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.
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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.
In rural Peru, students face systemic barriers to quality education. After studying in Japan, I returned to Churcampa and founded a low-cost community academy. In less than a year, we've reached over 50 students, providing daily classes in math, English, and language, expanding access to learning and helping close the rural-urban education gap.
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.
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.
I invited director Hirokazu Kore-eda (是枝裕和) to UWC ISAK Japan because his films explore universal social issues with deep empathy — something that strongly resonates with our diverse student body from more than 80 countries.Reaching out to him felt impossible. He seemed completely out of reach.But I sent the message anyway. And he came.This experience taught me that even the most “unreachable” people might say yes if you have the courage to ask.Dream big. Take action.
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.
ARC, Art Reach Cambodia, is a Khmer-led documentary storytelling project challenging the single story of Cambodia. With $10,000 from the Davis Peace Project, in partnership with SafeSpaceBTB, ARC documented 13 Khmer creatives and athletes, creating a full year of economic opportunity for 10 Khmer youth in Battambang. Our mini-documentary is in post-production, with an expected reach of 3,700 people. Series 2 is in development. Our vision: a world where every Khmer voice finds its place.
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.
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.
A glimpse into my design journey from early curiosity to building systems and visuals, turning ideas into real, meaningful experiences. Now working with Wahid and Grace to launch Hop Art House, dedicated to democratizing art and honoring the artist's hand, creative process, and emotional presence in a world increasingly dominated by AI. www.hoparthouse.com
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.
Maybe it's just a routine. Maybe it's just another spot in the timetable, but maybe, there's more to our usual Stop and Clean. Being nominated for the Impact Award recognizes how small, consistent actions can create meaningful change on how we view communal spaces. Stop and Clean in the KAC Entrance represents an opportunity to practice responsibility, mindfulness, and respect for the community environment.
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