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Lasse Leponiemi

Chairman, The HundrED Foundation
first.last@hundred.org

Students leading community change through educatio

place Pakistan

Empowering students to lead community change through education, leadership, sustainability and water

Central Model School Khanewal empowers students in South Punjab, Pakistan, to become changemakers through education, leadership, active citizenship, and sustainability. Students raise awareness about water pollution, waterborne diseases, and climate risks through surveys, awareness walks, classroom activities, and community campaigns, reaching 500+ people and 400+ families.

Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated May 2026
Created by

Central model school Khanewal Pakistan

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We hope to transform education from only classroom learning into real-life problem solving and community impact. Through our innovation, we want students to become active citizens, critical thinkers, and changemakers who can identify local challenges and take action to solve them. We believe education should empower children to improve health, sustainability, climate awareness, and community wellbeing. Our goal is to build student leadership, responsibility, and global citizenship, especially in underserved communities, so that young people are prepared to create positive and sustainable change in society.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

We created this innovation to address serious local challenges in our underserved community of South Punjab, Pakistan, especially water pollution, waterborne diseases, climate risks, and lack of awareness. Many families were unaware of how unsafe water affects health, leading to diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid, diarrhea, and cholera. Through education, student leadership, and active citizenship, we wanted to empower children to become changemakers who can educate families, raise awareness, and create healthier communities. Our goal is to turn classrooms into action and inspire students to solve real community problems through sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What does your innovation look like in practice?

In practice, our innovation works through student-led learning and community action. Students learn about water pollution, waterborne diseases, climate change, and sustainability in classrooms through discussions, critical thinking, and systems thinking tools. They conduct community surveys, awareness walks, classroom presentations, poster campaigns, and door-to-door awareness sessions to educate families about safe water, hygiene, and disease prevention. Students also create banners, presentations, and SDG-based activities, becoming active citizens and young changemakers in their community. Teachers are also trained to integrate sustainability and health awareness into daily school learning and assemblies.

How has it been spreading?

Our innovation has been spreading through student leadership, teacher engagement, school assemblies, community awareness walks, and social media advocacy. Students share learning with families, neighbors, and local community members, creating a ripple effect of awareness. We have also shared our work through LinkedIn, global education networks, and international platforms to gain feedback and inspire wider action. Teachers trained in systems thinking are helping expand this learning into classrooms and nearby schools. More than 400+ families and hundreds of community members have already been reached through our awareness campaigns.

How have you modified or added to your innovation?

We continuously improve our innovation by adding student leadership, systems thinking, climate education, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our activities. Initially focused on awareness, the project has grown into practical student action through surveys, health campaigns, community engagement, teacher training, and environmental responsibility. We are also expanding our work through global collaboration and modern educational ideas to improve community impact.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Start with a local community problem that affects children and families, such as water pollution or health awareness. Engage students as active leaders and changemakers through classroom discussions, surveys, awareness campaigns, posters, and community action. Train teachers to connect learning with real-life challenges using critical thinking and systems thinking tools. Begin small, involve families, and gradually expand through partnerships and SDG-based learning. We welcome schools and educators from around the world to connect, collaborate, and share ideas to create healthier and more sustainable communities together.

Implementation steps

Identify the Community Water Problem
Observe local water pollution issues, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and waterborne diseases affecting children and families. Students and teachers identify the most urgent community problems through observation and discussion.
Train Teachers and Student Leaders Using Systems Thinking
We completed Compass Education training on Systems Thinking and the Iceberg Model for this project. Teachers and students were trained to understand the root causes of water pollution, climate risks, and waterborne diseases. This training helped students lead awareness campaigns and community action. Training evidence:
LinkedIn: nadeem-khan-9136b658
Teacher & Student Training
We received Compass Education training on Systems Thinking and the Iceberg Model. Teachers and students were trained to identify causes of water pollution and waterborne diseases and lead awareness activities in the community.
Community Surveys & Awareness
Students conducted community surveys, observed polluted water sources, and identified health risks. They organized awareness walks, classroom sessions, posters, assemblies, and door-to-door campaigns to educate families about clean water, hygiene, and disease prevention.
Community Action & Impact
Students, teachers, and families worked together to spread awareness about water pollution and waterborne diseases. More than 500 community members and 400+ families were reached through awareness campaigns, school assemblies, and door-to-door education. The project is creating healthier habits, stronger community awareness, and student leadership for sustainable change
Girls-Led Door-to-Door Awareness
Girl students conducted door-to-door visits in the community and identified families using mixed sewage-contaminated water for daily use. They educated parents about the dangers of polluted water, waterborne diseases, hygiene, and safe drinking water practices. Students also encouraged families to protect children from contaminated water and improve health awareness in the community.