Beyond Borders: Reimagining Cities for a Sustainable Future

What does a sustainable city look like when viewed from different parts of the world? Through IVECA Live Classes, students from Cameroon, China, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore examined this question by connecting global challenges to the realities of their own communities. As they shared ideas on climate action, urban development, and social responsibility, it became clear that sustainability is shaped as much by local context as it is by global goals. These exchanges invited students to move beyond theory to imagine practical pathways toward cities that are more inclusive, resilient, and livable.

In Korea, students approached sustainability by asking how cities can continue to grow while leaving no one behind. Their discussions reflected the realities of rapidly developing and industrial areas, where housing costs, aging populations, youth out-migration, rising energy use, and regional gaps all shape daily life. Rather than imagining distant futures, students focused on how long-term planning, policy choices, and technology could directly improve the quality of life for the people who live in these cities now and in the years ahead.

Working through the same challenge, students in China and Cameroon grounded their ideas in the social and environmental issues most visible in their own communities. Chinese students connected urban sustainability to broader goals such as equity, food security, and climate responsibility, emphasizing the importance of balancing development with care for people and the environment. In Cameroon, students centered their proposals on everyday challenges, from flooding and waste management to access to clean water and reliable energy. Their solutions reflected what felt achievable locally, including sanitation improvements, recycling practices, flood-warning systems, and community-based energy approaches designed to reduce health risks with limited resources.

For students in Singapore and Mexico, sustainability became a question of creativity and collaboration. Students in an Indonesian school in Singapore explored how dense cities can work smarter through innovative design, efficient use of space, and new ways of producing food and energy. Mexican students, meanwhile, highlighted the power of community action, showing how awareness campaigns, school initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations can turn global sustainability goals into meaningful change at the local level.

Cultural performances brought the exchanges to life, giving students a chance to share who they are beyond their projects. Students from Korea showcased the focus, discipline, and cultural pride behind one of the country’s most iconic traditions, Taekwondo. From China, students shared a traditional instrumental performance, filling the virtual space with calm, expressive music. Students from Indonesia offered a dance performance rooted in national heritage, while students from Mexico introduced elements of their culture through food, art, and everyday traditions. Students from Cameroon added a live dance performance, where rhythm and movement expressed joy, community, and cultural identity. These moments reminded students that cultural exchange is not only about learning from one another, but about celebrating what each community brings to the global conversation.

As the Live Classes ended, students reflected on how the exchange shaped the way they see their cities, their futures, and their role as global citizens. A student from Korea shared how the session had been “truly meaningful because it helped us to think more critically about the future of our cities and the responsibilities we must have as global citizens.” From Mexico, a student reflected on how the discussions expanded their understanding of sustainability, explaining that it “is not just about being environmentally friendly, it includes a whole system, such as energy, transportation, to make human life cleaner and better as in green.” Together, these reflections highlight how engaging with diverse perspectives helped students move beyond isolated ideas and consider sustainability as a shared, multidimensional challenge.

#IVECA #VirtualExchange #LiveClass #YouthVoices #YouthforChange #Sustainability #India #HighSchool #GlobalCitizenship #GCED #EducationforAll #YouthManifesto

Youth Voices from India & Korea: Creating Sustainable Cities

Friday, December 12th, marked a meaningful milestone in the life-long journey towards global citizenship for two middle school classes separated by thousands of miles. Following a semester of in-class and virtual collaboration, the students from South Carolina, USA, and Uttar Pradesh, India, joined their IVECA Live Class to present their research on problems identified in their countries and initiatives the youth in their communities can take to improve people’s lives, imagining new ways we can build a more inclusive and sustainable future. 

Exploring the global-scale issues of access to quality education and climate change, Indian students reflected on how these challenges connect to their local communities. Focusing on education, students observed that some areas are often impacted by poverty, inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and gender inequality. These factors, they noted, can lead to high dropout rates and limited future opportunities for many children. Through their research on educational inequality, students drew clear connections to conditions in their own communities, where access to quality schooling often determines young people’s preparedness for work and life. They highlighted government initiatives such as the National Education Policy 2020 and the integration of smart technology in classrooms and teacher training as key to social mobility and national progress. They emphasized that “investing immediately in these evidence-based solutions is essential to empower our citizens and secure a prosperous future for all.” 

Continuing the discussion of a brighter future, the second group of Indian students expressed their concern regarding climate change, a global challenge with visible local consequences. Sharing how human activities contribute to environmental degradation, the group reflected on severe air pollution in cities such as Delhi. “Many days the air quality index (AQI) shoots up to dangerous levels — making outdoor air unsafe to breathe,” they said, emphasizing how smog and poor air quality affect daily life, health, and well-being. The students emphasized the shared responsibility individuals and governments hold in protecting the environment and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future.

With the same desire for sustainable, healthy living, students from the USA presented their observations and solutions to issues close to home. Reflecting on their own responsibilities and the efforts of their hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, the first group explored what makes cities sustainable, including green spaces, renewable energy, and responsible resource use. They also acknowledged the positive and negative impacts individuals can have, sharing, “As middle schoolers, we cannot do everything, but we can make a small difference!” Inspired by the recent government shutdown, the students described launching a fundraiser to support the local organization Harvest Hope, which helps sustain nutrition and food supplies for families in their community.

While the first group focused on environmental sustainability and community well-being, the second group of US students turned their attention to social sustainability by examining inequalities within their own community. Discussing racial discrimination, gender pay gaps, stereotypes, and LGBTQ+ inequality, students highlighted how these challenges affect people’s daily lives, mental health, and sense of belonging. Students shared wise advice, encouraging their classmates and partners to take everyday actions as middle school students: “Treat everyone with respect, even when they are different from you. Speak up when you hear someone using hurtful or unfair language. Listen when others share their perspectives or challenges.” The students beautifully demonstrated how youth voices and everyday actions can contribute to building a more equitable and compassionate community.

These presentations reflected the power of youth voices in addressing global challenges and the roles we can all play in local solutions. By connecting their research to their communities, the students from India and the United States demonstrated empathy, responsibility, and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable and inclusive future. Their collaboration is a meaningful reminder that global citizenship begins with understanding our shared humanity and the courage to take action at any age, proving that young learners can be thoughtful contributors to real-world change.

#IVECA #VirtualExchange #LiveClass #YouthVoices #YouthforChange #Sustainability #India #USA #MiddleSchool #GlobalCitizenship #GCED #EducationforAll #Inequalities #ClimateChange #YouthManifesto #CommunityWellbeing

Green Choices, Global Voices: Korea and Colombia Connect Across Continents

On November 26th, students from Korea and Colombia connected for their final Live Class, closing out weeks of collaboration with energy and insight. What unfolded was a dynamic session where ideas flowed easily, perspectives were exchanged with genuine interest, and the theme “Green Choices, Global Voices” offered a meaningful lens for exploring each other’s environmental practices and daily realities.

Throughout the session, students examined and compared how environmental challenges shape daily life, culture, and opportunities in their own and partner countries. This conversation naturally framed the discussion of how these issues affect ordinary people, and what shared values help both countries move toward a more sustainable future. Students approached these questions by making thoughtful connections to their own communities.

Korean students presented projects on the waste we create and the resources we take for granted, linking water shortages, plastic use, and energy consumption to everyday routines. Others envisioned an eco-friendly retreat on Jeju Island, suggesting bicycles, shared buses, and low-environmental impact activities that protect the island’s scenery. A group exploring future green careers showed how designers are experimenting with seaweed-based materials to replace plastic packaging, and another team demonstrated how art can be transformed when combined with recycling, like art pieces made of buttons, bottles, and even recycled glass.

Colombian students' approached environmental care from a different angle. They described the fragile beauty of marine ecosystems and the pressures placed on sea life by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Students spoke about the local deforestation affecting water access, agriculture, and rising temperatures in cities. One group highlighted the effects of fast fashion on water resources and textile waste, proposing a clothing swap at school to encourage more mindful consumption. Others focused on sea pollution and the importance of community clean-ups and stronger wastewater treatment. Though the contexts varied, the message felt shared: environmental issues are personal, and each choice we make has a ripple effect.

The session also gave space for culture and joy while students exchanged appreciation for the natural environment and living things. Korean students performed Taekwondo and shared a musical rendition of “밤이 깊었네 (When the Night Grows Deep),” filling the virtual room with energy and warmth. Colombia shared a heartfelt video of students visiting an animal shelter, taking part in their community’s efforts to help those who most need us, followed by a glimpse into their Christmas traditions.

As the conversation unfolded, students from both countries recognized the similarities in their concerns. They reflected on responsibility, community involvement, and the importance of new perspectives. One Korean student captured this feeling beautifully: “To us, you were like those new glasses. You get to see your surroundings from another view, making everything feel special.”

#IVECA #LiveClass #Colombia #Korea #GreenEducation #EnvironmentAction #GlobalCitizenship #Pollution #ClimateChange #SustainableFuture #GreenChoices