From the Associations
COBIS Race4Good
The students who were frontline humanitarian workers between lessons
R By Alisa Delin
36 | International School | Summer 2022
eal people. Real problems. Real impact. This is the pledge of Race4Good, a Global Youth League that turns to students to solve critical real-life challenges faced by communities in need. On this remarkable programme, students compete in teams to find solutions to pressing issues, ranging from health through to education. It is far from a paper exercise – winning solutions are implemented within days. Upon learning about the Race4Good, we were quick to bring this opportunity to the schools within our network. The Council of British International Schools (COBIS) is the premier global association for international British schools, representing close to 250 schools in almost 80 countries. As a student-centred organisation, we run a broad programme of student activities that aim to challenge and inspire students, whilst cultivating and celebrating their talents. The Race4Good
closely aligns to our ethos, and we were delighted to launch the inaugural COBIS race this academic year. Over three weeks, 14 teams from 13 COBIS schools were challenged to uplift La Colline, a remote community in Haiti; a community that is worlds apart from the students’ own. Having received detailed information about La Colline and the community, students were set a series of challenges. These included economically uplifting a family with sustainable and longterm impacts, improving the education of children attending the local school, and improving the sports provision and healthcare within the community. Throughout the race, the students were immersed in a totally unfamiliar world, but it was vital that they truly understood those they were supporting. The seemingly innocuous details about day-to-day life had the potential to make or break their plans. The Race4Good
