Through programs like the Mountaintop Initiative and Global Social Impact Fellowships, Lehigh students make an impact far beyond campus. Through Mountaintop, students across many disciplines unite to put their ideas into action, addressing challenges in low-income communities overseas. 

Adrian Suarez ’22 is part of Project Plastickan, a Mountaintop project and Global Social Impact Fellowship produced in partnership with the University of Philippines Diliman and a local Filipino community outside of Manila, where Adrian is from. The Project Plastickan team is working to improve local waste management systems and to improve income opportunities for women in the area by building a plastics recycling facility. Then, they will research the design and manufacturing of products from disposed plastics so women in the community can manufacture upcycled products. 

Experiences like Project Plastickan are made possible by the generosity of Lehigh donors—life-changing experiences that nourish students’ personal, professional, and academic growth and prepare them to live as conscientious and innovative leaders. 

“I was born and raised in Manila and I went to Lehigh as a first-generation, low income international student. Support for Mountaintop makes it possible for me to work with stellar individuals who are passionate about sustainable development in the Philippines. It made me realize how much more I have to learn in terms of working in meaningful causes and deepening my skillset. And I believe I have the growth mindset to pursue just that,” says Adrian.

It isn’t always easy for international students to get back home during breaks and holidays, but support for Mountaintop enables students to travel overseas to conduct field research. While in the Philippines, Adrian was able to meet with community leaders and plastic manufacturing companies to identify ways he and his team could make a big impact on the economy of his home country. He was also able to give his widowed mom a surprise visit!