We are thrilled to be named as a finalist for the China Schools Awards 2025 in the Students for Sustainability category for our innovative Waste to Wonder initiative. Organised by the British Chamber of Commerce in China, the awards recognise and celebrate the achievement and best practice of international-oriented K12 education in China. Last year, we were winners of the Holistic Education Award.
Launched in 2020, Waste to Wonder stands out for its innovative mix of hands-on environmental action and socially responsible entrepreneurship. It has transformed an unused 210sqm site behind our Sports Centre into a thriving sustainable garden, supported by an innovative social enterprise project. It is just one of the many incredible student-led Service Learning projects developed under our Global Citizenship programme, with oversight and guidance provided by our Business and Economics Department.
Waste to Wonder is an incredible initiative which reflects our vision and values perfectly – our students are making a real and positive difference in the world. Led by the students themselves, the project has not only given them real-world insight into how to run a socially responsible business, but has helped them become champions of responsible consumption, environmental education, and biodiversity.
– Garry Russell, Head of College
Led initially by students from our Gardening Club, the site’s transformation involved planning, designing, and hands-on landscaping, with students creating pathways, planting native species, and fostering biodiversity. The project expanded to incorporate a scheme developed by our Social Enterprise Club that transforms leftover food from our Dining Hall into compost, rejuvenating soil quality and enriching its productivity.
The project continues to go from strength to strength. In 2023, the club obtained funding for an industrial composter, capable of converting up to 150kg of food waste into compost each week. And since last year, the students have been marketing DIY gardening kits and other associated products within the Dulwich Pudong community, creating a self-funding business with any profits loaned out via online platform Kiva to low-income entrepreneurs in developing countries. They also host educational composting tours, promoting sustainability awareness and local community connections. The garden even provides fresh produce which is shared with the College’s cleaning staff.
Find out more about Waste to Wonder from our Social Enterprise Club members, Year 13 students Saachi C and Edson L in the video below.
