By Kwangmi Shin, Headmaster, Nam Sung Elementary School, Busan, South Korea.
At Nam Sung Elementary School, agency is more than a concept; it is a lived experience. As a PYP World School (authorized in November 2024), we nurture self-regulated learners who confidently make choices, take ownership of their learning, and transform understanding into meaningful action. Our recent Grade 4 initiative, Bringing Clean Water to South Sudan, beautifully illustrates how the IB Primary Years Programme empowers students to create real change.
Cultivating agency through inquiry
Our Primary Years Programme (PYP) classrooms encourage students to express opinions, make decisions, and reflect on their learning journeys. Teachers act as facilitators rather than instructors, creating space for students to explore authentic questions and propose actions that matter to them. This approach strengthens self-efficacy and builds a strong sense of community.
During a Unit of Inquiry, Grade 4 students read A Long Walk to Water, a novel based on the true story of Nia, a young girl in Sudan who walks eight kilometres daily to collect water. As they discussed Nia’s challenges, students asked, “What can we do to help?” This question sparked a powerful movement that extended far beyond the classroom.
From idea to action
The students drafted an initial proposal and emailed it to the school’s Director of International Education. Though their plan was rough, they eagerly refined their ideas through lunchtime meetings and discussions with teachers. They brought their agenda to the Student Council (STUCO), where a majority vote approved the fundraiser.
Next came a school-wide campaign. Students made morning announcements explaining the purpose of the fundraiser and inviting the entire community to participate. Their plan was simple but impactful: each student could earn pocket money by helping at home, completing homework, cleaning, or assisting family members, and donate it to support clean water projects in South Sudan.
Authentic impact
The students and school community donated all funds raised to Water for South Sudan, an organization that drills and rehabilitates wells, provides hygiene education, and builds sanitation facilities. Through this project, our students learned about global water scarcity and experienced the power of collective action. They discovered that their voices, ideas, and efforts—no matter how small—can contribute to solving real-world problems.
Growing as global citizens
The South Sudan fundraiser embodies the essence of PYP action: learning that leads to change in thinking, attitudes, and behaviour. Our students collaborated, questioned, and persevered, developing essential competencies for global citizenship. Supported by parents and teachers, they demonstrated that young learners can be courageous leaders who challenge themselves, think creatively, and take initiative without fear of failure.
At NamSung Elementary, we believe that education is meaningful only when it inspires action. Our Grade 4 students remind us that when children are trusted to lead, their impact can reach far beyond the classroom—and even across continents.
Takeaways
- Empowerment through inquiry: Encouraging students to ask questions and seek solutions fosters a sense of agency and responsibility.
- Collaborative efforts: Working with peers, teachers, and the community can amplify the impact of student-led initiatives.
- Worldwide connections: Linking classroom learning to global issues helps students understand the relevance and importance of their education.
- Building global citizens: Projects like these develop essential skills and attitudes for global citizenship, including empathy, creativity, and leadership.
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