4 international schools evolving students into changemakers

It’s imperative that the youth realise their power to change the world. Many have yet to do so — a study found that 56% of teens in the US feel pressured to have their lives figured out. In another survey, only one-third of respondents aged 12 to 17 felt things were going well for children and teenagers today.

Many students aren’t given the resources to realise that change starts with them. As the leaders of the next generation, children and teens require the right guidance to understand how they can bridge the gaps in the world, whether that’s through improving sustainability, equity, or access.

The world certainly needs them. Today’s ecosystems are threatened by heat waves, rising sea levels, droughts, and more due to the rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Over 3,000 languages are on the verge of extinction. Severe food insecurity affects about 900 million people across the world, with over 3.1 billion unable to afford a healthy diet.

These international schools are taking no breaks to ensure their students develop a sense of global awareness, one that prepares them to tackle global issues. From globe-trotting exposure to service learning opportunities, here’s how they’re influencing the changemakers of tomorrow.

Jerudong International School, Brunei

Jerudong International School in Brunei goes beyond the traditional educational experience by incorporating sustainable practices into the curriculum. Source: Jerudong International School

The lush greens in the Outdoor Discovery Centre (ODC) at Jerudong International School started as a project to revive barren ground. The area was initially slated to be an extension of the school’s sports complex, but when the project was abandoned, all that was left was a land void of trees. That would change in 2016 when a group of students and teachers launched a replanting project.

Today, the ODC has flourished. It’s now an outdoor classroom where students in this British international day and boarding school spend afternoons creating eco-art, composting from food waste, maintaining hives of stingless bees, and more. At JIS, sustainability is etched into every corner of the student experience, preparing young minds to be the changemakers in a growing, eco-conscious world through six key aims: engagement, leadership, communication, thinking, resilience, and integration.

In 2022, JIS was awarded the Global Eco Schools Green Flag Award, showcasing its dedication to making an environmental impact.

Sustainability plays an active role in the school’s day-to-day. It’s located on Borneo, in Brunei, a country with a strong reputation for eco-tourism. Students hailing from 45 countries, ages two to 18, grow into young leaders who embody JIS’s philosophy of making “teaspoons of change” – taking small yet significant steps towards the Sustainable Development Goals. When students take actions that align with JIS’s values, they’re awarded a Polio Points, resulting in a US$1 donation to UNICEF from the school to help in the global fight against polio eradication.

From the ODC to renewable energy initiatives to eco-entrepreneurship, students tackle global issues in sustainability through innovation and creativity. Their notion to inspire change begins with the influence of a school that actively practices what it preaches. Last year, JIS launched the Solar PV Project, making it the first school in Brunei to install over 600 solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint.

Find out how else Jerudong International School Brunei is nurturing tomorrow’s world-changers.

Mount Pisgah Academy, US

Students at the Mount Pisgah Academy are independent learners focused on physical, intellectual, spiritual, and social growth. Source: Mount Pisgah Academy

Serving the world is a Mount Pisgah Academy (MPA) speciality. Students go on school-wide mission trips every four years to local regions, and countries in South America, Africa, and more. It embeds within the students a service-oriented mindset, a core value that many carry on practising in college. On a weekly basis, students go to local thrift stores, homeless shelters, and breakfast kitchens to play their part.

Located in Candler, North Carolina, MPA is a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school for grades nine through 12. It’s the epitome of serenity, with the 130-acre campus overlooking a view of the Southern Appalachians and the 5,721-foot peak of Mount Pisgah. Amidst the physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth students experience through a Christ-centred education, they’re taking small steps to change the world by giving back to the community.

As part of its Christian ethos, students give back to the community through ShareHim mission trips. Hosted every school year, students travel to a new country to aid in the construction of a new church building. It not only strengthens their relationship with religion, but also instils a strong sense of service to the world, having been exposed to experiences you wouldn’t get in a classroom.

Check out Mount Pisgah Academy today for a community-centred education.

Saint-Denis International School, France

Students at Saint-Denis International School often go on field trips to explore different histories, cultures, and lifestyles. Source: Saint-Denis International School

Cultural awareness is an important trait to foster in today’s climate. At Saint-Denis International School in the Loire Valley, that realm of growth certainly isn’t in short supply. It’s a private Catholic school home to over 350 boarding students from over 30 countries, offering the best of many worlds.

Here, international students have a home in host families and a campus is situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Loire Valley in France is lush with forests, small towns, and castles in a lush countryside setting, spruced up with arts and culture. It sets students up for excellence, allowing them to customise their pathways and learn from experienced teachers.

“We all get to encounter the world through multiple perspectives and cultures,” says Toby Webb, Head of the American International Section. “It is quite normal to walk through the playground and hear children speaking in French, English, Spanish, German, Korean, and so on. I think all this has an impact on everyone at the school, giving it a truly international flavour.”

Saint-Denis is also the perfect place for students to explore the world and develop their interests beyond the classroom. Linguistic and cultural exchanges come aplenty. Students have the opportunity to visit countries like Brazil, Denmark, India, China, and more too.

They’re able to immerse themselves in cultures foreign to them, explore diverse realms of life within a safe learning environment. The school hosts the French International Baccalaureate, as well as exchanges for students in the European English section.

Check out Saint-Denis International School today.

Marymount International School London, UK

Marymount London is home to around 250 students representing over 40 countries. Source: Marymount International School London

Marymount International School London is an independent Catholic day and boarding school that puts girls first. Ranked within the top 2% of International Baccalaureate (IB) schools worldwide with a 100% pass rate, Marymount inspires girls aged 11 to 18 to be bold, independent thinkers, leaders, and innovators.

International mindedness is the hallmark of the Marymount lifestyle. It’s connected to 18 other Marymount Schools across New York, Los Angeles, Mexico, Rome, Paris, Portugal, Colombia, and Brazil. The school’s population has 48 nationalities represented, with 15 mother tongue languages supported in the curriculum. In a single-sex education, rid of gender stereotypes and expectations, students learn to flourish and grow into the leaders of the next generation.

Part of that mission comes with nurturing the future of intellectual and compassionate individuals with a strong grip on social consciousness and global awareness. Students here are challenged to seek justice for global issues, aligning with the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Marymount students receive support from dedicated staff through personal development, creativity, and community engagement to grow into well-rounded individuals, set to make an impact on the world.

Check out Marymount International School London today.