International Day of Education 2025: Sands Prioritizes Youth Skills Development and Investments in Academic Resources

On January 24, the United Nations (UN) observes International Day of Education 2025, acknowledging the importance of education for peace and development. The UN established the observance in 2018 to highlight education as a core human right and demonstrate its role in breaking cycles of poverty and promoting sustainable societies.

Education is one of Sands’ four priorities under the Communities pillar of its corporate responsibility platform. The company and its regions pursue a number of education initiatives in two key areas: youth mentorship and skills development, and academic resources and infrastructure.

Supporting the Educational Foundation in Local Regions

To address Southern Nevada’s unprecedented levels of teacher shortages, particularly in high-need classrooms, Sands re-invested in Teach for America Nevada with a $100,000 donation in 2024 to support teacher recruitment and retention programs. The Sands Cares funding is supporting TFA Nevada in growing its roster of TFA Nevada education leaders to 800 in 2025, as well as providing teacher stipends and workforce development offerings through the RootED Fellowship, which works to retain high-quality TFA Nevada teachers. Together, these programs focus on improving educational outcomes, especially for underserved students and in low-income communities.

In Macao, one of Sands China’s education investments came to fruition last year with the opening of the Aoyi Primary School in China’s Xiushui County in Jiangxi Province. Sands China collaborated with China Civil Engineering Construction Company (Macau) Ltd. (CCECC) to fund the school’s construction, which aligns with China’s rural revitalization efforts by providing a much-needed educational facility for local children. The previous campus had limited space, classrooms and sports facilities.

A special ceremony to hand over the new school in September included Sands China executives, as well as the participation of Sands Cares Ambassadors who distributed school supplies and sports equipment. After the ceremony, the volunteer corps visited school families in the nearby village and provided gift packs with food staples and other household items to affirm Sands China’s dedication to student success.

“We firmly believe that by improving the county’s foundational educational resources, we can not only create a more conducive learning environment for local children but also establish robust groundwork for long-term economic and social development,” Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China, said.

Building Youth Skills and Leadership

At the end of 2024, Sands completed its fourth year of partnership with 100 Black Men Las Vegas, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve educational opportunities for Black youth in Southern Nevada. Through Sands Cares, the company has underwritten Crossroads, the organization’s flagship youth mentoring program, which teaches more than 30 emotional and social skills to middle school and high students in weekly in-person and virtual sessions.

Sands also completed its first three-year engagement with the National Hispanic Institute in 2024. The partnership enabled NHI to bring its unique leadership development program to Las Vegas high school students and build momentum over the three-year period. NHI’s program helps develop communications and advocacy skills, as well as prepares students for college admissions and community leadership. With the support of Sands Cares, 97 Las Vegas students have benefited from the organization’s transformative programs, with 54 students graduating in spring 2024.

Sands China has funded the Bosco Youth Services Network, which facilitates tutoring services for students with special educational needs, as well as the Noah Family Mutual Aid Association to support its Magical Colour Clothes Project. The program provides young people who have recovered or are recovering from drug addiction with broader career paths.

Marina Bay Sands completed its third year of support for CARE Singapore’s youth mentorship program in 2024, with Team Members serving as student mentors. Activities included hosting students at the resort’s Sands for Singapore Charity Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Walk, as well as holding a graduation ceremony at the end of the mentoring program.

“While we pursue a broad range of education initiatives, they are united in the goal of building a thriving workforce of the future,” Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, said. “By helping to advance educational opportunities for all and eliminate barriers for underrepresented groups, we improve not only individual outcomes but strengthen the core fabric of our communities.”

To learn more about Sands Cares and Sands’ focus on education, read the company’s latest ESG Report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/