Who we are

Tackling the Climate Crisis requires out of the box solutions.

In our Classroom, we think Circular.

ABOUT US

The Circular Classroom is a social enterprise committed to creating net-zero classrooms in Singapore. We aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste generated in the education system. As a start, we focus on textile waste and find creative solutions to reuse, repurpose and recycle pre-loved school uniforms. We collaborate with schools at all levels - Kindergartens, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, Polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education - as well as community stakeholders and organise experiential, hands-on learning programmes and knowledge journeys. These programmes and our products made of pre-loved school uniforms not only educate students and lifelong learners on sustainability, they also foster community engagement and demonstrate that everyone can play a role in contributing to the SG Green Plan and Singapore becoming a zero-waste nation.

VISION

Create Net-Zero Classrooms in Singapore

Net-zero refers to the ideal state where the amount of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions that are released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount of GHG removed.

Net-zero classrooms are learning spaces centred on sustainability and environmental protection: from infrastructure, curriculum, green practices and community partnerships, to responsible production and consumption of education materials.

MISSION

Support the Achievement of the SG Green Plan 2030 Targets

Singapore aims to become a "zero-waste nation powered by a circular economy, with “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” as a norm for citizens and businesses". We initiate partnerships and projects with schools on environmental education and sustainable consumption to contribute to this goal on the ground.

Empower Parents and Students to Take Environmental Responsibility

Environmental knowledge and skills are crucial for taking informed decisions and following up with responsible actions towards a greener future. We train, engage and mobilise students, parents and lifelong learners to become eco- stewards in the community.

Create Green Jobs for Vulnerable Groups

As a social enterprise, we dedicate 20% of our resources to social and environmental causes and provide green job opportunities for vulnerable groups in the education and sustainability sector.

CO-FOUNDERS

Leonie Nagarajan

Leonie is an education & sustainability expert. Following a career in education diplomacy, she embarked on the social entrepreneurship journey to create impact on the ground and co-founded The Circular Classroom, where she is responsible for strategy and partnership development.

As the former Director of the Education Department at the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), she led large scale programmes on education policies, higher & secondary education cooperation, lifelong learning as well as youth leadership across 51 countries in Asia and Europe.

Leonie is active in the community, volunteering as a Parent Support Group leader in a public Primary and Secondary School in Singapore, and serving as a Member of the Changkat Primary School Advisory Committee. She received her Masters’ Degree in Communication Sciences from the Free University in Berlin.

She enjoys the outdoors and is a practicing proponent of urban gardening. Intrigued by idioms, this one is her favourite: "The apple does not fall far away from the tree". Both Leonie's parents were teachers and her grandmother was a tailor. With The Circular Classroom, she follows their footsteps.

Zinobia Tinwala

Zinobia is an Origami Artist and Seamstress. As the Co-Founder of The Circular Classroom, she directs the creative design processes, including product development and skills workshops.

With a Bachelor of Commerce, she started her professional career in the corporate sector before moving to the creative industry where she led an event management company with a focus on hand-made decoration elements.

Zinobia is certified as a Trainer in Adult Education and holds various certificates from the Taf.TC Fashion School. She has been an Executive Committee Member of Parent Support Groups in Primary and Secondary Schools in Singapore for more than a decade.

Our Journey

Our journey began at Changkat Primary School (CKPS) in 2011 and 2017 respectively, when we joined the Parent Support Group (PSG) called Partners in Education (PIE) Club, first as parent volunteers and then Executive Committee Members. CKPS's Parent Support Group is a strong and active community of like-minded and passionate parents who dedicate their time and talents to contribute to a holistic teaching and learning environment. Throughout the years, we witnessed the robust partnership between CKPS and its PIE Club and the crucial role parents play for inclusive and vibrant school communities. The idea of collaborating with the school on sustainability initiatives came up at the end of 2023, when two of our children graduated from Primary School, leaving behind unnused education materials and a stack of pre-loved school uniforms that could not be handed down to their siblings. Following a feasibility study between the PIE Club and Singapore Management University (SMU-X), we decided to set up a social enterprise to turn the challenge of school materials and uniform waste into an opportunity that could benefit an environmental and social cause. We would like to thank all our PIE Club colleagues, especially Wee Kit Bian, Janani Chandran, Wu Keqi, Menaga Gopal, Amanda Xi, Aparna Hattikudur, Prathiba Gaur, Wee Fong Ng, Sangita Sakseria, Surbhi Gupta, and Vasantha Meenakshi for their encouragement and support along the way.

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