In a world where education is often measured by test scores and standardised benchmarks, one Australian initiative is redefining what it means to learn. At Upschool.co, we believe education should not only prepare children academically in literacy, numeracy, science, and geography, but also empower them with the tools, agency, and purpose to change the world.
Our free courses, designed for schools globally, are centred around big-picture issues such as sustainability, climate change, and reforesting the planet. But what makes them truly unique is that each course is embedded with a purposeful intention: children are not only learning about the world, they are actively shaping it. Through choice, freedom, and agency, students are empowered to take meaningful action in their communities and beyond.
The Dear World Library: Student Voice in Action
To complement these courses, we’ve introduced a groundbreaking innovation for schools—the Dear World Library. More than a digital platform, the Dear World Library is a space where students can publish their reflections, stories, and documented actions. It provides an authentic audience for their work, allowing them to showcase their learning journey, the projects they’ve led, and the impact they’ve created.
Unlike traditional blogging platforms, the Dear World Library avoids competition between students. The impact of each post isn’t measured by likes or views. Instead, engagement is recorded at a whole-school level, allowing schools to collectively track how their community is responding to the initiatives being shared. This reinforces the idea that change is collaborative—not competitive.
Importantly, the library is fully moderated by each school’s administration team. No post is made public without approval, ensuring a safe and supportive environment where students can write, reflect, and create with confidence.
A Case Study: Minarah College
The first school to embrace the Dear World Library was Minarah College in Sydney’s West. In just two and a half months, their students have documented over 100 stories, each showcasing curriculum outcomes tied directly to real-world, future-focused skills. From sustainability projects to community initiatives, their stories reflect not just what students are learning, but why it matters.
So far, these stories have generated more than 2,500 community impacts, inspiring conversations, collaborations, and new connections well beyond the school gates. Parents, educators, and peers can read these stories, reflect on their impact, and share how the projects made them feel. This feedback loop reinforces the power of purposeful writing: when students write to inspire change, they write with meaning.
You can see Minarah College’s Dear World Library here.
Inspiring a Movement
At its heart, the Dear World Library is about giving children a voice. It recognises that students are not passive recipients of knowledge, but active participants in shaping the future. By writing with purpose, documenting their journeys, and publishing their stories to the world, they become catalysts for change—locally and globally.
And this is only the beginning. With schools nationally and internationally reaching out to collaborate with Minarah College and Upschool, the movement is growing. Imagine thousands of schools, each with their own Dear World Library, collectively documenting and sharing the positive change their students are driving. The ripple effect could transform not only education, but society itself.
“At Upschool, we don’t just want children to learn about the world—we want them to change it. The Dear World Library gives every child a voice and a platform to share their story with purpose. It’s not about competition or likes, it’s about collaboration and impact. When students see that their words can inspire change in their community and beyond, education becomes real, meaningful, and alive.” — Gavin McCormack, Co-Founder of Upschool.co.
A Call to Schools
Any school that wishes to join this movement can do so easily. The Dear World Library can be installed on a school’s website within 48 hours, and Upschool.co provides all the onboarding and training needed to help teachers and students get started.
Education should not just prepare children for the future—it should give them the tools to create it. The Dear World Library is one way we are helping schools achieve exactly that.
For more information, contact [email protected]