The International School in Manila (ISM) introduced the ICARE week back in 1998. ICARE stands for International Community Actively Responding to their Environment. The idea is to expose their students to the diverse communities and social realities of the Philippines. Over the years, hundreds of students have traveled as far north as Sagada to help preserve the thousand-year old rice terraces, and as far south as Negros Occidental to build day care centers for children.
Stairway's ICARE collaboration with ISM started with the presentation of "Goldtooth, A Street Children's Musical" in 1999. Since then Stairway has hosted four groups of ISM students for one week of exposure and interaction with children from the streets.

Year 2000 was the first time Stairway had the privilege to host an ICARE event. To bring together children from the most distant poles of society was a bit of a social experiment and a great challenge in our search for new approaches of advocacy in promoting children's rights. Our objective was to alter perspectives and stereotypes and develop sympathy, solidarity and friendships. It was such a success that we were urged to continue it. Now, eight years later, we are still going strong in working closely with students and teachers from the International School Manila.