Learning to be changemakers: Champittet students attend Nord Anglia Education UNICEF Summit in Houston

Two of our Champittet students recently participated in the Nord Anglia Education (NAE) UNICEF Student Summit in the United States. Vladimir N. and Giulio P. both Swiss Maturité 13th-graders, spent five days in Houston, Texas with more than 120 NAE students from around the world. Under the theme “Innovation”, our international NAE students discussed ways they’ve been working to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and how to make a positive impact on society.

This year, the annual NAE-UNICEF Student Summit was hosted at The Village School and the British International School of Houston. Over five action-packed days, participants focused on developing advocacy skills, using inclusive language, and honing strategies to pose problem statements – clear, concise explanations of a critical issue to be solved – and propose solutions.

Our student delegates visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science to better understand the science and technology of renewable energy. At the British International School of Houston, they discovered the school’s “Food for Friends” initiative – an NAE Social Impact Grant winner helping to tackle food insecurity in Houston. This was followed by an afternoon at the Houston Food Bank, where our students packed enough boxes for 19,040 meals!

These memorable learning experiences left deep impressions on our student delegates. “As cheesy as it sounds, I truly have become a different person. I have left this event with lots of new inspiration, new perspectives and ideas on how to make the world a better place,” says Vladimir.

Both students found that the summit offered stimulating conversations, engaging debates and an opportunity to understand different points of view. Giulio noted, “We challenged each other’s thoughts, views and opinions while keeping a respectful tone, eventually coming to a conclusion or consensus. And that is why I would recommend this event, as this is the perfect opportunity for an adolescent to connect with like-minded individuals.”