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.
Nagano Harvest is a student-led CAS initiative at UWC ISAK Japan focused on sustainable agriculture and community learning. Through hands-on farming experiences in Nagano, students explored practical methods of more sustainable food production while building a deeper understanding of the relationship between people, land, and food systems.The project aimed to bring this learning back to the ISAK community by helping students better understand where their food comes from and why responsible farming practices matter. By growing food, working with local agricultural knowledge, and sharing their experiences, the team encouraged the community to think more carefully about food consumption and sustainability.Nagano Harvest highlights how small, practical actions can strengthen connections between students and the local community of Karuizawa while promoting more thoughtful and sustainable approaches to agriculture.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Restoring Hope supports 36 displaced girls in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia, who were affected by the Tigray War. Combining psychological rehabilitation with educational reintegration, the project helps them rebuild confidence, emotional wellbeing, and motivation to return to school in a safe and supportive environment.
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.
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.
I am Lola, a proud South African who refused to let distance silence my activism against the GBV crisis in SA. I hosted an educational talk and fundraiser to support victims back home and promote awareness. I want to inspire support for the fight against GBV in SA, which many students have done by connecting our global communities. As UWC students, we are catalysts for the future, and so I hope this story inspires others to take that step towards positive change in their own worlds.
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.
Hi, I'm Sabi-chan.
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