2025 - 2026

Carbon Neutral Alliance @ the Community Picnic

Welcome Back ISK!

We kicked off the year at the ISK Welcome Back Picnic with an incredible showcase of student-led sustainability!

Carbon Neutral Alliance members Plastiki Rafiki, the Greenhouse Club, 3D Fundi, and Thrift Treasures joined forces to celebrate our mission for a greener ISK.

Visitors made their own keychains from discarded bottle caps using our hand-cranked injection molding machine! Our partner workshop from Mathare joined the fun — arriving in the TukTuk we donated last year!

Next door, the Greenhouse Club cooked pancakes on a student-designed mobile biogas system, served with stingless bee honey harvested right from our school hives!

And Thrift Treasures brought the style with pre-loved clothing finds!

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by — what a perfect way to start a sustainable school year!

Between Land and Sea: Mangroves

article by Jia Pandit

Over the past 40 years, the world has lost more than 20% of its mangroves, a quiet piece of the climate crisis unfolding. Along the edges of warm tropical coastlines, anchored in mudflats or the mouths of rivers grows one of the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems: the mangrove forest. These trees thrive where few other plants survive, in salty and poor oxygenated environments, protecting this planet and countless species. Their destruction may seem distant especially as they grow in very few regions but their impact means much more.

Why Mangroves Matter

Mangroves protect both people and nature which sometimes goes unnoticed. Their intricate root systems act as natural infrastructure protecting coastal communities from storms, floods and erosion. Beneath the surface, mangrove roots also provide nursery grounds for numerous species of fish and other marine life. In fact, more than 1500 species from birds to reptiles depend on mangrove ecosystems. In reality, these coastal communities depend on the ecosystems that mangroves provide for these animals as many peoples livelihoods come from fisheries which would not be possible without them.

Their value does not end there, as mangroves clean the water by trapping pollutants and sediments. However, mangroves biggest impact is that they are among the most effective carbon sinks on Earth, storing carbon not only in their trunks and branches but deep in the soils beneath them. Though they make up less than 1% of tropical forests, they can hold up to 10 times more carbon than other forest types. By locking away vast amounts of carbon, mangroves reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and help slow global warming.

The Destruction of Mangrove Forests

The destruction of mangrove forests has an immense impact on the environment. When they are cleared for shrimp farms, coastal development, or logging, centuries of stored carbon are released back into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.

Biodiversity suffers as well. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), 15% of all species linked to mangroves are now threatened with extinction. Nearly half of the mammals that rely on them are at risk. Also, the short term profits that people might gain from destroying these forests ignores the long term detriments like losing protection from storms, declining fish populations and poorer water quality.

Kenya: A Case Study in Conservation

Kenya’s coast tells a different story: one of renewal and innovation. About 65% of Kenya’s mangroves are found in Lamu county, where they protect the local communities. This year the new HS Swahili Culture trip visited the Mikiko Pamoja Project. Mikiko Pamoja is a global example of community driven conservation. It is the first project in the world to sell carbon credits from restoring mangroves. The money earned funds local schools, clean water and health initiatives, which is reinvesting into the communities that support the project.

Since 2022 ISK has collaborated with LEAF, a community run project in Kilifi, as part of our offsetting and sustainability initiative to help ISK meet its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030. Our HS Coastal Conservation trip visits the community and helps plant and clean mangroves.

These projects show that protecting mangroves is not only about saving trees. It is about involving these communities and showing how nature and people are connected.

ForageFinder: AI-Powered Mushroom Predictions & Identification

Developed at ISK, ForageFinder is is an experimental mushroom foraging tool and an educational platform that teaches users aboit Kenyan mushrooms using a trained AI model. Discover the hidden spots where mushrooms are growing right now. The app uses open source meteorological tools to create an algorithm that predicts the environmental conditions that trigger mushroom fruiting.

How the app works

Mushrooms don't just appear; they require a very specific sequence of weather events. When you scan an area on our map, ForageFinder analyzes 14 days of historical weather data and a 3-day forecast, hunting for this perfect pattern:

The Deep Soak: At least 3 consecutive days of steady, heavy rain to saturate the ground.
The Mild Incubation: Immediately followed by 1 to 3 days of mild, humid conditions (between 5°C and 32°C) with only light, scattered showers.

If an area matches this exact "heavy rain followed by a mild break" formula, it lights up on your map as an Optimal Foraging Zone.

Key Features

Real-Time Heatmaps: Scan your local area to instantly see where the weather has been perfect for foraging.
Find Nearest Hotspot: Nowhere near a good spot? Our expanding spiral search will locate the closest ideal foraging zone up to 135km away.
AI Foraging Reports: Tap any hotspot to get an AI-generated prediction of the top 3 mushroom species likely fruiting there right now based on that specific location's weather data.
AI Vision Identification: Found a mushroom? Snap a photo in the app, and our advanced Gemini Vision AI will instantly identify the species, its edibility, and key distinguishing features.

Between Land and Sea: Mangroves

Article by ISK Senior Jia Pandit

JPandit Mangroves Article

Earth Day - April 24, 2026

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all the community partners, as well as the many parents, students, and staff who generously gave their time and expertise to make ISK Earth Day 2026 such a success.

Through your support, our High School and Middle School students were able to engage in a wide range of meaningful, hands-on experiences - from distributing seedballs, making sustainable soap, learning more about waste management, exploring sustainable transport and testing e-bikes, to identifying local bird species, learning about the plastic recycling process, and even designing a recycled plastic bench in Karura Forest.

The day also created on-campus service opportunities. CAS groups led interactive and informative sessions in the Middle School. Students from the Middle School shared their enthusiasm and energy with many Elementary School classrooms.

It truly was a whole-school event! We are also proud to share the inspiring sent in by ISK alumni from the classes of 2021 to 2025 (see below). These students embody ISK's mission and vision: inspiring and nurturing passion, creativity, and ambition in pursuit of a better world, and empowering students to create solutions for tomorrow's challenges. In the video, they reflect on the world-class opportunities they had at ISK to develop their skills in sustainability and advocacy, and how those skills helped them reach destinations as diverse as renewable energy at Stanford, Robotics AI Vision at Harvard, and the lunar moon base project at SpaceX.

Also hear our keynote speech from Leah Ferrell, class of 2020 (see below), now an energy justice activist with Solar United Neighbors. As Students for the Environment leader, she proposed to the Director and Board that ISK become carbon neutral, and together with the Carbon Neutral Alliance helped secure ISK's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Thank you to all of our community partners for supporting this annual event: E-Bee Bikes, Buffalo Bikes, Tour de Friends, Solar United Neighbours, KEAN International, Seedballs Kenya, InsectiPro, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Center, UNEP, Greenthing Kenya, Grove & Meadow, Grounded, Born Free Foundation, Kenya Bird Society, Planta Food Factory, Soul Vegetarian Kenya, Taka Taka Solutions, Mlango Farm, KSPCA, Loop Pet Foods, High School Clubs (Plastiki Rafiki, Crochet Club, GIN, Elements Writers, Tupike Global Dishes, Yoga), Student CAS Projects, MS & HS Student Presenters.

End of the Year Report: Continuing to Build a Culture of Action and Impact

Environmental sustainability continues to be one of the defining strengths of the ISK community. Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, students, staff, and community partners collaborated on a wide range of initiatives aimed at promoting environmental stewardship, service learning, and real-world problem-solving.

Student-led clubs continued to drive much of this work forward, creating opportunities for hands-on learning while helping strengthen ISK’s role as a leader in sustainability education within the international school community. From plastic recycling and sustainable agriculture to clothing reuse, carbon auditing, and environmental advocacy, students continued to demonstrate how meaningful change can begin at the grassroots level.

While this year brought many successes, it also highlighted the importance of continuing to build long-term institutional systems and partnerships that can support ISK’s environmental commitments into the future. As we look ahead, we remain hopeful that sustainability will continue to be an area of growth and investment across all areas of school life.

Highlights from This Year:

Plastiki Rafiki

Plastiki Rafiki continued to expand its impact both within Kenya and across the wider East African international school community. This year, the Design Lab hosted teachers from the International Community School in Addis Ababa and the International School of Uganda for a two-day, hands-on workshop focused on small-scale plastic recycling systems and the manufacturing of recycled products. Participants learned about machine operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, mold design, and product development while also exploring how similar student-led recycling initiatives could be implemented within their own school communities. Both schools purchased recycling machines from Plastiki Rafiki and are now working toward establishing student-led programs modeled after the ISK initiative.

Greenhouse Club

The Greenhouse Club continued to maintain and develop ISK’s sustainability-focused agricultural spaces, including the organic gardens, aquaponics systems, and biogas initiatives. Students remained actively involved in growing food on campus and generating energy from ISK cafeteria waste while learning more about regenerative agriculture, composting, and sustainable food systems.

Students for the Environment / Carbon Neutral Alliance

Students for the Environment coordinated the Carbon Neutral Alliance and advocated for greener policies and practices across campus. Their work included ongoing collaboration with administration and operations teams around ISK’s annual carbon audit, recycling systems, and efforts to reduce single-use plastics on campus.

This year also saw continued development of student-led sustainability tools and initiatives designed to help ISK better track and understand its environmental impact. Students remained deeply engaged in conversations about how the school community can continue to progress toward its long-term sustainability goals and carbon-neutral commitments.

While no school funding was allocated this year toward carbon offsetting initiatives, and the staff fruit tree distribution program did not take place, the student groups remained active in advocating for these programs and in exploring sustainable ways to continue them in the future through partnerships, community involvement, and long-term planning. Looking ahead, there is hope that the newly formed sustainability structures and committees within the school may help strengthen coordination and support for future environmental initiatives.

Thrift Treasures

Thrift Treasures continued to grow from strength to strength, raising awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion, while encouraging the ISK community to embrace previously loved clothing. The club’s dedicated shop space in the library has helped increase visibility and engagement across divisions, and this year’s annual thrift flip event was another major success. Students also began collaborating with Construction by Design to develop a fabric shredder capable of recycling clothing that can no longer be worn, helping explore new ways of reducing textile waste within the community.

New Sustainable Design Course in partnership with UDEL

This year also marked the launch of ISK’s new Sustainable Design course through a partnership with the University of Delaware. By adopting a university-level course developed by the University of Delaware, ISK High School students now have the opportunity to engage with advanced concepts in sustainability, systems thinking, and design innovation while also earning university credit. The course represents an exciting step forward in expanding authentic, real-world sustainability learning opportunities for students and further strengthens ISK’s commitment to preparing future changemakers and environmental leaders.

Earth Day 2026: A Whole-School Celebration of Sustainability

Earth Day 2026 once again highlighted the passion and commitment of the ISK community toward environmental stewardship and sustainability education.

Through their support, High School and Middle School students engaged in a wide range of meaningful, hands-on experiences — from distributing seedballs, making sustainable soap, learning more about waste management, exploring sustainable transport and testing e-bikes, to identifying local bird species, learning about the plastic recycling process, and even designing a recycled plastic bench in Karura Forest.

The day also created many opportunities for student-led service and collaboration across divisions. CAS groups facilitated interactive workshops in the Middle School, while Middle School students shared their enthusiasm and learning with Elementary School classrooms. Earth Day once again demonstrated the power of whole-school participation and interdisciplinary learning around sustainability.

The event also served as an important reminder of the strong community partnerships that continue to support environmental education at ISK, helping connect classroom learning with real-world environmental challenges and solutions.

Looking Ahead

ISK continues to have a unique opportunity to be a leader in environmental sustainability education, both within Kenya and across the wider international school community. The passion and dedication of students involved in sustainability initiatives remain incredibly strong, and their work continues to inspire meaningful action throughout the school.

As we move into the coming school year, there is excitement about continuing to strengthen sustainability systems, expanding collaboration between students and operations teams, and further integrating environmental stewardship into both campus life and the curriculum.

We remain hopeful that future years will bring renewed momentum to long-term sustainability initiatives, including carbon-reduction efforts, environmental partnerships, and community-based offsetting programs that connect directly with student learning and service. Most importantly, ISK students continue to demonstrate that they are not simply learning about tomorrow’s challenges — they are already beginning to create solutions for them.

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