How it all started…
Like many of us, I grew up within a system that dictated what learning should look like — sitting still, memorizing facts, following rules, and measuring success by numbers and grades. But for me, that system did more than structure my learning — it shaped how I saw myself and the world around me, which was far from positive.
Later, as an educator and administrator, I saw that same system from the inside — the exhaustion of teachers trying to nurture creativity within a structure that leaves little room for it, and the quiet dimming of curiosity in children who once asked endless questions.
And now, as a parent, I see it through my children’s eyes. I see how capable, imaginative, and alive they are when they learn through play, movement, nature, and connection — and how quickly that spark can fade when those things are taken away. Children should be excited to go to school. It didn’t take long for mine to feel different.
That’s what led me to GESE — Global Education for Sustainable Empowerment — not as a replacement for education, but as a reimagining of what it can be.
GESE is built on the belief that learning should feel alive — that children thrive when they are curious, confident, and connected to something bigger than themselves. The GESE model blends core academics with real-world experiences, creativity, and community — helping students grow not just in knowledge, but in empathy, resilience, and joy.
The GESE Model
At GESE, education is designed around empowerment, curiosity, and contribution. Our learning hubs are living ecosystems where children learn through hands-on exploration, discovery, and connection with the world around them.
We strive to:
Honor individuality – Every child is guided to explore their strengths and passions, using them as pathways to develop academic and life skills.
Connect learning to life – Core subjects are woven into real-world experiences like gardening, cooking, budgeting, storytelling, and entrepreneurship.
Foster creativity & innovation – Students engage in arts, music, design, technology, and even student-led microbusinesses, collaborating across generations to turn ideas into impact.
Encourage global citizenship & justice – Through civic engagement, service learning, and cultural exploration, students grow with empathy, purpose, and global awareness.
Prioritize balance & well-being – Each day integrates structured learning, movement, outdoor exploration, unstructured play, and meaningful community contribution.
Each GESE learning hub is shaped by its local community — its culture, its environment, its people. They are places where children, families, and educators learn, grow, and succeed with one another, not apart.
Education should not only prepare children for the future — it should help them love who they are and where they come from.
This is not simply an alternative to traditional schooling — it’s a movement.
A movement toward education that heals, empowers, and sustains.
A model that helps children flourish, families grow stronger, and communities come alive with purpose and possibility.
As Maya Angelou reminds us, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
With GESE, we know better. And together, we can do better.