As in every year, a group of students from American School of The Hague embark on a journey to Thailand and Nepal as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) program. Among them was Violetta, a Grade 11 student, who traveled to Thailand and worked together since the start of the school year with fellow students on action plans focused on the 7th SDG —renewable energy—to engage with local students and communities.

 

Rather than a one-way teaching experience, Violetta described the trip as a meaningful exchange. “We weren’t just there to teach; we were also learning from them,” she reflected. Through interactive experiments, discussions, and cultural exchanges, the ASH students gained insights into the daily lives of students while sharing their knowledge on sustainable energy.

 

 

In preparation for the trip, the students were split into different teams focused on working different angles. Violetta’s group, the “education group”, did research and designed experiments to demonstrate different types of renewable energy, building on the previous year’s group focus on solar power. Violetta’s team explored wind energy by constructing a small-scale wind turbine connected to a voltmeter, allowing students to see the electricity generated in realtime. Other experiments centered on plant, fire, and water energy, showcasing the possible diverse approaches to sustainability.

 

But what made the experience meaningful was not just the demonstrations of the experiments, but the opportunity for the students to keep the materials and experiments for future use. “We made videos of the experiments so they could refer back to them,” Violetta explained. The collaboration extended beyond the classroom, as local teachers were briefed on the topics beforehand to integrate the concepts into their lessons.

 

 

Outside the school walls, the ASH students visited homes and local businesses, and the tsunami museum, to deepen their understanding of the challenges and resilience of the community. Violetta recalled meeting a student named Rosalie, whose father worked in rubber plantations and hospitality. “They were so welcoming—it was an entirely different perspective on daily life,” she shared.

 

One of the most memorable moments was a cultural evening where students from both schools came together through music and dance. “Even if there was sometimes a language barrier, we all knew the lyrics to the same songs. It was a reminder that we are more connected than we think, no matter how far away we are from each other,” Violetta reflected.

 

For Violetta, the trip reinforced the power of education—not just as a tool for knowledge, but as a bridge between communities. “It wasn’t about us giving them something; it was about learning together,” she said. As she looks ahead to a future in sustainable development, this experience will stay with her—a reminder that true impact comes from shared learning, not just teaching.