Going way back in the archives this week to share one of our favorite episodes from the very beginning of the Empathy to Impact podcast. These students would just be starting high school now I think. I hope you enjoy the episode.
~Scott

1. Here is a link to the podcasts that the students produced.
2. Here are some samples of student videos.
3. Here is the digital magazine produced by the class.

These can be used as meta-models to inspire the learners in your classroom. If you would like help implementing a unit like this please reach out to Inspire Citizens by emailing scott@inspirecitizens.org

Episode Summary:

On this episode I meet Caroline, Fina and Neil who are living in Malaysia. We discuss a project that they did at the end of 3rd grade that involved becoming more aware of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, learning some new technology and research skills and producing media to have an impact.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

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• Explore a collaboration with Inspire Citizens. You can book a discovery call at this link
• Share using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary
Yes…chickens! Jazlyn & Deniz are two changemakers from Frankfurt International School. They share a passion for animals and designed a project to help students learn about sustainability through having chickens in their outdoor learning area at school. This project involved so much cool learning from research skills, design skills and developing a pitch for school leaders to bring their idea to life. How might chickens impact learning and our understanding of sustainability? Listen to learn more.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

Guiding Question:

• How might we empower our students, beyond personal projects, to have a greater say in their learning through increased student agency.

Key Takeaways:

• Student agency and the importance of learning experiences, like personal projects, to create opportunities for students to explore different interests outside of the curriculum.
• Raising awareness of complex issues, like child labor, and child trafficking, that are difficult topics to navigate, but important to understand for even our youngest learners in school.
• Turning learning, research, storytelling and navigating the publishing process into a children’s book to educate children in our community.

If you have enjoyed our podcast, please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

• At the time of publishing I don’t have information on how to purchase Kweku’s Brave Choice: A Story of Courage and Hope, but I will update here when it’s available. Stay tuned.
• Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programs
• Connect with more stories from the Inspire Citizens network in our vignettes
• Measuring the IMPACT of Service Learning projects and initiatives
• Access free resources for global citizenship education
• You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link
• Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary

On this episode, I meet Maria Bella, a high school student from Lincoln Community School in Accra, Ghana. As part of her studies, Maria Bella learned about child trafficking, and child labor, a complex issue that impacts her local community. She is passionate about humanitarian work, and chose to dedicate her work for her personal project to creating a children’s book to educate local children about this important issue. Join me, as we explore her journey to becoming a published author and shall she use this opportunity to further her learning as a humanitarian and set her sites on a potential career path.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

Guiding Question:

• How might we create a space for students to follow their passions and collaboratively design solutions for the global good?

Key Takeaways:

• A case study from Notre Dame Belmont High School and Serra High School in California, USA.
• A class without grades where students can follow their passions without the constraint of academic pressure.
• Being part of a global network where students can share ideas and design solutions for the global good.

If design you have for the global good. enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

• Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programs
• Connect with more stories from the Inspire Citizens network in our vignettes
• Measuring the IMPACT of Service Learning projects and initiatives
• Access free resources for global citizenship education
• You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link
• Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary

On this episode, we explore a class taught by Rushton Hurley and Rita Lee at Junipero Serra High School and Notre Dame Belmont High School called Creative solutions for the Global Good and Advanced Solutions for the Global Good. This episode features students Rowan, Vicky, and Bella, who share their experiences from the course, the projects they were involved in, the international collaboration opportunities they had, and how this class impacted their high school experience in terms of creativity, leadership, perseverance, time management, collaboration, and impact. Listen to learn more and to see if the addition of this course, or something similar, might be an exciting next step for your school.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

Guiding Question:

• How might students play a role in creating more inclusive communities in our schools?

Key Takeaways:

• How a student used the community project in grade 8 to start a PRIDE club
• A student perspective on managing transitions
• Zooming in on the Changemaker Journey through a participant’s viewpoint on the changemaker conference at AISB in Budapest

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

• Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programs
• Connect with more stories from the Inspire Citizens network in our vignettes
• Measuring the IMPACT of Service Learning projects and initiatives
• Access free resources for global citizenship education
• You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link
• Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary

On this episode, after having the privilege of attending the Changemaker Conference at the American International School of Budapest in March 2025 (check out this episode with the student organizers), I had the opportunity to reconnect with Rae. Rae is a grade 8 changemaker from a school in the region, who, like me, was visiting, with other students from her school, to attend the conference. While at the conference, she attended one of my workshops, and we later had a great conversation about her work and her passion for creating inclusive communities. I was especially inspired learning that she had started a PRIDE club at her school. Listen to learn more.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

Guiding Question:

• How might we empower students to organize an event to share, celebrate, inspire and BE changemakers in your region?

Key Takeaways:

• A behind-the-scenes look at hosting a student-led conference
• Making a conference more sustainable
• Developing a “Changemaker Mindset” to unlock the potential in our school communities
• Transitioning from advocacy to action

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

• Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programs
• Connect with more stories from the Inspire Citizens network in our vignettes
• Measuring the IMPACT of Service Learning projects and initiatives
• Access free resources for global citizenship education
• You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link
• Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary

On this episode, after having the privilege of attending the Changemaker Conference at the American International School of Budapest in March 2025, I had the opportunity to reconnect with 3 student leaders from that school, Alex, Shuo, and Aranya, who each played a pivotal role in the organization and resounding success of this conference. Join us as we take a behind-the-scenes look at all of the components and work that goes on behind the scenes to host an impactful and inspirational event like this. Maybe this is the spark that you need to start an event like this in your region.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

Guiding Question:

• How might we empower students to organize an event to share, celebrate, and inspire younger students in our school community through service learning.

Key Takeaways:

• Peer to peer learning in the context of service learning
• Authentic engagement with service learning in elementary education co-facilitated by high school student leaders
• Planting the seeds with our youngest learners to develop the service learning mindset
• Sustainability of service learning initiatives through whole school events like Community Partners Week

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

• Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programs
• Connect with more stories from the Inspire Citizens network in our vignettes
• Measuring the IMPACT of Service Learning projects and initiatives
• Access free resources for global citizenship education
• You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link
• Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary

On this episode, I meet Omaira and Tul, members of ServiceCo and service learning leaders at NIST. Following up on our previous episode with Y6 students, in Part 2 Tul and Omaira share a behind-the-scenes look at Community Partners Week, the organization of this impactful event, and their role as service learning leaders designing and leading learning experiences with Y6 students. This was the 3rd annual Community Partners Week at NIST, and by all accounts, the best one yet. During Community Partners Week, students in the primary years program had opportunities to connect with community partners like Helping Heart (EY-Y1), a local nursery (EY-Y1), Student-led service groups Eco and Plastic-free NIST (Y2), Operation Smile (Y3), Student-led service group FemiNIST (Y4), and Student-led service group FashioNIST (Y5). Join me for a great conversation with these student leaders to get a deeper insight on the impact of CPW at their school and how peer to peer learning leads to a service mindset, the ongoing sustainability of service learning initiatives, and a culture of service across the whole school community.

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.

Guiding Question:

• How might we take creative action towards a reimagined future?

Key Takeaways

• Different types of service and ways we can take action
• PYP Exhibition and how we might empower students to take age-appropriate, creative, sustainable actions
• How meaningful actions can start a “chain reaction” in our school communities as we work to develop as global citizens

If you have enjoyed the podcast please take a moment to subscribe, and also please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. The way the algorithm works, this helps our podcast reach more listeners. Thanks from IC for your support.

• Learn more about how Inspire Citizens co-designs customized student leadership and changemakers programs
• Connect with more stories from the Inspire Citizens network in our vignettes
• Check out other PYPx stories from ARIS, CIS Beijing, and WAB
• Measuring the IMPACT of Service Learning projects and initiatives
• Access free resources for global citizenship education
• You can book a discovery call with Inspire Citizens at this link
• Share on social media using #EmpathytoImpact

Episode Summary

On this episode, I meet Charlotte, Saar, Stella, and Viviana (Vivi) to talk about Community Partners Week and their work leading up to the PYP exhibition at NIST. This was the 3rd annual Community Partners Week, and by all accounts, the best one yet. During Community Partners Week, students in the primary years program had opportunities to connect with community partners like Helping Heart (EY-Y1), a local nursery (EY-Y1), Student-led service groups Eco and Plastic-free NIST (Y2), Operation Smile (Y3), Student-led service group FemiNIST (Y4), and Student-led service group FashioNIST (Y5). Join me for a great conversation with these students from Y6 to learn what they were up to for CPW working with community partners and high school students from ServiceCo and don’t miss our next episode that will feature Omaira and Tul from ServiceCo sharing some behind the scenes information on this amazing peer-to-peer learning experience.

A big sh opportunitiesout out to Magic Mind for sponsoring this episode. Take advantage of our limited offer to get up to 48% off

your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code ETI20 at checkout.

Claim your discount at: https://www.magicmind.com/ETI20

Discover a transformative podcast on education and learning from a student perspective and student voice, exploring media, media literacy, and media production to inspire citizens in schools through a media lab focused on 21st-century learning, empathy to impact, Global citizenship, collaboration, systems thinking, service learning, PBL, CAS, MYP, PYP, DP, Service as Action, futures thinking, project-based learning, sustainability, well-being, harmony with nature, community engagement, experiential learning, and the role of teachers and teaching in fostering well-being and a better future.