December 2025: ISN United in Solidarity

December is always a special time at the International School of Nice—not only because of the festive season, but also because it reflects one of ISN’s most meaningful traditions: our annual solidarity and donation campaign. This year, once again, the whole school community came together with generosity and a shared sense of compassion, proving that small actions—when united—can make a powerful difference.

 

Supporting La Banque Alimentaire: Fighting Hunger Together

As part of this tradition, ISN proudly took part in the Banque Alimentaire campaign, a nationwide food drive that has been supporting people in need across France for over 40 years.

Throughout the campaign, students demonstrated an incredible sense of responsibility by collecting essential food items and raising awareness about the importance of helping vulnerable families in our local community. Their engagement was not only an act of generosity, but also a reflection of the mindset we nurture across all programmes at ISN—from PYP, MYP to IGCSE and IB—where students are encouraged to think beyond themselves and take meaningful action in the world around them. It was also a powerful example of HPL in action, as students showed empathy, collaboration, commitment and a genuine desire to make a difference.

 

The experience had a strong impact not only on the people supported by the campaign, but also on the students themselves. As Eve Therrien, ISN Middle School Principal, explains: “The Banque Alimentaire is a well-worth project for our Middle School students who work not only on gathering the food for the families in need but also, take actively part of the distribution center for a whole morning, working with BA volunteers. This experience shows them the collective aspect of this enterprise and that any association requires commitment from its people.”

Marion Tissier, MYP Community Project Coordinator added, "Going to Banque Alimentaire to support the volunteers was a fantastic experience, we saw what the volunteers do and got a deeper understanding of the work and difficulties they encounter.  We will definitely encourage students to join in this experience."

Students also reflected on the importance of unity and community action. Dylan (Grade 8) shared: “Taking part in our project ‘Banque Alimentaire’ made me realise how important solidarity is, which in this case is helping them out and sticking up for each other. Even small actions, like donating food, can make a real difference for families in our community. This experience showed me that when people act together, our impact is much stronger.”

Nikita in Grade 11 added, "This was genuinely a memorable experience a, and it shows how people come together to support the community. I will definitely be participating again next year. It felt good to be able to help others in need."

This initiative connects directly to key Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

 

Standing with the Fondation de Nice: Helping Children and Youth

ISN also extended its support to the Fondation de Nice Patronage Saint-Pierre Actes, an organisation dedicated to protecting and supporting children and young people from early childhood through adolescence. Through this action, our students strengthened their understanding of responsibility, compassion and real-world impact, while supporting SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, reminding us that a supportive environment can change lives.

 

For many students, this project became especially meaningful through the opportunity to learn directly from people working with refugee children and teenagers in the region. Ms Marple, CAS Coordinator, reflected: “For me, the best part of this year's collection of gifts for refugee children/teens was being able to welcome the Fondation de Nice team into school to talk to all the Middle and High School students about the needs and status of refugees in Nice/France. Their engaging and informative presentation made our service project so much more personal.”

Students also took pride in contributing through hands-on volunteering and service. Artem (Grade 8) expressed: “For me, the best part of this year's collection of gifts for refugee children/teens was to help and volunteer. I realised that I'm helping a lot of people, and that was the best experience I ever had. Thank you.”

 

A Tradition That Reflects ISN’s Values

What makes this campaign truly special is that it is a whole-school effort, built on shared purpose and community spirit. Each donation, each contribution, and each act of participation carried the same message: at ISN, we do not stand aside—we step forward, together. It is this spirit of international-mindedness, responsibility and compassion that continues to shape our students, not only as learners, but as thoughtful and active citizens of the world.

 

Thank You, ISN Community!

We would like to warmly thank all the students, families, and staff who helped make this year’s solidarity programme such a success. Your generosity and commitment remind us that the spirit of giving is strongest when it is shared, and that every act of kindness—no matter how small—has the power to brighten someone’s future.

Together, we showed once again that at ISN, solidarity is more than a tradition—it is part of who we are.