When Dean noticed students craving both competition and connection, he didn't wait for a complex solution. He reached out to a local rink and started something that grew far beyond what anyone expected. The curling program at ISAK is proof that identifying a genuine need and acting on it directly is all it takes to create lasting impact.
We tackle coffee waste by combining science with community action. Our team engineered E. coli to remove caffeine from spent coffee grounds, making them safe for use as fertilizer. Beyond the lab, we partnered with coffee shops, taught students through workshops and camps, and brought sustainability education to rural communities, empowering people to turn everyday waste into a resource.
We are ISAK Sports CAS, aiming to promote physical education and sports in various forms of events and activities in the school, as well as locally in Japan. As student athletes at UWC ISAK Japan, our belief is that taking part in sports will have significantly positive impacts on individual health and ISAK's sense of community. We hope to increase the quantity and quality of opportunities for individuals to showcase their skills in various sports as well as raise school spirit in the process.
Watch how an abandoned teahouse is transformed into a stunning space in just one year. From demolition to final finishes, this full renovation journey captures every step, including design, construction, and creative problem-solving. Perfect for fans of home makeovers, DIY, and architecture. See the before and after, get inspired, and follow the process from start to finish.
Our school's manually-operated panel heaters for room heating have low fuel efficiency because they have no algorithm regulating their heat output and stay on even when nobody is around. Project H-RACS provides an IoT solution to automating these radiators. This efficiently uses fuel, not only decreasing heating cost, but also maintaining a temperature that is just-right for the classroom. By using our resources more efficiently, project H-RACS is creating a more sustainable school.
I've long cared about sustainability and saw an opportunity at ISAK to make a difference. I initiated ISAK Soap, a faculty-led CAS project where students and I learned to make soap using our school's recycled cooking oil to reduce plastic waste and replace commercially-made cleaning products. Students have embraced this environmentally-friendly option and are eager to support UWC's sustainability mission. We've sold various soaps, and profits fund continued experimentation with new varieties, allowing the project to grow sustainably.
I left my job and cycled across the Silk Road from Beijing to Rome. What began as curiosity became connection, through moments, kindness, and people who opened their worlds to me. The world isn't as distant as it seems. Connection brings it closer.
Grade 12 student Kellen discovered a deforested clearing behind UWC ISAK Japan and decided to take action. Inspired by the Miyawaki Method, he launched the Pocket Forest CAS project and navigated bureaucratic challenges to create Kaohsiung, Taiwan's first Miyawaki Forest. With local support, volunteers planted 240 native saplings, restoring biodiversity in an industrial area. His leadership demonstrates how education empowers students to turn environmental awareness into tangible impact, building frameworks for ecological and personal regeneration.
Growing up visiting remote Himalayan villages in Nepal, I witnessed women and girls lacking access to basic menstrual health education and resources. I started a Women Empowerment Project in Gorkha, reaching 1,500+ women across 15 villages. Through workshops and distribution of reusable sanitary kits, we've improved health, built confidence, and broken stigma — creating lasting change.
Our mission is to make ISAK a place where taking action becomes the norm, and where every student has the courage to turn "zero into one." We hosted Entrepreneur Weekend twice during our Grade 10 year, bringing together ISAK students and middle and high school students from across Japan to develop startup ideas over three days, with mentorship from professional entrepreneurs. As we moved into Grade 11, we began sending Grade 10 students to Startup Weekend events in Tokyo and Nagoya, creating a cycle where students pass down the mindset of leadership to future cohorts.
When the Taliban banned girls from learning, these students didn't stop. They went underground.The Evening School partnered with Afghanistan Education Action to bring computer science education to hidden classrooms in Herat, growing from 16 students to 48. But their impact doesn't stop at the classroom door. They're also taking Afghan students' voices to the United Nations, advocating for children's right to learn in conflict zones around the world.Education is resistance. Education is hope.
Teacher orientation is a flood of new information to digest — teachers feel overwhelmed and underprepared. When faced with challenges in the classroom or procedures to follow, the right information is rarely at hand. The result is stressed teachers and inconsistent application of school approaches.Decision Point uses bespoke simulations so teachers can make decisions in a low-stakes environment. The result is more confident teachers, less procedural error, and less administrative burden.
Project Iridescent, now Hogo Women's Network, addresses the lack of support for women navigating gender-based discrimination in professional spaces. Through workshops, community building, and the development of EMBR (an intelligence-driven platform), the project transforms stigma into data-driven insight, empowering women and driving more inclusive, resilient workplaces.
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