At BISP, students are encouraged to take initiative and create meaningful change within their communities. Through the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) programme, IBDP students develop projects that have a lasting impact. One such initiative is Metals2Miracles, led by Year 12 students Holly and Mishy, which combines sustainability with social impact, proving that small actions can lead to significant transformations. Their project focuses on collecting and recycling aluminium waste to support The Prostheses Foundation, a Thai charity dedicated to providing prosthetic limbs to those in need.

Metals2Miracles

By Holly & Mishy, BISP Year 12 Students

What if something as small as a bottle cap could change a life? Our project, Metals2Miracles, is dedicated to transforming everyday waste into prosthetics. More than $800 million worth of aluminium ends up in landfills every year—large amounts of recyclable metal that could instead be used to change someone’s future. This is how we decided on our project. We knew we wanted to support a Thai-owned charity in this endeavour, which is why we chose to donate collected aluminium to The Prostheses Foundation, created by Her Royal Highness Princess Sri Nagarindra over three decades ago, “empowering the disabled to become active participants in society.”

How It Works

The foundation of our project follows three key steps: assemble, recycle, transform. We started with community-driven efforts to collect the necessary materials, designing promotional posters and launching a social media campaign to engage local communities across Phuket. This was followed by door-to-door collection in neighbourhoods. Once gathered, the aluminium caps were sorted, cleaned, and counted, ready to be shipped to the charity. While we were not directly involved in the construction of the prosthetics, we played a vital role in ensuring the materials reached the right hands.

The Impact of Our Project

Since launching our initiative, we have collected around 10,000 bottle caps and aluminium tabs, directly contributing to sustainable action. By partnering with The Prostheses Foundation, we have successfully transformed waste into mobility, helping individuals access prosthetic limbs. We hope this effort not only reduces landfill waste but also sparks conversations about recycling and our shared social responsibility.

Reflections

This project has made us realise the power of collective action and the impact small changes can have when combined with a larger purpose. Something as simple as collecting bottle caps can create a ripple effect, leading to tangible change. While raising awareness and encouraging engagement was a challenge, we now understand the deeper significance of working together towards a shared goal. Addressing both sustainability and accessibility through this initiative has been incredibly rewarding, and we hope to inspire others to find creative ways to make a difference.