Two Year 5 students from Horizon English School have created and donated 100 educational workbooks to children in Malawi, turning a classroom project into an initiative with international impact. The student-led effort not only supported literacy and numeracy learning but also showcased the power of empathy, leadership and community action.
Horizon Students Create Learning Resources for Malawi
The project was led by Year 5 students Marc Serras Maksoudian and Myra Jain as part of Cognita’s global Student Challenge, Making a Difference.Wanting to support children in Malawi, the pair researched local educational needs before creating 100 workbooks focused on maths, reading and writing. Over a school term, they designed the resources, learned new digital skills and managed the production process.
Marc Serras Maksoudian, Year 5 student at Horizon English School said,
“We wanted to help children have access to learning resources that could make a real difference to their education. We realised that something small from us could have a big impact somewhere else.”
What began as a two-student initiative soon became a school-wide effort, with students, staff and families donating stationery and classroom supplies to support the children receiving the workbooks. The project became especially meaningful when students and teachers in Malawi sent a personal thank-you video. For Marc and Myra, seeing the direct impact of their work reinforced the importance of community service and international collaboration.
Myra Jain, Year 5 student at Horizon English School said,
“One of the biggest challenges was organising the campaign and making sure the workbooks were engaging and useful for the children receiving them. It took a lot of teamwork and perseverance. Watching the thank-you video from the school in Malawi was probably our favourite moment because seeing the children smiling and thanking us made us feel incredibly proud and emotional.”
Learning Through Leadership and Teamwork
In addition to creating the educational resources, Marc and Myra organised donation drives, designed promotional posters and delivered presentations during school assemblies to encourage wider participation. The experience required planning, communication and perseverance. Furthermore, it gave the students an opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world context while supporting children in another part of the world.
Martin Cole, Principal of Horizon English School, said,
“Marc and Myra have demonstrated remarkable leadership, compassion and determination throughout this project. They identified a genuine need, created a practical solution and inspired an entire community to contribute. What they have achieved goes far beyond their age and demonstrates the power young people have to create meaningful change when given the opportunity to lead.”
Beyond the donated resources, the initiative has encouraged empathy, collaboration and social responsibility across the school community. As UAE schools continue to prioritise student leadership and community engagement, projects like this demonstrate that age is no barrier to making a positive impact. Ultimately, the experience shows how education can inspire young people not only to learn, but also to contribute meaningfully to the lives of others.
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