News & Views

Jamie Delaney, Head of ESG and Group Ethics and Compliance Officer recently visited Latin America to see how our students and teachers are bringing sustainability to life across Brazil and Chile. Read on to hear Jamie’s reflections from an inspiring trip.

I recently had the privilege of visiting our schools across Brazil and Chile, meeting colleagues and students who prove every day that education is one of the most powerful catalysts for sustainability.

In São Paulo, at PlayPen – Escola Cidade Jardim and Escola Villare, I saw environmental and social responsibility woven into daily life.

PlayPen’s rainwater harvesting, plastic-free fountains, and garden are matched by a curriculum where sustainability is not a single subject but a lens for learning. Its Diversity and Inclusion Programme helps students and parents address bias, equality, and respect, reminding us that social sustainability begins with empathy.

At Villare, whose name means “small village,” I found a true community of care. The school combines environmental and social action, from projects on recycling, bee protection, and waste separation to a scholarship programme that provides opportunities for students in need. Supported by strong safeguarding practices, these initiatives show how belonging and responsibility grow hand in hand.

In Rio de Janeiro, I was deeply impressed by Instituto GayLussac’s integrated approach to sustainability. Environmental practices like composting, recycling, and a thriving school garden are matched by a strong social conscience, from anti-racism and inclusion programmes to community engagement and wellbeing. Nothing feels separate or symbolic; sustainability is simply how the school operates, reflected in both its zero-carbon certifications and the genuine sense of purpose shared across the community.

I also connected virtually with Pingo de Gente & Laviniense in the Amazon, where sustainability is inseparable from place. Through the Sementes da Vida initiative, students plant a tree for every new enrolment—more than 1,200 seedlings so far—while partnerships with the Soka Institute of the Amazon and the Brazilian Navy link education with reforestation and community support.

Crossing the Andes to Santiago, Chile, I joined colleagues for the Latin America Education Conference, an inspiring few days covering a wide range of educational topics. I led a session on strategy, culture, and action for a sustainable future, and it was clear I didn’t need to win anyone’s buy-in; sustainability is already part of the region’s educational DNA.

Visiting our Dunalastair schools, I met eco-teams proudly showing their gardens, compost projects, solar panels, and biodiversity work, including the protection of an endangered Chilean lizard that lives on campus. At Colegio San Francisco Javier, staff spoke passionately about their long-standing commitment to social causes and community engagement—a powerful reminder that social sustainability is every bit as vital as environmental progress.

At Pumahue Chicauma, I explored new infrastructure projects, toured solar installations, and learned about the cluster’s ambitious sustainability goals for the years ahead. Each encounter reflected purpose in action and a shared commitment to progress.

What I witnessed across Latin America was a mindset of sustainability rooted in care, curiosity, and collaboration. It’s not a checklist or a programme but a way of thinking and living that grows stronger every day.

These visits left me humbled and hopeful. They reminded me that when passion meets purpose, education becomes far more than instruction; it becomes a movement for a better, more sustainable world.