Through the platform, schools can plan, execute and report on outreach activities and events, including volunteering, donation drives and work with non-governmental organisations. Schools are also encouraged to get involved in social activities based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. This links directly to the work schools do through the group’s collaboration with UNICEF where acts of social good enable students to stretch and extend their learning outside of the classroom.
“In almost every school I visit, students tell me of their passion to change the world for the better. Helping them develop skills to do this is core to what we offer them. The fact that they can measure and track their impact gives them even greater impetus, and we’re delighted to see it in action,” NAE’s Education Director Andy Puttock said.
Nord Anglia Education chief executive Andrew Fitzmaurice said establishing NAESAD stems from the organisation’s belief that students, parents, teachers and school staff can make a powerful difference in their communities and lead change.
“We launched the Share A Dream platform to great success and more of our schools are gradually being introduced to the platform,” Mr Fitzmaurice said.
“Our long-term goal is to see all our schools leading the charge for social change in their own communities.”
Currently 22 Nord Anglia schools, with a total of 23,850 students have uploaded and tracked their social projects on NAESAD from September 2018 to April 2019. Five more schools have joined the platform and are expected to commence tracking their social service work soon.
So far, Nord Anglia Education schools have dedicated 40,781 hours in social service work, collected 16,807 good for donation and raised a total of US$374,832. The causes championed addressed The UN Global Goals on reducing inequalities, quality education and health and wellbeing.
Developed by Alaya, specifically for Nord Anglia Education (NAE), the tool is the first digital platform of its type to capture the philanthropic profile and efforts of students to be changemakers and lead the charge for sustainable change.
“It’s a unique platform where schools can showcase their global social responsibility,” Alaya Co-Founder Niklas Van Neyghem said.
Mr Van Neyghem said that the individual work being done at schools contributed to NAE’s philanthropic profile as a global organisation for good where entire communities can create a greater impact and achieve more. However, the end goal is the holistic approach to developing each individual student.
“We want to help people track their lifelong philanthropy efforts,” Mr Van Neyghem said.
“It may start when they’re young, such as at an NAE school, and build up into their adult life at university and into their career. The possibilities are limitless.”