Student-Led Fundraiser for Nepal Aid Raises over ¥400,000

by Miranda Liu and Ellen Yaegashi

ISSH has a deep connection with Nepal—through the US-based 501(c)(3) charity Nepal SEEDS, ISSH students have not only been learning about the struggles Nepal children, and especially girls, face in accessing education, but taking action through raiding funds and awareness through activities and initiatives throughout each school year. These actions culminate in a life-changing trip to Nepal every other year, where the girls have the opportunity to visit the schools that they support, have meaningful interactions with Nepali students, teachers, and community members at these schools, and learn about Nepali culture, infrastructure, and daily life. 

Therefore, it's no surprise that when ISSH high school students heard about the devastating floods in Nepal earlier this month, they jumped to action. They quickly organized a free dress day, where students were asked to dress casually in the colours of the Nepali flag in exchange for a small donation, to allow students all the way from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to support the cause. They also planned a bake sale, with all proceeds going to Nepal SEEDS. Additionally, High, Middle, and Junior School students also read the names of the countries affected by the tragedy in each of their weekly assemblies, bringing together their classmates in prayer and reflection for the scale of the lives lost and people affected around the world by the flooding. 

Middle School students buy treats from the bake sale.

On the day of the free dress day, participation was outstanding—nearly 100% of students and their families donated to the cause. The bake sale was also a huge hit, selling out of several varieties of treats in record time. The entire ISSH community worked together, guided by Goal #3, A Social Awareness that Impels to Action, raising the following funds to donate to Nepal SEEDS for immediate disaster relief in the impacted areas:

• K/JS: ¥268,159
• M/HS: ¥173,732
• Total: ¥441,891

We are so proud of everyone in our community for the support of this student-driver initiative, from the 8 high school Nepal SEEDS Ambassadors—students who visited the Kathmandu Valley in December 2025, along with their chaperone, Mr. Mark Felstehausen— who initiated the fundraiser, to all of the parents, teachers, and students who made generous donations. The collaborated with the MS Global Issues Network Club to produce a wide variety of delicious deserts for the bake sale. 

Junior School Monitors present the assembly while in free dress in the colours of the Nepali flag.

We are reminded yet again that each day, our students exemplify the Sacred Heart goals and the ethos of Sacred Heart education in deeply meaningful ways. With just three weeks of school under our belts, we look forward to the ways our students will Notice, Care, and Act to make the world a better place in the coming months!