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Students plant avocado trees to feed the community


Proudly telling the world about #generationIB in our 50th anniversary year


An inquiry into the impact of deforestation led to the creation of a company that encourages sustainable living

Three PYP students at Newton College, Lima, Perú, decided to make a better environment for future generations by starting up a company that sells plants and trees to increase oxygen in the atmosphere and reduce CO2.

Students Claudio, Esteban and Vasco created ‘Try Green’, which encourages the community to live sustainably.

It all started as a PYP exhibition project. Students were working on their inquiries under the transdisciplinary theme ‘sharing the planet’. The central idea of the unit was that ‘organisations have responsibilities to sustain the future of the planet’. The students inquired into the impact of deforestation, contamination and loss of bio-diversity in Perú and globally, and interviewed a range of sustainability experts and business owners.

Claudio, Esteban and Vasco developed a business model for Try Green and sold decorative trees and plants at the PYP Exhibition Action Fair. They raised USD$200 and used their profits to buy trees for the school community. Students investigated the trees and plants that grow in the area and decided to buy and plant mango and avocado trees. These trees now feed the school community.

Students are now considering selling the fruits to raise more money to plant more trees. Deputy Head of Lower School and PYP Coordinator Kathryn Rymarz said students displayed all of the IB Learner Profile attributes.

“Students were inquiring thinkers as they had to ask a lot of questions at each stage of the process during the project. However, they were also reflective, as they had to make many connections and change their approaches and make adjustments at different stages. Finally, they were risk-takers on many occasions – they wanted to work as independently as possible from their parents, interviewed experts and had to negotiate with the school leadership to make their project happen.”


This article is part of a series of stories from IB World magazine that bring to life the wonderful initiatives undertaken by IB students and educators from around the globe. Follow these stories on Twitter @IBorganization #IBcommunitystories. Share your great stories and experiences: email editor@ibo.org.

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