of the war.” Four years later, the government permitted her to continue her studies in Cuba, but health issues ended her plans to become a doctor.
Phan Thi has received seven honorary doctorate degrees from universities in Canada, Australia, the United States, and Mexico for her efforts to help children and end world conflict.
A daring journey to Canada
Phan Thi again showed incredible bravery in her journey to Canada. While returning to Cuba after her honeymoon in Moscow, she and her husband defected to Canada during a one-hour layover in Gander, Newfoundland. With resourcefulness and persistence, she established contacts in Toronto, even though she knew nothing of the country and knew no one.
Once she and her husband settled in Toronto and had a child, she experienced turmoil again when a journalist sought her out and published photographs of “napalm girl” downtown in 1995. The invasion of privacy prompted her to leave the city and settle in a community outside of Toronto. That’s also when she realized, “I cannot run away from the picture anymore,” and her life as an advocate and activist for peace took flight.
At the end of Phan Thi's moving address, she was presented with a scarf designed by Fashion Techniques and Design graduate Pooja Upeshkumar Patel and a framed canvas of the peace-themed design. The address was followed by a reception with food and refreshments prepared by students at the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
The George Brown College learning community was honoured to welcome Phan Thi to campus and continues to be inspired by her story and advocacy for a better future.
Learn more about Alumni Relations by signing up for our newsletter, checking out our upcoming events and following us on LinkedIn.
To learn more, check the Lifelong Learning section on the alumni website and register today for upcoming sessions!
Kim Phuc Phan Thi speaking to the audience gathered at the Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, St. James Campus.
Phan Thi with Dr. Gervan Fearon, President, George Brown College.
Phan Thi with Fashion Techniques and Design graduate Pooja Upeshkumar Patel.
Krisztina Arany, Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement.
Phan Thi at the speaker's podium.
Phan Thi with Patel's design.
George Brown College supports for newcomers
PEN Canada Writer in Residence program
PEN Canada is a nonpartisan organization that celebrates literature, fights censorship, defends persecuted writers, and helps exiled writers make new lives in Canada. George Brown College has partnered with PEN Canada since 2004. GBC’s most recent PEN Canada Writer-in-Residence was Shams Erfan, who came to Canada as a refugee from Afghanistan, where he fled the Taliban.
Career Renewal for Newcomers (ReNEW) program
GBC launched the ReNEW career development program in 2024 to set newcomers up for success in the Canadian workforce. The goal is to help 160 newcomers overcome common navigation, financial literacy, career mobility, and professional networking barriers so they can fully and meaningfully participate in the Canadian workforce and improve their economic resiliency.
School of English as a Second Language (ESL)
GBC provides English language education for newcomers to fully enjoy life in Canada, to prepare for further study, and occupation-specific learning options. Some ESL programs offer pathways to a variety of other programs, including college diploma, degree and postgraduate programs.
