By Kae & Chikashi, YIS Students
The spark of a dream often begins with a single question: What if?
But for many students around the world, opportunities to ask those questions and explore the answers simply don’t exist.
Ubuntu Roots, founded in 2023, is working to change that. By introducing students to subjects beyond what’s available in their local curricula, including economics, environmental sustainability, social justice, and Japanese language and culture, we open doors to interests they might never have discovered. Exposure creates possibility. Learning about crop cycles in an environmental class could inspire a student to redesign farming practices in their village. A Japanese language lesson might spark interest in cultural exchange, motivating a student to study abroad. A single moment of discovery can transform how a student sees their future.
Through virtual lessons and global collaborations, Ubuntu Roots has reached more than 2,100 learners directly across five continents and 15+ countries. Its content has also been distributed to partner schools and organizations, ultimately supporting more than 1.3 million students, whether through teachers integrating materials into classrooms or children learning independently through online content libraries.
One of the program’s core goals is not only to educate students, but to empower those who teach them. In Senegal, Ubuntu Roots organized a teacher-training initiative that supported more than 40 educators across 20 schools.
From piloting a SIM-card program that offers offline access to digital lessons in remote areas, to helping build sustainable learning facilities in Malawi, Nigeria, and South Africa through various partnerships, the mission remains the same: ensuring every student can learn, dream, and make an impact in their community
At YIS, we often talk about international-mindedness. Ubuntu Roots gives us the chance to live it—learning together, teaching together, and uplifting education beyond our borders.
We’re always open to new members who want to join our mission, whether you want to teach, create learning materials, support partnerships, or share ideas that can strengthen our programs. Every contribution helps plant the seeds for someone else’s dream.
To learn more or get involved, visit ubunturoots.org