Everyone starts at 101.
In most universities, “101” is the first course in a subject — the place where nobody is expected to know anything yet. That is exactly who we are for.
A student in Dhaka writing her first line of Python. A shop owner in Nairobi learning spreadsheets. A retired engineer in Lima learning public speaking. All of them are at 101 in something — and every one of them knows something that someone else is at 101 in.
The name tells a small story too: one person (1), the community around them (0), and another person (1). Learning passes from one to the next. In our logo, the zero is the Earth.
Online courses exist by the thousand. Three gaps remain.
- Language. Most good material is in English, but much of the world learns best in Bangla, Swahili, Bahasa, Spanish, Arabic or another mother tongue.
- Human contact. Recorded videos are easy to start and easy to abandon. A live session with a real person keeps people learning.
- Cost and credibility. Good certificates are often expensive, and free ones often mean little.
To connect people who want to learn with people who can teach, through free live sessions in English and local languages; to turn every completed course into a real tree; and to give every volunteer a place in a global team that helps them grow.
A world where anyone can learn from anyone, anywhere — and where every lesson leaves the planet greener than it was.
Six promises we hold ourselves to.
Everyone starts at 101
No question is too basic. Beginners are welcomed with patience and respect.
Learn local, think global
We teach in the language people understand and connect them to the wider world.
Green by design
Environmental impact is built into how the platform works, not added later.
Show up
Volunteering is a promise. We keep our commitments, and our system makes them visible.
Proof over promises
Quizzes, verified trees and public records mean our numbers can be trusted.
Open and kind
Knowledge shared freely, credit given, sessions kept free from selling, politics and harassment.
Four volunteer tiers, with learners at the heart.
Oversight flows down, reporting flows up, and decisions are taken as close to learners as possible.
| Tier | Who | Main job | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Team | Founder & functional leads, secretariat | Strategy, standards, platform, brand, partnerships, quality | 10–15 people |
| Regional Teams | Regional Lead + 3–5 coordinators | Support Country Ambassadors; approve Global sessions | 12 regions |
| Country Ambassadors | One volunteer leader per country | Find needs, recruit mentors, arrange sessions | 1 per country |
| Mentors | Subject experts who teach | Deliver sessions, write question banks, support learners | No limit |
| Learners | Anyone aged 13+ | Learn, pass, plant — and give back | No limit |
Pilot regions open first in 2027; the rest follow. Groupings are for organisation only and carry no political meaning.
Is it really free?
Yes. Learning is free for learners, always. Every mentor, Country Ambassador and team member is a volunteer. Running costs are covered by nonprofit programmes, grants and donations — never by advertising inside sessions.
Why do I have to plant a tree?
Because we believe every lesson should leave the planet greener. The tree is the second half of your certificate — it shows you followed through, and it gives your neighbourhood shade, fruit or shelter for years.
What if I have nowhere to plant?
Your Country Ambassador runs group planting days with schools, local authorities and nurseries on approved sites. You still plant and photograph your own tree.
Who can join?
Anyone aged 13 or older. Learners under 18 need a parent's or guardian's consent.
How do employers know my certificate is real?
Each certificate has a unique ID and QR code. Anyone can check it at 101school.org/verify and see the session and the tree behind it.
When does it start?
The pilot launches in Q1 2027 in a small number of countries. Join the list and we'll tell you the moment sessions open in your country.