In recent years, sustainability has moved from the margins of school conversations to the center of educational purpose. With the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) providing a global roadmap, schools around the world are increasingly stepping up to instill in students the values of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and conscious action.
Sustainability has been part of life at CHIREC International School for many years, shaping how students learn and contribute to their world. When the United Nations launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 at the summit in New York, it gave global structure to the kind of work CHIREC was already doing. The goals helped sharpen our focus and added momentum to student-led projects, classroom discussions, and everyday choices across the school. At CHIREC, sustainability is not a side project; it’s a way of thinking, doing, and leading.
Global Connections: CNN’s Call to Earth
In December 2024, CHIREC students participated in CNN’s Call to Earth initiative—a global campaign encouraging youth to respond to environmental challenges. Our students created original projects that reflected their commitment to a sustainable planet. Their work was featured in CNN’s online gallery and mentioned in the Call to Earth Day blog, placing CHIREC’s efforts on the global stage.
These opportunities help students connect their local actions with broader global movements, reinforcing the idea that sustainability is not just about individual behavior, but about collective vision.
Learning through Real-World Projects
One of the most impactful ways CHIREC integrates sustainability into school life is through interdisciplinary learning. In October and November 2024, students from Grades 6 to 8 explored the theme of sustainability and urbanization in a unique display of inter-disciplinary learning. Drawing from science, social studies, geography, and economics, they examined sustainable development in Telangana and Jharkhand.
Students built models, designed interactive displays, and presented their findings on renewable energy, conservation, and sustainable agriculture. These projects didn’t just encourage academic rigor. They also helped students understand the complex balance between development and environmental responsibility.
Student Leadership through the Eco Club
The Eco Club is another key space where CHIREC’s commitment to sustainability comes to life. Recently, the Eco Club hosted an assembly focused on energy conservation. Led by Aarushi Kolala (Grade 9A, Vice President) and Hunar Gupta (Grade 9G, Director of Resources), the session included a detailed analysis of the school’s electricity consumption.
With a target to reduce energy usage by 5% compared to the previous year, students proposed actionable steps for more mindful electricity consumption. A special mention was given to students who had successfully implemented energy-saving practices. By combining data analysis with student initiative, the Eco Club models how awareness can lead to measurable change.
Education for the Long Term
As an institution that offers multiple curricula including IB, CBSE, and Cambridge, CHIREC approaches sustainability not as a single lesson but as a way of thinking. The aim is to nurture students who understand the long-term consequences of choices and who are prepared to lead with empathy, responsibility, and awareness.
Whether it’s through campus-wide campaigns, curriculum integration, or international participation, sustainability at CHIREC is always evolving. And in doing so, it continues to prepare students not just for exams, but for the future they will inherit and help shape.
