ARIS students recently took part in The SAGE Experience, using their leadership, creativity and commitment to make a meaningful impact within the community. Through their initiative, they demonstrated how young people can turn ideas into action and contribute positively to the lives of others.
Four ARIS students joined a select group of exceptional students from around the world for The SAGE Experience in Ghana’s Volta Region.
Designed to transform skills, strengthen résumés and develop meaningful leadership, the programme gives students the opportunity to lead real projects that create lasting impact in communities while also challenging them to grow personally and professionally.
Throughout the experience, students take part in leadership workshops, coaching and mentorship, supported by Sage facilitators, a project adviser and subject mentors. The programme also includes orientation and preparation sessions, regular project meetings and progress check-ins, as well as ongoing remote and in-person support from the Sage team.
A key part of the programme was a 3 week residential experience at the Sage Centre in the Volta Region, where students are immersed in collaborative project work, leadership development and community engagement.
Beyond the residential experience, students continue to receive support to help sustain their projects and extend their impact over time.
We are proud of our ARIS students for stepping into this opportunity, collaborating with peers from different backgrounds and demonstrating what it means to lead with purpose, take action and make a meaningful difference beyond the classroom.
Heres what Essam has to say:
"The sage experience was an eye-opening adventure that showed me perspectives that I had never considered before. Of course, we learnt about the challenges faced by community members in Wli. However, we also saw the beautiful side of things. It taught me that privilege is completely subjective, and that thinking our lives are any better than theirs is the wrong mindset, since our values and perspectives on life completely differ. Sage wasn't a charity project, but rather a lens to a new way of life, and a journey to shape the community based on input from members.
In my group, STEM Education, we conducted various interviews with a variety of community members, including farmers, drivers, teachers, students, welders, and others, discovering the various struggles faced by many individuals. We then planned what exactly we were going to do for the community. Our final decision was to teach students the concepts of water filtration, as well as the biological and chemical aspects in relation to it. We then provided them with resources to design a model filter, before finally working hand in hand with the students to develop the final product. We presented this project to the community, and they were extremely pleased with our final product. It was really heartwarming to see how interested and involved every student was, as their schools lacked hands-on practical equipment. Not only was sage impactful to the community and ourselves, but it was also extremely fun engaging in community activities, meeting new people, and making real change."
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Essam El Assaad Year 12