Seven Schools Share Mid-term Success Stories Under the Promotion of Well-being in Schools in Southeast Asia Project

The ongoing “Promotion of Well-being in Schools in Southeast Asia” project continues to highlight the innovative and meaningful actions of schools to integrate Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and One Health principles across the region. As the implementation phase of the project reached a 3-month, half-way point, a special online sharing session was organised so that the seven award-winning schools could report on their achievements to date and reflect on the lessons learned and challenges faced. A total 52 participants, including school principals, teachers, and government officials from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Cambodia, attended the session which took place on March 27, 2025.

Brunei Darussalam: Fostering Resilience Through Health and Hygiene Despite an

unforeseen need to relocate due to a termite infestation, SR Pehin Dato Jamil/SR PG Anak Puteri Besa, represented by Headmistress Ms. Suhaila binti Salleh, still managed to push forward the implementation of their proposed activities. Since November 2024, the school has conducted surveys and held sharing sessions with parents, introduced healthier meal options with an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, and replaced disposable packaging with reusable food trays. In parallel, efforts have been made to improve hygiene with a focus on proper food handling, sanitisation of cooking and dining areas, and the display of health promotion materials. These initiatives have led to notable behavioral changes, including students bringing and sharing fruits during the lunch break and addressing nutritional disparities for those with limited access to fresh food at home.

Cambodia: Community-Led Sustainability at Smet Primary School

Smet Primary School, represented by parent Ms. Tina Chum, has focused on instilling sustainable habits among students and improving the school environment. The school has introduced reusable food containers, vegetable-growing lessons, and provided a healthy breakfast buffet to promote mindful eating and reduce waste. At the same time, the school has successfully engaged parents and the local community in efforts to enhance waste segregation, upgrade food storage systems, and adapt the school garden to climate impacts by improving its roof and water systems. These initiatives have led to measurable improvements in hygiene, reduced food and plastic waste, and increased community trust in the school’s long-term vision.

Indonesia: Integrating Nutrition, Innovation, and Local Partnerships

At SD Negeri 2 Landasan Ulin Barat, Headmistress Ms. Inggid Megasari spearheads a multi-faceted approach to well-being centered on nutrition education and sustainable food practices. The school has implemented a balanced nutrition education campaign targeting students and parents, established a healthy food menu app, and founded a herbalist club to promote understanding of local medicinal plants. In addition, the school has improved its canteen services by offering affordable, nutritious meals and partnered with local farmers to ensure sustainable sourcing. These interventions have increased awareness and consumption of fruits and vegetables, encouraged student participation, and generated strong support from families.

Malaysia: Embedding Sustainability in Everyday School Life Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih, under the guidance of Project Coordinator Ms. Syazatul Natrah, has adopted a structured and data-informed approach to instill sustainable habits among students. Over the past 3 months the school has conducted a pre-assessment of student behaviors, introduced reusable containers and trays to reduce waste, and utilised the “Schoolpay app” to conduct daily lunch monitoring. These measures have contributed to a deeper understanding of healthy habits within the school community and reinforced a culture of environmental consciousness. Furthermore, engagement with local government and community partners has broadened the initiative’s reach, supporting a collaborative effort toward long-term change.

Philippines: Building Healthy Habits through “Project SMILE”

At Patiis Elementary School, led by School Principal Ms. Florian L. Guanio, the school community has embraced well-being through the launch of “Project SMILE.” During the first cycle of project implementation, the school has successfully formed a technical working group, conducted pre-assessments of student health, and implemented initiatives such as providing balanced breakfasts, promoting hygiene routines, and encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption. A school garden and composting system supports access to fresh food while reinforcing sustainability. Additionally, SEP and One Health concepts have been introduced into the curriculum. These combined efforts have led to a noticeable improvement in student attendance, strengthened social connections, and enhanced engagement between the school and its wider community.

Thailand: Cultivating Community-Based Nutrition at Ban Pangmahan School

Ban Pangmahan School, under the leadership of Mr. Danaiwat Manee, has demonstrated a strong commitment to well-being through a range of collaborative and student-centered initiatives. The school has partnered with community stakeholders to implement nutrition education, establishing informative signage and activity stations, and organising a health-focused school camp to promote safe and nutritious eating environments. The introduction of a nursery plant house and greenhouse has bolstered the school lunch programme, while waste management and composting systems have strengthened the school’s focus on sustainability. These actions have significantly enhanced both the quality of nutrition education and the level of community participation.

Thailand: Promoting Health Education and Sustainability at Aroyama Border Patrol Police School

Led by Pol.Lt.Col. Dechavat Vongvai, Aroyama Border Patrol Police School has taken a holistic approach to student well-being through a combination of health education, sustainability, and community collaboration. The school has organised trainings on topics such as parasite prevention and safe drinking water, supported by local health and irrigation departments. Drawing on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and One Health principles, the school has integrated the concepts of self-reliance, environmental stewardship, and public health into everyday learning. These initiatives have not only increased awareness of health and nutrition but also strengthened the capacity of students and staff to implement sustainable practices.

The achievements and challenges of the seven schools were acknowledged by the Project Consultant, Dr Jesus C Fernandez, Former Deputy Director of SEAMEO RECFON as well as the project partners including Ms. Duriya Amatavivat, Centre Director of SEAMEO SEPS, Ms. Teechawan Yanudom, Social Investment Advisor, Chevron Eurasia Pacific and Dr. Tongkorn Meeyam, Executive Director of SEAOHUN. Their feedback provided practical suggestions on how to promote sustainability by strengthening the active involvement of students, integrating content into existing curricula across a range of subjects, enhancing community engagement. In addition, technical advice was given on how the schools could track improvements.

The mid-term reporting session reflected the schools shared commitment to reimagining education as a platform for health, sustainability, and community resilience. Whether through improved nutrition, sustainable food systems, hygiene practices, or climate-adaptive initiatives, each school was able to demonstrate how the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and One Health frameworks can be meaningfully integrated into daily school life. The initiatives taken not only enhance students’ physical and emotional well-being but also promote environmental stewardship, strengthen school-community relationships, and build life skills essential for a changing world. As this project moves forward, it is hoped the lessons learned and models developed will continue to inspire and inform broader efforts to create healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable learning environments across Southeast Asia.

This project is the result of a successful collaboration between the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability (SEAMEO SEPS), Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN) and Chevron.