On August 31, Buddies Without Borders Club students wrapped up the school year with many Local Action Projects to meet our joint Global Goals. Everyone was invited to vote for their favorite BWB Club based on creativity, SDG relevance, and communication. The Best Club was announced by Dr. Jamie Schlais, a former CAS curriculum manager for the International Baccalaureate (IB): Voted the Best Club: Secondhand book exchange, Taipei Private Tsai Hsing High School, Taiwan - led b

When considering how to make the world a better and safer place, stray animals are often overlooked. Jakarta, Indonesia, is home to approximately 1.5 million stray cats, many of which suffer from hunger and disease. Members of the BINUS BWB Club decided to tackle this issue in their local community. The club is led by student Anushka Pradeep Varrier and overseen by Action Coordinator and English Teacher, Elisabeth Tan Yanti. BINUS BWB Club decided to help take care of stray

Friends are more than important to our mental health; they actually make the world go round. At its core, a community is a network of friendships, and building this community is essential for any social effort. By communicating and collaborating with peers who have similar interests, we can develop projects that are well-supported, significant, and have a higher chance of success. The BWB Club at Green Bay High School in Auckland, New Zealand decided to focus on community bui

"Almost two-thirds of the world’s population experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year." (www.unicef.org/wash/water-scarcity) These challenges manifest differently based on local circumstances, such as pollution, drought, flooding, poor management, and more. Therefore, understanding the local context is crucial for organizing efforts to tackle this global challenge. Today, we will spotlight the local action project by the Amman National School BWB C

When designing Local Action Projects, we ask students to look into their own community and propose viable changes that resonate most with them. Today we will spotlight the project from the Walker School BWB Club in Georgia, USA. It is led by student Alexa Campos and moderated by Dr. Lynn Murray: "Our Local Action Project addressed food insecurity and supported vulnerable members both locally in Atlanta and globally. It focused on the United Nations Sustainable Development G

As we wrap up the 2025-2026 BWB School Year at the end of August, we look back on what the young changemakers have accomplished in the past 12 months. BWB Club members have met online every month to learn about each other's cultures and debate issues that matter to them, such as "Should school uniforms be mandatory worldwide?" - an interesting topic proposed by the Tsai Hsing BWB Club in Taipei, Taiwan. More importantly, each club had a chance to design and complete a Local A

In the 2026-2027 school year, youth should recognize AI's impact on the global economy and understand that societal progress varies, especially in environmental and economic issues. This is why AI and Sustainable Tourism will be the focus of the Fall BWB Forum. (October 17 - December 12, 2026. Application is now open.) You will be teamed up with students from around the world. The forum extends beyond international collaborations. Winners can establish BWB Clubs in their s

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, but it often comes with a high environmental and social cost. Overcrowded destinations, waste generation, and resource depletion threaten the very places travelers want to enjoy. Finding ways to balance tourism growth with environmental care is urgent. “Travel & Tourism is expected to support 376 million jobs worldwide in 2026, representing one in nine jobs globally.” (Economic Impact Research, the World Travel & Tourism Coun

In the Buddies Without Borders Online Forums, we hold that self-discovery is equally important as understanding the subject matter. We believe that the insights gained from meeting experiences, peer discussions, and self-reflection on our learning journey are valuable tools that will remain with us for years. Vedant Nukalapati from Prosper High School shared his learning journey in the Power for a Better Future Buddies Without Borders Online Forum. Vedant Nukalapati - Prosper

International students play a vital role in connecting people and cultures. However, as the dynamics of student mobility change, the cost of living continues to rise, and opportunities for skills and employment are influenced by AI and international politics, how should students decide on their paths when selecting a higher education destination? This weekend, our international panelists will share their perspectives and experiences at the 2026 Destination Workshop. It is op

Broadening our international horizons is increasingly important in today’s interconnected world. Engaging with different cultures and viewpoints helps us understand and appreciate the variety of human experiences, especially the need for clean energy. It is only through collaboration that we can find an effective solution moving forward. Mahsa Raeissi Goudoei, one of the Top Five Finishers, is an Iranian student living in the UAE. She worked with teammates from the USA, Braz

Many students from the graduating high school class are preparing for college this Fall. Developing soft skills such as planning, time management, communication, and collaboration is crucial for their readiness for higher education. We are pleased that our participants have the opportunity to practice these skills through the Buddies Without Borders Online Forums. Here is a reflection from Karthik Anumolu, a member of The Best Team in the Power for a Better Future Online Foru

International communication is about connections, not linguistic perfection. Using a foreign language to express ideas and feelings can be challenging for many, but let's remember that building a global community is impossible without a common language. English has become the most commonly used language worldwide, which is why many international organizations, including Global Education Destinations, choose it as their operating language. When students come from different co

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." ~ Edward Everett Hale When smart, hard-working students came together from across the globe to compare their research and ideas for making the world a better place, it was naturally difficult to keep a team together due to availability constraints, cultural barriers, and knowledge gaps. However, when a team figures out how to work together and help each other, that's when magic happen

Our vote is our voice. The best way to be heard is through voting. Once all the ideas were submitted by the participating teams at the Power for a Better Future Forum, the online community was invited to vote on the ideas based on creativity, sustainability, and equity. The team that received the most votes from the public is Team A-4-APPLE. The contributing members are: People's Choice Team Aisha Minjal Rupen Pathak - St Luke's Catholic College, Australia Natalia Righele

So many of us worry about fitting in, but it is our willingness to put ourselves out there that can foster inclusivity for all, including ourselves. The Best Representative of the Power for a Better Future Buddies Without Borders Online Forum, Gabby Louise Wieczorek (the Walker School, USA), shared her observations on her journey of building a community with her international teammates: Gabby Louise Wieczorek (the Walker School, USA) The Best Representative of the Power for

Earth Day is not just an inspiring concept; it is a goal that binds us all. On April 25, 2026, the Power for a Better Future Buddies Without Borders Online Forum hosted its award ceremony. Educators and changemakers across the globe came together to honor those who worked the hardest and have the best ideas, chosen by an online audience, ranked by our international panelists, and voted by their forum peers. Awards were given to the team with the most creative and impactful pr

Just three days left to vote for your favorite team in the People's Choice Award category at the Power for a Better Future Buddies Without Borders Online Forum. Please click on the link to see what the international teams propose and cast your vote. Currently, all forum participants are conducting peer reviews and voting for the student among the Top Five Finishers who they feel best represent the spirit of Buddies Without Borders. These are the students who accumulate the

The truth is that the world we live in is rife with inequalities—certain countries have more natural resources, and certain people are born into settings with better employment opportunities. However, this doesn't mean that humanity must endure an unfair world indefinitely. Democracy remains the most effective way to attain justice for everyone. Its foundation is the ability for all to vote. It is non-violent and empowers every citizen, regardless of their socioeconomic statu

"In 2026, energy has reemerged as a central force shaping our world." Time Magazine (April 4, 2026). What do our future leaders think about this issue? To address climate change, avoid vulnerability from global conflicts, and meet the growing energy demands of an AI future, countries around the world are working hard to find better ways to manage their energy resources. France, Norway, and Sweden now have electric highways that automatically charge electric vehicles while