NAISR Students' passion, purpose and promise at NAE Summit 2025 in Houston

Two NAISR students, trailblazers Kiia and Simone, recently represented our school at the NAE Summit 2025 in Houston, USA—joining 168 students from 54 Nord Anglia schools around the world. This extraordinary global event provided a transformative experience, sparking curiosity, inspiring action, and empowering our students to become change makers of tomorrow.

The week-long summit, themed around leadership and social impact, was filled with dynamic workshops, expert-led sessions, cultural excursions, and real-world service activities. Under the guidance of Dr. Leslie Williams, Head of Social Impact, and her dedicated team, students explored the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Systems Thinking as frameworks for global change.

Throughout the summit, students engaged in a series of impactful workshops:
- Dialogue for Social Change with Lisa Petro from Generation Global encouraged open, courageous conversations.
- SDG Refresher & Advocacy Skills by Isabel Geddes of UNICEF built practical skills to amplify youth voices.
- UN Convention for Children’s Rights with Phillippa Tichotova of the NAE Social Impact Team deepened understanding of child advocacy.
- Partnerships with UNICEF & SDGs in Action, led by Valentina Buj from UNICEF HQ, explored how global partnerships drive local change.
- Goal Diggers with Jack Davies and Alysha Alva from the World’s Largest Lesson inspired students to creatively tackle global challenges.

Students also took action on pressing issues, including food insecurity. At the Houston Food Bank—the largest in the USA by distribution—they sorted 6,541 kilos of donations, enough to provide 12,020 meals for the local community. It was a powerful reminder that every small act of service contributes to meaningful change.

Living in the student dorms of The Village School Houston, our students demonstrated leadership, maturity, and teamwork throughout the week. The Capstone event, hosted at the British International School of Houston, challenged students to solve UN problem statements and present innovative, actionable solutions.

Outside the classroom, students experienced the rich science and space culture of Houston. From Space Cowboys baseball game, ten-pin bowling, to dinosaur skeletons and ancient Egypt at the Houston Museum of Natural Science to an awe-inspiring planetarium show on black holes—and an unforgettable visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center—these moments blended inspiration with fun.

Our NAISR students return home not just inspired, but empowered—with new skills, global perspectives, and a shared mission: to lead with purpose and create a positive impact in our school and community. Check out the Summit Reel here >>

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