successful  applicants  announced! 


We were overwhelmed with the number and quality of the applications this year. We received 14 initial applications from 22 students. 13 of these applications advanced to the ‘Final Application’ stage and 5 were eventually chosen for final interview. After much deliberation, the interview panel decided that the following students would be awarded funding for their dream trips in summer 2023

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1. Tiffanie in Grade 11 – Going to Raja Ampat, Indonesia - Conservation
I will be participating in marine conservation, as well as local community projects. I chose this type of work because I wanted to combine my love for scuba diving with my passion for the environment, and hence wanted to do marine conservation work. This project gives me the opportunity to have hand-on experience with marine biology research, as well as understand the science behind how our ecosystem functions, how to protect it, and teaching others on how to preserve it.  I have always been very keen on the topic of environmental conservation and been alerted by the factors that threaten our planet. Therefore, by actively assisting in marine conservation work, this project not only gives me the chance to live my dream but offers a knowledgeable insight on the field of ecology, which is where I am orientated to in the future.


2. Alicia in Grade 12 – Going to Quito, Ecuador – Education 
I never take for granted how lucky I am to have such quality education that allows me to pursue any career I am interested in. Nonetheless, I feel it should not be a privilege. The lack of quality education, teachers, resources, and money in a lot of low-income countries means the opportunity for career paths is very limited. Especially those involving English, a language so essential for communication and for life in modern society. 
In Ecuador, more than half of all children and teens do not meet minimum proficiency standards in reading and mathematics. Additionally, it ranks 90th among 112 countries in the English Proficiency Index. Language lessons are very expensive, and, because of the high level of poverty, children do not have the opportunity to properly learn English. By offering my help for teaching English, I hope to contribute to the works being done to increase access to English. Donating is good, but physically helping and showing support makes an impact on a personal level. I hope to share the richness of the language and the culture with the students whilst helping them acquire an essential life skill, speaking English.


3. Caitlin in Grade 12 – Going to Sri Lanka & Thailand – Conservation
In Sri Lanka, I will be volunteering for conservation of turtles, many of which are under threat or at risk of becoming endangered. The protection of the animals is particularly prevalent in the area I will be based at because of plastic pollution. Injured or disabled turtles and baby turtles are also at risk from the local poachers and the fishermen who catch the turtles in their nets and bring them to the sanctuary. What attracted me to also want to go to Thailand, was the sheer size of the elephants I would be working with. Being a horse rider, I understand how challenging handling a 600 kg horse can be, let alone a 4,000 kg Asian Elephant. The elephant is the national symbol of Thailand and yet you cannot ignore the negative impacts the tourist industry and logging has had on these animals. It really touched me to see them being forced to destroy the very habitat they depend on to live for the benefit of humans. We have put these animals in a situation of danger, and if we lose these animals of such great size, we truly have no hope in preserving others. During this project I will be working on the preservation and wellbeing of these elephants.


Lastly, a big well-done to all our applicants this year, including those who did not quite make it in the end. We have never had so many strong and well-researched applications, and it made the selection process hugely difficult for Mr Fretwell and Ms Steinson. We hope that those students will be able to see their dream trip come to fruition at some point in the future. Watch this space for updates on the summer 2023 adventures and you will be able to follow their adventures on the website, Twitter, and Instagram. More details soon. 

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Mr Podbury & Mr Noble 
15 December 2022

2023  Live  your  dream  launched! 

The Live Your Dream Foundation was pleased to launch the 2023 application process in November 2022. It has been almost three years since we last did this and COVID had put a halt to all global travel. There are a few photos below to show the assembly in action. Mr Podbury and Mr Noble presented at the assembly and talked about James, his legacy, the Foundation and responsible travel. We have been pleased to receive 14 applications from 21 students who have made it to the final round to be shortlisted by Mr Fretwell & Ms Steinson. 

2021   Applications   delayed   until   2022

​Dear IST students. 

I have received a number of enquiries about whether the James Rao Live Your Dream initiative will run this year. After consultation with Kiran and Alison Rao (the parents of James), it has been decided that the initiative will not open until 2022 at the earliest. We cannot give you a specific time in 2022 as it is very much dependant on COVID infection rates and the future travel situation. Global travel is still very complicated and the restrictions / paperwork are causing huge uncertainty. The aim of the Foundation is to create a memorable and positive experience for successful applicants. At the moment, this is far from guaranteed and as you probably know, the successful applicants from 2019/2020 had their trips cancelled and are awaiting new travel dates in 2022 or 2023. 

I will let you all know as soon as I have further information. 

Best wishes

Mr Podbury 

2020   LYD   AWARDEES   ANNOUNCED

We are thrilled to announce that Ruby, Anna and Harry will be heading off on their adventures in 2020. Ruby is travelling to the Philippines and Anna and Harry are off to Mexico. Check back soon in the 'Testimonials' section for more information about their trips. Congratulations to all three of them and well done to all of the other applicants who weren't successful this time. It was certainly one of the most competitive years yet. 

2019   LYD   awardees   Announced 

Here are our 2019 successful applicants. Pauline & Miriam (Ghana), Danika (South Africa) and Jack (Ghana). Well done on all your hard work. The adventure now begins....

We would like to say a big thank you to Seb, Andres, Alain and Myriam who put together extremely strong applications but were not successful this time. 

2018  awardees  Announced 

We are thrilled today (17-10-2017) to announce that the four successful candidates for 2018 funding from the Live Your Dream Foundation are:

Antonia (G12) - Laos
Jade (G11) - Philippines 
Eleanor (G11) - Sri Lanka
Millie (G12) - Bali 

We would also like to place our sincere thanks for the efforts of Pauline, Miriam and Antonio who were not successful this time. This was probably the most competitive field of applicants that we have ever had and the decision was far from easy! 

We are proud that all our students took so much time and effort in their application procedure and preparation for the interview. We hope that our unsuccessful students will be back with their 2019 applications next year. 
2017 Successful Applicants Announced 
We are hugely proud to announce that the following students have been successful in applying to Live Their Dream in 2017.
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  • Salome - G12 - Going to Fiji
  • Camille - G12 - Going to Ecuador 
  • Ethan - G11 - Going to Nepal
  • Paulo - G12 - Going to Cambodia
  • Alice - G12 - Going to Costa Rica. 

This year, we received superb applicants from 15 IST students for visits ranging from Zimbabwe to Borneo. We would like the place on record our thanks to all students who applied but who were not successful this time. Where possible, we look forward to their renewed interest in the Foundation next year. 

Thanks to Mr Noble for his help and support in the initial application process and to Mr Fretwell and Mrs Steinson for their hard work in shortlisting and final interviews. It wasn't an easy task at all! 
2017 Launch Assembly - 8th June 2016

We have just completed the launch assembly and were thrilled and moved to have in our presence James's Mum and Dad as well as brother Matt and sister Emma. The date was chosen especially as it would have been James's 24th birthday and we thought that he would have been really pleased with the things that the students are doing in his name. All four successful applicants presented their ideas and Grace sent a little video from Rio as she is already undertaking her adventure. Thanks to Jim Noble for organising such a great event and to all participating students, parents and teachers for making it such a special occasion. 
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Jonathan, Kiran, Alison, Patrick and Bernardo after the assembly.
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Three of the successful four students presenting their dream trips.
First Successful Applicants - Living Their Dream in 2016
Congratulations to all the students above who will be living their dreams in 2016. More to follow on the 'Testimonials' tab later this week. 
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27 June 2014 - Air Asia

AirAsia takes delivery of 150th A320 from AirbusDedicates the aircraft to commemorate James Rao, late son of Dr. Kiran Rao, EVP, AirbusSepang, 

The AirAsia Group took delivery of its 150th Airbus A320 today. The airline is dedicating this aircraft to James Rao, the son of Dr Kiran Rao, Airbus Executive Vice President; who recently lost his life to cancer at the age of 21.

This 150th Airbus A320, which will be operated by Malaysia AirAsia (flight code AK) is dedicated to celebrate James' life and his name was etched onto the aircraft to commemorate his life. James obtained his Commercial Pilots License in 2012 and was a First Officer flying the Airbus A320 aircraft. James had been an inspiration to many young people, achieving his dream of flying the A320 at such a young age and his active work in engaging with underprivileged children and orphans in Mumbai, India.

To continue with his son's legacy, Dr. Kiran Rao has set up a foundation aptly named 'James Rao, Live Your Dream' with the vision to help young people live their dreams and inspire them to be pilots.

Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia said, "Kiran is a dear friend, and I've had the privilege to know James personally over the years. He was a great kid with a big heart. I have seen the good work he was doing with underprivileged children. We are glad to partner Kiran's family and contribute towards the 'James Rao, Live Your Dream' foundation which will help provide a platform to support more young people to become pilots."

The A320 single-aisle jetliner family is the world's best-selling, single-aisle aircraft family. It is used in a full range of services from very short-haul airline routes to intercontinental segments.

AirAsia stamps its dominance in Asia with a record total of 475 single aisle A320s and A320neos on order with Airbus with deliveries up to year 2026.

"The Airbus A320 aircraft has contributed immensely towards our business model and our operations as a group. We run a 100% Airbus A320 fleet across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and now India and look forward to continue our long-standing relationship with Airbus for many more aircraft to come in our expanding fleet," added Tony Fernandes.

AirAsia is also the world's first airline which took delivery of an Airbus A320 aircraft installed with Sharklet wing tips, becoming the first operator of the new fuel-saving large wing tip devices and the world's first operator outside of China of a fully-assembled Airbus A320 aircraft from Tianjin, China.

At present, the AirAsia Group operates 167 Airbus A320s, which 150 aircraft are direct orders from Airbus; and services the most extensive network across the region with 88 destinations.
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Alison & Kiran Rao with the Air Asia jet dedicated to James
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The dedication and Foundation name on the plane.
May 2014 - Force India Grand Prix Team
Force India add a tribute of their own to James for both the Barcelona and Monaco Grand Prix ion the 11th & 25th May 2014. 
​Registered Charity No 116 44 05         James Rao, Live Your Dream