Project Showcase
Participating schools are selected to showcase how their commitment to dedicating 0.7% of their budget to sustainable development allows projects to grow and flourish. This project showcase page aims to provide ideas for other schools and inspire us all that meaningful change is possible. Explore these success stories to see the transformative impact of sustainable initiatives and gain inspiration for your own community.
Featured School: The International School Yangon
The International School Yangon is a founding school partner. ISY has a long standing commitment to service learning and funding sustainable development projects. Shortly after embarking on a new strategic plan that included a commitment to service learning, ISY Director Dr. Gregory Hedger and the ISY Board decided to commit 0.7% of the annual operating budget to sustainable development projects. Engaging with students, faculty members and the school leaders, a decision was made that project funding would be focused on making long-term commitments to a few select projects.
According to the Director, Dr. Hedger, “There is so much need in Myanmar and in the world, we were concerned about being pulled in too many directions and as a result having minimal impact. Taking a page from the work of Margaret Wheatley, we decided to create our own island of sanity, focusing on a few “partnership organizations” and meaningful impact projects in an effort to make a difference there and establish some sanity in our own small corner of the world. The SDGs act as our guide in making this happen.”
Solar Panel Project - SDG #7: Affordable and Clean Energy
The installation of solar panels on the roofs of ISY buildings is part of ISY's commitment to support the goal of affordable and clean energy. As ISY works towards carbon neutrality, the installation of solar panels allows ISY to generate a substantial amount of needed power during the hours of 9am to about 4pm. This project has in origins through student leadership. The project was initially begun by a student who had worked as an intern at Mandalay Yoma, a solar panel company. After his internship program, he presented an initial project project proposal to the ISY Leadership team. Another ISY alumni, (Class of 2105) was working at Mandalay Yoma and helped take the project further culminating in the fitting of solar panels throughout the campus.
Funding: The solar panel project was funded entirely through ISY's Sustainable Development fund.
Kalihtaw School - SDG #4: Quality Education
Students from the ISY service learning group, Access to Education (ATE), went to our partner school in Kalihtaw to interact and involve themselves in activities with the students there. ISY students gained experience of new situations and learned about education in rural Myanmar schools, and how they manage with limited facilities. ISY students had an opportunity to engage in shared learning with the Kahlitaw community as need assessments were generated in support of Kahlitaw’s recovery from devastating flooding, pursuing sustainable solar energy for the school, and participating in meaningful learning activities.
Funding: ISY supports the operating budget of the Kalihtaw project through a combination of funding through their Sustainable Development fund and from student fundraising for the Chinthe Fund.
Care for the Least Center - SDG #10: Reduced Inequalities
ISY has had a long standing relationship with the Care to the Least Center. This organization is an orphanage based in Yangon. As part of our Service Learning program, ISY students have regularly engaged with children from the center in recreational activities and learning. ISY after school service learning clubs have worked with CLC to create needs assessments leading to the collection and donation of clothes and games for the children. These same needs assessments have led to several infrastructure projects as well. Over the years, ISY has provided the funding for a number of building projects on the Care for the Least campus. These building projects have provided residents with housing and learning spaces.
Funding: ISY supports the operating budget of the Kalihtaw project through a combination of funding through their Sustainable Development fund and from student fundraising for the Chinthe Fund.
