The CAS Project Challenge (CPC) by CAS Trips represents an innovative approach to experiential learning. This initiative empowers students to address local challenges in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Originally conceived as an on-trip activity, the CPC has evolved into a global movement that drives sustainable development across diverse communities worldwide.

The goals of the CPC are to enhance global partnerships for sustainable development through education on the UN SDGs and youth-led action, complemented by multi-stakeholder collaborations that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, and resources.

The on-trip CPC workshop is a two-hour session held toward the end of every CAS Trip, where students are guided to identify real-world challenges and develop actionable projects. By aligning their projects with the UN SDGs, students transform their experiences into meaningful contributions.

In addition to the on-trip workshop, the CPC extends its impact through an annual online competition. Since 2019, this expansion significantly increased the program's reach and aligned it with SDG Target 17.17, which emphasizes the importance of public, public-private, and civil society partnerships in achieving sustainable development.

Since its inception in 2019, the CPC has engaged 6,494 students and 397 teachers from 45 countries. This initiative disrupts traditional educational travel by embedding service-learning into the student experience — enhancing problem-solving skills, empathy, and commitment to social justice.

The CPC’s impact is not confined to the duration of the trip or the project deadline, either. It gives students the tools, guidance, and inspiration to identify pressing local issues, develop actionable plans, and implement projects that lead to meaningful, sustainable change in their home communities.

Through the CPC, students are not just learning about the SDGs; they are actively contributing to them.