Service Projects

Welcome to the IB Service as Action and CAS Hub!

Service as Action and Creativity, Activity, Service

Here, we celebrate the incredible work of our students—both inside the classroom and out in the world—through their commitment to Service as Action (MYP) and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) in the IB Diploma Program. This space showcases their dedication to making a difference, from classroom initiatives to impactful service projects in the community. Our students are true caring and principled leaders, taking action to create positive change and embodying the spirit of the IB learner profile.

Collaboration is the key to success in Service and CAS, and just as we do in the classroom, we lift each other up, share our ideas, and support one another. As a global family of learners, we come together with a shared purpose—to be open-minded, balanced, and reflective in our actions, and to be stewards of our planet. Each project our students embark upon is a chance to grow, to connect, and to leave a lasting impact on the world around us.

Feel free to explore the amazing work being done by our students, whether they are planting trees, organizing community outreach, or working on creative projects that push the boundaries of risk-taking and thinking outside the box. Their passion, energy, and creativity shine brightly here, and this site is a testament to their growth as inquirers and communicators.

We’re all in this together! As teachers, students, and a community, let’s continue to inspire each other to take action, reflect, and serve with purpose. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. Let’s keep reaching out, supporting each other, and building a better world, one action at a time.

Happy exploring!

MYP Principal

Anastassia Srepel

DP and Pre-IBDP Principal

Celine Crommelinck

MYP Service and Action Projects

MYP Service and Action Project at L’Écurie

In September 2024, our Grade 6 and 7 students took part in their MYP Service and Action project at L’Écurie, a local riding school dedicated to rehabilitating former racehorses.

Some horses took over a year to transition from the racetrack to the riding school! This meaningful experience connected to their English unit on animal rights, helping students understand the power of compassion.

Amazon Jungle

Throughout February, 2024, 25 of our CIS students embarked on a long journey to the Amazon Jungle in Iquitos, Peru. Students worked hard the previous months to raise funds to be able to create their community service project with the local communities of El Chino in the Tahuayo Region of the Amazon basin. Once there, our 25 students, along with our three teachers and the guides at the lodge they stayed in, participated in a whole day community service project where students built two complete Primary School classrooms. Our students built 20 desks and 20 chairs from scratch with the help of the local community and finished the day by putting the new furniture inside the classrooms. Thanks to this initiative, the students were able to fill up two classrooms that are now providing full day education to the children of the community. At CIS, one of our pillars of excellent education is understanding the privilege that comes with being an IB student and an international school student, and the importance of being global citizens. With this, comes the responsibility of being stewards of the communities that inhabit this world and the importance of giving back and being change makers!

Primary School in Valledupar, Colombia

Throughout 2023, our grade 8 students participated in a year long fundraising project for a common goal: building bathroom blocks for a Primary School in the small town of Valledupar, in Colombia. At the time, the Primary school was not publicly funded, and therefore, did not have the means of building bathrooms for their 135 students. When CIS learned about the situation, our grade 8 students made it their mission to help. Through different fundraising activities, such as movie nights, popcorn sales, nacho sales, and other initiatives, students were able to raise almost 4,000 euros. The money was collected and sent to a local architect in Valledupar town, who built a brand new bathroom block for the students. Before the bathroom block was built, students only had half a day of learning at the school, as they did not have running water either and thus, students had to go home early due to heat and to be able to use their own bathrooms at home. Thanks to our students and to the help of local architects and builders, the 135 Primary school students are able to extend their day at school, learn for more hours, and be able to have running water to drink and to go to the bathroom. A huge change from the previous situation. The money raised was also enough to buy brand new classroom textbook sets, art supplies, pens, pencils, erasers, and chalk for the teachers, and some delicious treats for the students.

Our MYP Principal, Mrs. Ana Srepel, visited the school in July 2023 and was able to deliver the final batch of school supplies, meet the children, and deliver a plaque with our school logo on it, to finalize and close the first phase of the project. She was able to spend the day with the students, the teachers, and the parents, and discuss with the students what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some of the students want to be doctors to help their small town, teachers, soccer players, and lawyers. These young children are now one step closer to being able to fulfill their dreams, and our students at CIS were able to create new and forever lasting ripples in this community and in their own hearts.