Creative counselling on a budget

Do you have great ideas but no budget or resources to match your ambitions? If so, you’re not alone.

As school counsellors in Brazil, working in two very different international schools, we’ve both faced these same limitations. Despite our schools’ unique profiles – one with strong embassy ties and a globally mobile community, the other deeply rooted in Brazilian culture – our students have similar needs. They’re looking for global perspectives, real-life career inspiration, and guidance that connects their personal dreams to educational opportunities. Yet time, money, and external resources aren’t always on our side.

That’s why we stopped looking outward and started looking inward.

Instead of chasing costly speakers or waiting for the perfect fair, we turned to our own communities. Our colleagues, teachers, administrators and support staff had incredible stories to share. They had studied around the world, navigated unexpected career twists and found meaning in their paths.

In this piece, we’ll share two simple programmes. One is a college fair built entirely from internal staff, and the other is a series of career talks based on real professional journeys. 

The first event started with a simple idea: what if we invited our teachers and staff to represent their own universities? We sent out a form for teachers to sign up, and also asked them to share something unique they might be able to talk about. For example, Michaella studied psychology at Indiana University and could talk about sorority life, volunteering, or going to school somewhere with snow. 

We called it the “Staffulty College Fair”. Staff were invited to wear their university t-shirts, decorate tables with personal items and share their experiences as alumni. Some brought college pennant flags, photos, and even sports jerseys. The fair took place during the advisory period in a common area of campus and lasted about 25 minutes.

Students wandered from table to table, asking questions about college life, coursework and campus traditions. We needed staff from the middle- and the high-school, so we invited all levels of students. 

To better engage the middle-school students, we created a “bingo card” with leading questions to help stimulate conversation. Some of the bingo spaces were unique to the staff answers from the form. Because the presenters were familiar faces, the interactions felt natural and informal. 

The best part was that it was nearly free. Volunteers signed up through a Google Form, maintenance helped with tables and setup, and the only costs were small items like cookies and coffee. We were also able to clear out some of the swag we receive from colleges by using them as prizes for students who completed the bingo card. The result was a dynamic, school-wide experience that centred community and connection rather than expense or formality.

One of my favourite unplanned highlights was the way our Brazilian staff truly showed up for the public universities in Brasilia. Brazilian universities don’t really have college swag in the same way, so one of the teachers organised and made shirts for everyone to wear at the table, brought some props, and was excited about showcasing the public university option in our hometown. Our students loved this because it’s not often that local universities come to visit. Our staff felt seen and included, and our students got invaluable insight.

Inspired by this success, I took the concept in a different direction at School of the Nations. Families were increasingly asking for more career-related programming. Many parents wanted their children to explore options beyond the traditional tracks. Students, too, were hungry for perspective, but still viewed careers as a straight line from major to job title. I knew it was time to expand the conversation.

School of the Nations started hosting “Career Talks” led by staff members from across campus. Presenters were encouraged to share not just what they do now, but how they got there. What was their major? Did they change careers? What surprised them about their professional journey? What advice would they give their younger selves?

On a Friday afternoon, students chose two out of nine presentations to attend, each lasting 40 minutes. I partnered with the social-emotional counsellor to guide participating staff to shape presentations that reflected a wide range of topics, from navigating career changes and balancing passion with practicality, to mental health and personal growth. The goal was to ensure that students not only heard diverse career stories but also understood the complex, human decisions that often shape those paths.

One kindergarten teacher shared how she had studied veterinary medicine at the University of Brasília, practised for several years, and then discovered a deep love for education. A translator who supports our school’s communications explained how he found unexpected fulfilment in medical translation, combining language skills with a sense of social impact.

The most rewarding moments came after the sessions, when students dropped by the counselling office not just with questions, but with new possibilities in mind. 

Just like the Staffulty Fair, the Career Talks didn’t require major planning or money. In international schools especially, the faculty is often globally educated, professionally diverse and filled with untapped inspiration. By making that visible, we created something powerful and sustainable.

Looking back, we realise these programmes didn’t just solve logistical problems, they reshaped how we view counselling. 

For any counsellor, teacher or school leader wondering how to do more with less, start with your community. You might be surprised how far it can take you.