From Voice to Action: Empowering Student Agency Through the Good Citizens Club

How can schools move beyond surface-level discussions of student voice to truly embedding it in their culture?

This session, hosted by Will Fastiggi and Carol Apolinario from the British School - Rio de Janeiro, shares the story of the Good Citizens Club, a highly successful student-led initiative that cultivates self-awareness, peer mediation skills, and leadership through real-world community projects. Participants will gain practical strategies for using guided questions, student-led dialogue, and whole-school collaboration strategies to foster a culture where every learner feels a sense of purpose and belonging.

The session also introduces the Good Citizens Award, a scalable framework inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, built around five pillars: Character, Service, Skill, Reflection, and Challenge. Together, these elements offer a sustainable, transferable model for fostering student voice and agency through character education in any school setting.