Turn Classroom Learning into Real-World Impact.

A structured, fully supported STEAM programme empowering students (mainly ages 13–15) to translate learning into meaningful action. Senior students can take on leadership roles as mentors, project leads, and CultivatED Student Ambassadors.

Developed under the World Food Forum of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), CultivatED is a youth education programme that strengthens service learning through purposeful, student-led projects, and can align with frameworks such as IB MYP and IGCSE exploration activities.

Focused on themes such as agrifood systems, sustainability, and climate action, the programme is designed to be flexible, adaptable and scalable — supporting not only IB frameworks, IGCSE exploration activities, but also broader approaches to service learning, global citizenship, and project-based learning.

Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO gave speech at World Food Forum 2025, FAO Headquarters, Rome

Many schools are looking for ways to:

• Elevating Service Learning: Moving beyond simple volunteering to design meaningful, high-impact projects across diverse areas that extend beyond the classroom and contribute to real communities and global conversations.
• Empowering Student Voice: Giving student-led initiatives the structure, guidance, and opportunities to connect with UN and its affiliated platforms and conversations.
• Flexible & Scalable Implementation: Flexible implementation — from small pilot groups to wider school engagement — supported through an adaptable framework aligned with existing experiential learning and enrichment initiatives, including IB-related and IGCSE exploration activities.

CultivatED is designed specifically to address these needs.

Now – October: Investigate & Understand (～2 to 3 hours)

Introduction and masterclasses led by FAO experts and the CultivatED team exploring real-world sustainability and agrifood systems challenges.

November – July, 2027: Plan & Take Action

Students explore selected challenges through guided, student-led activities and collaborative action projects connected to their school or local community.

September, 2027: Reflect & Demonstrate Learning

Regional School Assembly & Awards organized by CultivatED to share outcomes, evaluate impact, and celebrate student agency.

October, 2027: Global Impact

World Food Forum at the Headquarters (Rome) organized by FAO to engage with international stakeholders and broaden impact.

Career orientation sessions organised by FAO through out the programme.

The programme follows a simple, scalable, and flexible structure grounded in Investigating, Planning, Taking Action , and Evaluating (Reflecting),  complementing the existing experiential learning and enrichment initiatives, including IB-related and IGCSE exploration activities.

Discover → Design → Develop

• Discover
  Students explore real-world themes such as food systems, sustainability, and global challenges through guided materials and activities.
• Design
  Students reflect, share ideas, and plan their own responses and initiatives.
• Develop
  Students continue to implement projects within their school or community, applying what they have learned. Potential career orientation sessions.

More information, please check the CultivatED official webpage.

Through the programme, students:

• Engage with real-world global challenges
• Develop critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills
• Demonstrate impact through action
• Gain a Certificate of Completion

From school assemblies to global platforms, students share their work locally, connect internationally, and develop as responsible global citizens while showcasing selected projects through UN-supported channels.

CultivatED can extend beyond the core 13–15 age group by creating leadership and engagement opportunities for senior students.

Senior students can take on more active roles within their school community—supporting younger participants, leading student initiatives, and helping turn sustainability learning into meaningful school-wide action.

Depending on the school and programme format, senior students may:

• Serve as CultivatED Student Ambassadors, taking an active role in bringing CultivatED into their schools, engaging students and educators, and building a wider community around sustainability action.
• Facilitate student projects around sustainability, food systems, climate action, and related global challenges.
• Mentor younger participants, supporting teams as they investigate challenges, develop ideas, and take action.
• Explore future pathways connected to sustainability, international organisations, social impact, and related fields.

For senior students, CultivatED becomes not only a learning experience, but an opportunity to lead, mentor, contribute, and create impact within their school community.

Currently, the first cohort of pilot schools includes a number of international schools and leading secondary schools across Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing, and other cities, such as Malvern College Hong Kong, ESF, Keystone Academy Beijing, Beijing BIBS, Ningbo Huamao and Dongguan Middle School. Together with like-minded partners, we look forward to expanding the pilot school network:

• Schools committed to sustainability & innovation
• Educators or parents seeking to strengthen student-led projects and real-world engagement
• Student leaders or representatives ready to take initiative and bring impactful projects to their school and communities