This summer marks the end of an era. After 19 years of dedication and service to our community, the Van der Velden-Garner family is wrapping up their time at the UNIS Hanoi. With the graduation of their youngest child, Sander van der Velden (Class of 2025), the entire family now officially joins the UNIS Hanoi alumni community.
Soon after Sarah Garner and Dr. Ton Van der Velden arrived in Hanoi in 2006 with their children, they became cherished cornerstones of the school community. A dedicated parent leader, Sarah, an American lawyer, now turned ADHD family coach, served as the Chair of the Board of Directors, the School Community Organisation, and helped shape a culture of advocacy and inclusion. Her efforts culminated in co-founding the Neurodiverse Families Support Group, a space that has helped countless families access and share resources and support. In 2024, her global impact was recognised with SENIA’s World Changer Award. “It’s much nicer to not just watch your children growing,” she reflected, “but to do something that makes school better for everyone.”
Alongside Sarah, her husband Ton, a renowned Dutch public health expert, entrepreneur and advocate, has also contributed profoundly to UNIS Hanoi and to Vietnam. Together, securing a UNIS Hanoi Learning Together Grant, they led a project to translate SENIA’s professional development course in inclusive education into Vietnamese. Thanks to their efforts, 20 UNIS Teaching Assistants have now completed the training, with 13 certified as facilitators. This work is crucial in laying the foundations for inclusive learning well beyond our own classrooms.
All three of their children, Madeleine (Class of 2021), Iris (Class of 2023), and Sander (Class of 2025), attended UNIS from Discovery through Grade 12, growing up together on a campus that became much more than just a place of learning. Their lives have been shaped by the friendships, opportunities, and spirit of this campus.
Madeleine is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Coastal and Marine Management at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Her studies focus on the sustainable use of natural resources, with an emphasis on marine ecosystems, economics, and biology.
For Madeleine, who graduated during the height of the pandemic, UNIS was a place of resilience and creativity. “Even in Grade 1, I remember raising mealworms for a class project and feeling incredibly proud,” she laughed. “There are so many little moments that built who I am today.”
Currently studying Education, Drama, and Theatre at Aberystwyth University in Wales, Iris combines her passion for inclusive learning with creative expression. Iris, who graduated in 2023, also reflects on a childhood marked by deep connection and care. “I could walk into ECC or Elementary and the TAs would light up when they saw me,” she shared. “They’d say, ‘You’ve grown so much!’ It made me feel known and cared for.”
Sander, now preparing to study art and design in Pennsylvania, was born in Vietnam and spent his entire school life at UNIS Hanoi. “Graduating was definitely my proudest moment,” he said. “But I’ll also remember riding bikes around the ECC. Those early memories stick with you.”
Growing up together at UNIS Hanoi gave the siblings a unique bond. “Having my brother and sister here was like having a cheat sheet for school,” Iris laughed. “But more than that, it was fun to spot them on campus and yell, ‘That’s my sister!’ It made school feel like a second home.”
Sarah remembers the early days fondly. “When we arrived, there wasn’t much else in Hanoi, so the school was the community,” she said. “Hanoi seemed smaller then, like a village, there weren’t many places to go. On Saturday nights, all the parents and faculty would be together. It was strange, but so safe and special.” That spirit of connection underpinned the extraordinary support and goodwill the Van der Velden-Garners created throughout their journey. “With my ADHD, school wasn’t always easy,” Iris admitted, “but my mom and dad spoke to teachers and built bridges. My mom was a powerhouse.”
As they pack their final boxes and look ahead to the next chapter, the family carries with them not only memories but a lasting imprint on the fabric of UNIS Hanoi. Their legacy is one of deep involvement, warm connection, and lasting impact.
“UNIS Hanoi is not just a school,” Sarah said simply. “It’s home.”
We thank the Van der Velden-Garner family for their many years of commitment, care, and community spirit.
Once a Phoenix, always a Phoenix.
- Alumni News