Schools for Schools: Service Learning That Creates Lasting Impact
For nearly two decades, the Australian International School in Singapore has run one of the country’s most established service learning programmes. Schools for Schools empowers students to volunteer overseas, supporting partner schools in Nepal and India while developing youth leadership skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
- Programme: Schools for Schools
- Year Level: Year 11 Legacy Project
- Partner Regions: Nepal (Himalayan Trust/REED), India
- Total Raised Since 2007: S$400,000+
- 2025 Fundraising: S$24,850
What began in 2007 with AIS teacher Ruth Luthi’s involvement in a teacher training program in Saleri has grown into a transformational partnership with the Himalayan Trust and REED (Rural Education Environment Development). Together, AIS and REED have supported schools in the Everest region with a shared mission: improving access to quality education in remote communities.
Today, the Schools for Schools co-curricular activity (CCA) continues to stand as a testament to student leadership, compassion, and global citizenship.
18 Years of Student Service Learning
Since its inception, the Schools for Schools initiative has raised over S$400,000, helping to fund:
- New school buildings
- Teaching resources
- Vegetable gardens
- Toilets and sanitation facilities
- A playground
- The ongoing commitment to pay teachers’ salaries each year
This sustained support ensures that students in remote regions of India and Nepal can learn in safe, well-resourced environments — opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.
Year 11 Youth Leadership Programme
Schools for Schools is a Year 11 Legacy Project, giving students authentic opportunities to plan, lead, and execute fundraising initiatives throughout the year. From bake sales and barbecues to sporting events and talent shows, students have discovered firsthand what it means to turn teamwork and creativity into meaningful change.
The programme develops youth leadership skills through hands-on project management, from budgeting and stakeholder coordination to event execution.
In 2025 alone, AIS students raised:
- S$12,000 for teachers’ salaries in Nepal
- S$1,500 for partner schools in India
- S$11,350 from the 2025 Global Festival, donated to Loding Khola, Nepal, to rebuild the hydropower pump originally funded by AIS in 2012 and destroyed in the 2024 landslides
This student-led service learning initiative demonstrates how meaningful volunteer work creates lasting change in underserved communities.
Their efforts extend far beyond fundraising. Students have travelled to India and Nepal to connect directly with the communities they support — renovating classrooms, teaching local students, and participating in cultural exchanges that inspire deeper empathy and global understanding.
AIS Students Creating Lasting Impact Across India and Nepal
The heart of Schools for Schools lies in the personal transformations that occur when students step outside the classroom and into communities very different from their own.
Students who volunteer overseas through Schools for Schools consistently describe the experience as transformative. Here is what recent participants shared about their service learning journeys.
Seeing Impact Firsthand
“The most meaningful part of Schools4Schools was seeing firsthand the difference we’ve made and the joy we’ve brought to the communities. It was really different from learning in the classroom — nothing was planned, things changed every day, and we had to adapt and work through every challenge together.”
— Atti, Year 12 (Nepal Trip 2025)
Human Connection Beyond Borders
“The India service trip was such a meaningful experience. After a year of fundraising, we hiked to two remote schools to deliver the materials and supplies we’d collected. Playing cricket and connecting with the students made all our efforts feel real and worthwhile. I came home with a deeper sense of gratitude and a true understanding of what service and human connection really mean.”
— Nova, Year 11 (India Trip 2025)
Leadership Through Action
“This experience taught me how to be organised and run fundraising events. I didn’t realise before how much coordination it takes — from budgeting and time management to getting the right people and faculties involved. Our group learned a lot about maintaining communication, solving problems as they came up, and sharing ideas to raise funds that truly support these communities.”
— Carina, Year 12 (Nepal Trip 2024)
Moments That Stay Forever
“The S4S India trip was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. From landing in Delhi to the day we left, I felt fully immersed in the culture and excitement. Hiking to the schools, gardening, and playing cricket with the children were unforgettable moments that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I also bonded with my classmates in ways I never could at school and discovered a love for new experiences — even Bollywood dancing!”
— Jemima, Year 11 (India Trip 2025)
Developing Youth Leadership Through Service
Schools for Schools continues to shape AIS students into compassionate leaders, critical thinkers, and globally minded young adults. The impact they create — whether building infrastructure, funding education, or forming meaningful relationships — is felt long after each trip ends.
As we celebrate another successful year of service, we are incredibly proud of our students who live out the AIS values of respect, effort, and compassion in every corner of the world.
Together, we are building brighter futures, one school, one fundraiser, and one act of service at a time.
Interested in learning how AIS Singapore develops compassionate, globally minded students? Explore our co-curricular programmes or book a campus tour to see our community in action.
