The Antidote to Apathy
19 September 2025
As a teacher, parent and school leader, I often find myself grappling with questions about how we can inspire our kids to act more altruistically. I urgently want our young people to experience the joy of giving, helping and making a difference in the lives of others because I personally know that this is a source of true fulfillment, positive identity formation and self-esteem. There have been many times that I have been excited to share my passion of fighting human trafficking with high school students only to discover that this issue does not stir most of their hearts like it did mine. Even at home, I rack my brain about why my own child does not automatically offer to truck one of my heavy bags up the stairs for me when I am clearly struggling. Can anyone relate?
Is it reasonable to expect a twelve year old to wake up one morning and decide that they are going to save the rainforest or advocate for children in poverty? Of course not. It is our collective responsibility, however, to educate and expose kids to needs outside of their own. The more opportunity and choice that we offer the students, the more likely it is that they will connect to something that they are passionate about. That is where the magic happens. We have seen students run their own neurodiversity clubs, help out with refugee organisations and raise money for charities in extremely creative ways. The common thread in all of these scenarios was that these kids felt a personal connection to their action and this is critical.
A commitment to service is one of the pillars of our strategic plan for many reasons. With ‘community’ in our name, a massive part of our identity as a school is providing opportunities for our students to ‘fulfil their responsibilities’. More than ever, the world needs people who are sensitive and compassionate. We need creative problem-solvers who can think critically and act confidently. Unfortunately, the messaging many of our children are exposed to online and in peer interactions breeds apathy and self-obsession. Sometimes it can feel like an up-hill battle. However, we can take heart, as the antidote to indifference is serving others. At ICS, we are privileged to see students grow through community engagement and service daily through multiple initiatives.
We were very fortunate to have Aaron Monitz from Inspire Citizens join us on campus in August and again in September to work across the school. Over the past few years, Inspire Citizens has helped us map out meaningful experiences for our students based on the ‘Empathy to Impact’ cycle. This includes curricular experiences, such as themes of responsibility and caring in units of inquiry, visits to Hof Narr Farm, and the Healthy Vegan Cooking unit in Grade 8 PHE. We have also developed interdisciplinary units, like the ‘Fast Fashion Unit’ in Grade 9 or the Zoo Zurich visit in Grade 6. Additionally, this work includes co-curricular activities like our Round Square groups and student-led clubs. The list of opportunities goes on and on so that by the time students start their CAS in Grade 11, they have sampled a rich variety of community engagement and service experiences and can customise their CAS according to their interests. The ultimate goal is to have our graduates enter the world with the desire and intention to impact.
In addition to opportunities at school, one of the most powerful ways our children learn how to serve is through modeling. Many of our teachers, speakers and other members of our community have inspired our students through their own civil activism and volunteering. In my own family, my children had a life-changing experience helping prepare and serve lunch to homeless or struggling people at an outreach organisation in Zurich. I know several other families who have engaged in all kinds of service learning opportunities to help develop thoughtful mindsets.
We still have the power and opportunity to be the greatest influence on our children, even when they seem obsessed with their devices or make poor choices in their peer groups. The next time your child acts selfishly or is unkind, be patient. The ego-centricity of adolescence is normal and natural. However, as adults and partners, we have a responsibility to help to build their character and ignite compassion for others. Let’s commit together to expose our young people to even more opportunities to impact, which truly is the antidote to apathy.
In partnership,
Lindy Hirt
Middle School Principal