Community Engagement & Giving Back
Being part of a community means more than belonging to it — it means contributing to it. At TOWIS, community engagement is a core strand of the Engagement pillar of the ACE Approach. We connect our students to Myanmar, to the wider world, and to the understanding that they have the power to make a difference.
The Marketplace
Our Community Marketplace brought together parents and members of the local community to set up stalls in the tradition of a local market — food, crafts, goods, and culture on display. The event was a celebration of community and diversity, and the proceeds went directly to charity. The entire event was organised by our Business Studies students, who planned, promoted, and managed the marketplace from concept to close — a real-world application of their classroom learning.
Supporting Sonne Social
Through our weekly school assemblies — where global issues, NGOs, and taking action are regular themes — students learned about Sonne Social (sonnesocial.org), a local organisation providing education and support to young people in need in Yangon. When we learned that Sonne needed basic school stationery, our students took action.
Students collected stationery donations from across the school. We then visited Sonne in person — meeting their staff and students, presenting the donated items, and hearing directly about the work they do. It was a powerful experience: our students left understanding that generosity does not require wealth, and that small acts of giving can make a real difference to a real person.
The proceeds from the Community Marketplace — MMK 1,500,000 — were donated to Sonne Social to help fund their summer school programme. This was the direct result of our students’ work: planning, selling, and giving.
Global Perspectives & Taking Action
Community engagement at TOWIS begins in the classroom. Our Global Perspectives programme challenges students to explore real-world issues, consider multiple viewpoints, and identify how they can take action. From environmental sustainability to human rights, students are taught that education is not just about understanding the world — it is about having the courage to try to change it.