At a recent fireside chat hosted by Asia Community Foundation and AlTi Tiedemann Global, Li Foundation heard from the Founder and CEO of U-Go, John Wood, who shared how the organization is expanding access to higher education for young women in low-income countries. In many of these regions, fewer than 15% of women pursue tertiary education, hindered by poverty, cultural norms, and geographical barriers.
John shared that after two decades building his previous NGO, Room to Read, he saw university access as the final barrier to break in the journey toward gender equality in education. U-Go was founded to address this gap by offering affordable university scholarships — just USD800 covers a full year of study — along with a community of scholars and networking support. U-Go stands out for its zero-leakage model, ensuring 100% of donations go directly to scholarships and for its partnerships with grassroots organizations deeply rooted in the communities they serve.
LiF believes that education is widely regarded as one of the most powerful tools for personal and societal growth. It opens doors to opportunities, broadens perspectives, and empowers individuals to reach their full potential. Through education, people gain not only knowledge and skills but also the values and confidence needed to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
In line with this belief, LiF pledged to support 10 U-Go scholars each year for the next five years — empowering young women to pursue their dreams and create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
The book showcases how the participants challenged their limits and conquered the World Marathon Challenge and North Pole Marathon to inspire people to challenge their own limits and pursue their dreams boldly.
The book tells the stories behind the event which saw the largest number of people in history running 1045km round Taiwan in 19 days.