Many schools champion service learning as a pillar of holistic education, yet not all service projects yield meaningful or lasting outcomes. Too often, well-intentioned initiatives focus on short-term solutions rather than addressing systemic challenges. Enter Xiaohusai, a student-led social enterprise founded by high school students at Concordia International School Shanghai. This initiative has become a model for how student empowerment can drive sustainable, high-impact change.
Xiaohusai was born in 2016 following an educational travel experience to Xiaohusai village in southern Yunnan, China. During their visit, students identified two pressing challenges: economic inequity among tea farmers and limited educational access for their children. Instead of launching a one-time fundraising effort, the students established a direct-trade model that ensures farmers are paid above-market prices by cutting out exploitative intermediaries. The increased revenue is then reinvested into the community through scholarships and infrastructure improvements.
Over the past eight years, this initiative has provided over ¥135,000 RMB in funding, directly supporting education and clean water projects. Xiaohusai’s success stems from its shift from traditional service to a sustainable, student-led model of impact.
From Short-Term Aid to Long-Term Impact
At Concordia, service learning is rooted in sustainability and meaningful partnerships with local organisations. Too often, service efforts are driven by outsiders who decide what a community needs, rather than engaging directly with the community to understand its genuine challenges. Xiaohusai exemplifies how immersive experiences and thoughtful collaboration can lead to authentic, impactful service that fosters lasting change.
Source: Concordia International School Shanghai
While Xiaohusai focuses on ethical business practices and education access, its lessons extend far beyond social entrepreneurship. Service learning should not only encourage students to help others but also challenge them to design sustainable solutions that foster self-sufficiency within communities. When students are given opportunities to engage deeply, service becomes more than just an act of giving: it becomes a means to understand global complexities, develop empathy, and apply interdisciplinary knowledge to real-world problems. “Being part of Xiaohusai has transformed my understanding of leadership. I’ve learned that real change doesn’t come from charity—it comes from building systems that allow people to support themselves,” says Alex Chen, a student leader of the initiative.
Empowering Students to Lead Through Service
Successful student-led initiatives thrive when students play an active role in decision-making. While faculty mentors provide guidance, Xiaohusai operates through structured autonomy, allowing students to oversee all aspects of the enterprise, including budgeting, operations, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. This hands-on leadership experience not only deepens student investment in the project but also fosters leadership capacity and real-world problem-solving skills.
In addition to running the business side of the initiative, students also play a key role in community relations. They meet regularly with tea farmers, learning about their needs and working alongside them to refine business strategies that benefit both parties. This reciprocal relationship allows students to move beyond a transactional mindset and recognise the importance of co-creating solutions that respect the knowledge, culture, and agency of the communities they serve.
Source: Concordia International School Shanghai
For school leaders, the takeaway is clear: authentic learning experiences cannot be simulated—they must be lived. By creating structures that empower students to take charge of their own learning, schools cultivate deeper engagement, stronger leadership development, and increased student agency.
“When students are equipped with the right tools and support systems, they move beyond good intentions to create lasting impact”
From Student Passion Project to Schoolwide Movement
One of the biggest challenges in student-led initiatives is ensuring that impact continues beyond a single group of students. For an initiative to gain traction and longevity, it must be integrated into the broader school culture, involve the wider community, and have structures that allow it to evolve over time.
At Concordia, continuity is achieved through structured leadership transitions. Outgoing leaders mentor new members, ensuring institutional knowledge is passed down. Annual site visits to the tea farms allow students to witness the impact of their work firsthand, strengthening their connection to the initiative. Seasoned members reflect on past improvements, while new participants gain insight into the mission and purpose of the project, fostering long-term commitment and innovation.
Students also engage in reflective learning practices throughout the process. Through guided discussions and project evaluations, they analyse the effectiveness of their strategies and explore ways to refine their approach. By incorporating feedback loops and continuous learning opportunities, Xiaohusai has evolved into a living model of service learning in action.
Additionally, incorporating Xiaohusai into existing school structures has expanded its reach. As part of Concordia’s ‘Service Initiative of the Month’ program, Xiaohusai is introduced to the wider school community, increasing awareness and engagement. The initiative is also featured at school-sponsored events open to the broader community, creating a symbiotic relationship: the project gains support while reinforcing Concordia’s commitment to service-centered education.
Beyond Concordia, the impact of Xiaohusai extends to alumni who remain involved even after graduation. Some return as mentors, providing insights from their post-secondary experiences, while others continue supporting the initiative through advocacy and funding. This lasting connection speaks to the project’s ability to inspire long-term commitment to service and social entrepreneurship.
Source: Concordia International School Shanghai
The Future of Student-Led Service
International schools are hubs of innovation, capable of cultivating the next generation of leaders who think critically, act ethically, and drive meaningful change. Student-led initiatives like Xiaohusai demonstrate the power of blending experiential learning with purpose-driven action.
When students are equipped with the right tools and support systems, they move beyond good intentions to create lasting impact. Designed with sustainability and equity in mind, service initiatives become more than just projects – they embed ethical leadership, problem-solving, and long-term change into the very fabric of school culture. By doing so, we don’t just prepare students for the future: we empower them to shape it.
As more schools look to deepen their commitment to service learning, Xiaohusai provides an inspiring example of what is possible when students are trusted to lead. The combination of real-world problem-solving, meaningful partnerships, and a sustainable model makes it a blueprint for future student-led initiatives seeking to create genuine and lasting change.
By Dr Christopher Mizel
Dr Christopher Mizel is the Director of Spiritual Life and Identity at Concordia International School Shanghai. You can connect with him on LinkedIn.
