Sustainability at YIS: A Commitment to Our Future

Sustainability at YIS: A Commitment to Our Future

by Walter Pena

 

Sustainability at YIS: A Commitment to Our Future

 

Sustainability is a word we hear more and more, and it has become a bigger part of what we do at YIS. Across our community, sustainability comes to life in many ways. Our students lead service teams that tackle issues like protecting the environment, reducing inequality, and promoting gender equality. They also learn how to care for natural resources, make thoughtful choices, and connect with the world around them. Behind the scenes, our school operations focus on using resources responsibly and planning for long-term financial stability to support the programs we value.

 

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) defines sustainability as: The pursuit of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This concept is based on three key areas:

  • Social: Promoting equity, inclusion, and the empowerment of all individuals.
  • Environmental: Protecting and preserving natural resources for future generations.
  • Economic: Ensuring responsible use of resources to maintain financial stability and support long-term growth.

At YIS, we incorporate these principles into our daily operations and educational programs, working towards a balance between all three pillars.

 

Social Sustainability

In Social sustainability, equity and inclusion are integral to our community. At YIS we ensure that these values are reflected in our daily practices. Our students participate in service groups that focus on reducing inequality, empowering minorities, and promoting gender equality. 

 

 

Examples of Service Teams that support this pillar: Diversity & Belonging Service Team, HS LGBTQIA+ Advocacy, HS Gender Equity Movement, MS Firefly Hope Alliance

This area is so impactful that it deserves its own space in a future "YIS In Our Words" article.

 

 

Environmental Sustainability

On the environmental side, in a previous "YIS In Our Words" article, we highlighted the school’s efforts in environmental sustainability, such as the design of our a campus that is more energy-efficient, the solar panels installed through community donations, and the student-led initiatives like the 3rd-grade gardening program, where students grow and sell herbs and vegetables. These efforts are still going strong, and we’re proud to see our students taking action to protect the environment. 

 

 

Examples of Service Teams that support this pillar are: Second Harvest, UN Alliance for sustainable fashion, HS Project Ocean Service Team, HS Education for Sustainable Development.

 

 

Financial Sustainability

Financial sustainability is also a big focus for us. Moving to our new campus, with more space, more equipment, and larger facilities, presented challenges with unknown costs, but we are now gaining a complete understanding of our expenses. This allows us to implement practices to optimize resource use while maintaining the standards of our programs.

 

 

For example, we are closely examining water usage, which spans across HVAC systems, the swimming pool, toilets, the cafeteria, water fountains, and science labs. Another focus area is waste management. We are monitoring various sources of waste, including the cafeteria, printer usage, and materials, to identify opportunities for improvement and optimization.

 

 

Looking Forward to 2025

As we enter the new budget cycle for the 2025-26 school year, financial sustainability is a key priority. We’re working with all school departments to plan effectively and ensure programs are well-funded while using resources efficiently. Efficiency is at the core of our efforts. While we may not always get it right, we are working across all school departments to ensure our resources are used responsibly while keeping our programs well-supported.

But most importantly, our goal is to inspire our students. From ELC to our graduating class, we want them to understand how their choices affect the planet and the people around them. These lessons will stay with them and will keep them committed to the future as they grow into business leaders, policy and decision-makers, and responsible citizens.

 

 

If you want to learn more about YIS’s sustainability efforts or are interested in contributing as a community member to any of these pillars, please email us at sustainability@yis.ac.jp.

Let’s continue building a sustainable future!