From Heartbreak to Hope: The Classroom of Hope Story

Sometimes the most beautiful transformations come from the most heartbreaking moments. For Nicola Courtin and Duncan Ward, that moment arrived in 2018 when a devastating earthquake shook Lombok, Indonesia, destroying 400 schools and shattering the dreams of thousands of children.

But where others saw destruction, they saw children who desperately needed their help.

When Crisis Calls, Hearts Answer

Nicola and Duncan had been building schools across Southeast Asia since 2012 through their organization, Classroom of Hope. They believed deeply in the power of education to change lives. When the earthquake hit their adopted home in Indonesia, they didn't hesitate—they rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Their first response was beautifully simple: pop-up schools that could get children back to learning quickly. Thanks to the wonderful support from the B1G1 community, these temporary classrooms gave kids a safe place to return to normalcy while their world was still shaking.

But Nicola and Duncan knew these children deserved more than temporary fixes. They deserved permanent hope.

Turning Trash into Treasure

That's when they discovered something extraordinary: building blocks made from recycled plastic waste that were not only earthquake-resistant but also helped clean up the planet.

We didn't feel right about rebuilding these schools with bricks and mortar," Nicola shares with gentle conviction. "We wanted to find something safe for these kids, for these communities.

Now, there's a thriving factory in Lombok transforming Indonesia's plastic waste into the building blocks of dreams. Thirty-five schools have already been built from recycled materials, with 115 more planned across the island.

A Community of Givers

What makes this story even more beautiful is how the B1G1 community has embraced Classroom of Hope's mission. Small businesses and conscious entrepreneurs from around the world have rallied behind these children, understanding that education and environmental care go hand in hand.

It feels so nice to know that there are businesses, small businesses out there who want to support us and what we do," Nicola says, her gratitude evident in every word. "The B1G1 community continues to enable us to do this work, and we're really grateful for that.

Through the B1G1 platform, you can directly support Classroom of Hope's transformative work in two meaningful ways:

Build Classrooms of Hope From Recycled Plastic Waste - Help construct earthquake-resistant schools using innovative recycled plastic blocks. Every contribution helps turn environmental waste into safe learning spaces where children can thrive.

Provide Community Enrichment Programs to a Student - Support programs that go beyond basic education, enriching students' lives with activities and resources that build confidence, creativity, and community connection.

These projects embody everything Classroom of Hope stands for: sustainable solutions, community care, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves both safety and the chance to flourish.

Building More Than Schools

Every school that rises from recycled blocks tells a story of transformation—not just of plastic waste into building materials, but of fear into hope, of destruction into healing, and of individual caring into collective impact.

These aren't just classrooms; they're sanctuaries where children can be children again. They're proof that when hearts come together with purpose, even the most challenging problems can become catalysts for meaningful change.

As Classroom of Hope continues their mission across Indonesia and beyond, they carry with them the love and support of a global community that believes, like they do, that every child deserves to feel safe, hopeful, and ready to learn.

Because sometimes, the most beautiful futures are built from the most unexpected materials—and the most generous hearts.