From a virtual choir uniting 400 students to a wartime service program in Ukraine, the IB Community Inspiration Award honorees exemplify global leadership in education.
International Baccalaureate (IB) recently declared the winners for the very first time of its newly launched Community Inspiration Award, which rewards those people who have made exceptional contributions towards their communities along with being aligned with the aims and objectives of the institution. The introduction of this award showcases that how members of IB are contributing towards bringing change through education, services, and innovations all around the globe.
The winners of this award are selected from three different regions across the globe – Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, Europe & Middle East, all being the epitome of the philosophy of IB, being caring, responsible and proactive.
In the Americas, Harold Molina Venegas was honored for his dedication to fostering cooperation between IB World Schools. He is the Diploma Programme Coordinator at an institution in Costa Rica, where he has developed platforms for conversation between public and private institutions, enabling professionals to exchange knowledge and information. In addition, he created a YouTube channel to provide assistance to teachers and initiated other programs such as the IB Compass Foundation to increase involvement in the region. During the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), his management facilitated a virtual International Baccalaureate (IB) choir comprising more than 400 students from 80 nations, communicating the importance of unity. Discussing the recognition, he emphasized that it was a joint effort.
Among the other outstanding young leaders hailing from the Asia-Pacific area is Kayana Monga, who attends Shiv Nadar School Noida in India. The award went to her owing to her efforts aimed at championing the cause of mental well-being. The project that she established called “Project Muskan” is designed to raise awareness of the importance of mental health care in rural communities. So far, it has helped over 500 children and helped identify cases of 40 suicides in the area. In addition to this particular project, Monga has been involved in contributing to the UNICEF report on “The State of the World’s Children.”
Tetiana Isakova, a math teacher and service learning coordinator from the Pechersk School International in Ukraine, received special recognition from the IB Americas Region in appreciation of her commitment to service learning and student well-being throughout many years. For almost three decades now, Tetiana is actively engaged in improving the lives of young people and developing various community-based projects. The work that Tetiana does took on additional importance during the conflict currently taking place in Ukraine, yet, despite having been displaced from her home and moved to Warsaw, she continues to organize community partnerships and raise more than 1.5 million Ukrainian Hryvnia to support social causes while making service learning programs safe under emergency conditions.
Isela Consuegra is another experienced IB leader who pointed out the remarkable dedication and passion demonstrated by teachers and students alike throughout the network.
Community Inspiration Award is a clear indicator of the recognition of impact outside the classroom by the International Baccalaureate. This award shows that the organization is still committed to promoting the idea that education does not only involve success in school but rather the development of individuals capable of making meaningful contributions to society. Through this recognition, the IB continuously promotes its view of an educational system where empathy, collaboration, and innovation matter most.
This year’s awardees are perfect examples of individuals whose lives have been positively transformed by the transformative power of education. Education has allowed these individuals to connect with communities across the globe, to tackle pressing social problems, such as mental well-being, or to provide quality service even during difficult times.
