CIS Students selected as Global Finalists in ACS New World Youth Championship 2026

Fast fashion has become one of the world’s biggest environmental and ethical challenges, and four CIS students decided to investigate the complex realities behind the industry. CIS Grade 11 students Hayden C., Rafael B., Deeptayan D., and Jaehee L. were recently named global finalists in the ACS New World Youth Championship 2026, standing out among schools from around the world. Their achievement demonstrates how student voices can contribute meaningfully to global conversations about sustainability and social responsibility.

We caught up with the team to learn more about their filmmaking journey and what they discovered along the way.

The Devil Wears Change

For their competition entry, the students created The Devil Wears Change, a 4-minute film exploring the environmental and human impact of fast fashion. Alongside highlighting the challenges within the industry, the team also proposed practical ideas to encourage more sustainable consumer behaviour.

“Fast fashion is such a big issue globally and it continues to be very relevant among our peers,” Hayden explained. “We wanted to look at our own actions and everyday behaviour first.”

Watch the students’ finalist video, The Devil Wears Change.

The human cost behind the industry

As they investigated further, the team uncovered the harsh realities faced by garment workers in lower-income countries, including unsafe working conditions and exploitation within supply chains. Learning about factory collapses and labour abuses deeply impacted the students and shaped the direction of their project.

“Finding out that people have suffered as a consequence of fast fashion encouraged us to take this issue very seriously,” the team shared.

For Deeptayan, the issue also became deeply personal. “Visiting India every summer has shaped how I see our actions impacting people’s lives,” he reflected. “It made me realise how fortunate we are and how important this issue is for future generations.”

A practical solution

To address the issue, the students developed the idea of a “Fashion Transparency Score,” designed to help consumers make more informed decisions when purchasing clothing. Their proposal focused on increasing transparency and encouraging brands to adopt more ethical and sustainable practices without limiting consumer choice.

“Our goal was to encourage fairness and help consumers make better decisions without taking away freedom of choice,” the team explained.

What they learned along the way

The journey from brainstorming ideas to becoming global finalists required extensive research, collaboration, and critical thinking. Throughout the process, the students learned the importance of questioning everyday habits and recognising how individual actions can contribute to larger societal change.

Their advice to other students? Start close to home.

“You don’t always need to tackle the biggest global issue right away,” the team said. “Sometimes the most powerful stories begin by looking at your own experiences and everyday choices.”

This weekend, Hayden, Rafael, Deeptayan, and Jaehee will present their work to industry experts during the championship finals. We are incredibly proud of their creativity, teamwork, and commitment to exploring the important questions shaping a more sustainable future.

Go Huskies!