Combining a passion for the environment of not just the United States but the world with localization for Ayala, the World Organization of Sustainability Leadership (WOSL) Club helps students become educated on the prevalent environmental issues and how they can help.
Founded last year, WOSL’s Board of Directors consists of Ryan Chao (12) and Isabella Le (12), both of whom manage and oversee the selection for the officer board. This year, the officer board is composed of President Noah Martin (11), Vice President Darren Hsieh (11), Secretary Lucas Liu (10), Social Media Manager Tyler Noe (11), and Treasurer Don Kumar (10).
Based on the WOSL non-profit organization and website, the officer board wanted to bring this national program to Ayala and localize the advocacy for environmental solutions. Mr. Ryan Bell, one of Ayala’s counselors, has also been involved with managing and advising the club’s activities.
Though not having consistent meetings, the WOSL Club still meets together in the conference room, garnering about 60 students each meeting, to discuss the importance of keeping sustainable goals and participating in the WOSL programs.
“We interact with different people around the globe and learn from them but its main focus is the Sustainable Development Goals for the United Nations,” Martin said. “It’s like fighting climate change and making food and water available for all. I want to be involved to make a difference.”
On Friday, November 22, WOSL Club held a special event for the top 10 students from each grade where they had the opportunity to participate in the Global Connect program. This global exchange program is one of WOSL’s most extravagant projects and trips, as students have the opportunity to actually travel to other places around the world and learn more about the culture.
“Through this club I got to go to China for the service learning project, and the whole trip was pretty memorable,” Chao said. “I’ve never gone to China before, and we went to rice paddy fields, and so we walked into their terraces. The club really helped me see a lot of new things.”
Having events all throughout the year, WOSL collaborates with world renowned universities such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a research project collaboration in the spring.
Many students involved in WOSL also have opportunities to attend trips, such as China this past summer and for many more summers to come for the United Nations Junior Ambassador Program.
“Our upcoming WOSL project is to send a group of Ayala students to the Amazon Rainforest over the summer to teach and collaborate with international partners,” Le said.
On December 6, three zoom meetings were held where one could officially be a member of the WOSL organization.
Since WOSL isn’t just a domestic program but a worldwide organization, the branch in the U.S. is just one of their branches. They also have branches in Malaysia and Japan, supporting the fact that their main intent is to help reach the sustainable development goals all around the world. These branches also help aid in connecting students through the Global Exchange Program with international partners.
Both the officer board and its members of WOSL strive to make Ayala’s campus more aware of the global environmental issues and provide a basis on how students can advocate towards a better change, and what they can do. Their meetings help educate students whilst also giving them opportunities to branch their knowledge out in the world.
“We want to influence and educate people on the sustainable development goals and climate change and how they can make an impact,” Martin said. “[Our club helps] get them more involved with how they can do their part and how to carry that message forward, supporting all of us.”
