RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION IN SCHOOLS (RIDS Activities / Global Exchange Program)

Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura, was conferred with the International Dimension in Schools (IDS) Award (2022-2025) by the British Council for the 6^th consecutive time. We have been a recipient of this award for 18 years.

The international dimension in education has always been an integral part of our policy – ‘Sarvaswa Parivaar‘ – the entire world is a family and the Bal Bharati fraternity has extended its horizons to include as many people as possible from different nations in this parivaar .

Recent advances in technology have made the world a much smaller place. Global issues are becoming local issues through massive inputs from omnipresent information channels. The younger generation today is more receptive to the fast pace of change in the world than ever before. Therefore, there is a greater need to equip our youngsters with skills to communicate and develop a better understanding and tolerance towards the diverse cultures of the world. A strong ‘international policy’ empowers the students for the same. Our students, bubbling with positivity and youthful energy, should be able to gauge the impact of global, social, economic, political and environmental trends on local issues and develop a wider perspective.

RIDS UPDATES 2024-25

• VIDEO CONFERENCES

Regular Video Conferences are being organized in collaboration with Generation Global where students discuss key issues, share experiences thereby working towards change through open dialogue.

• GLOBAL INCLUSIVE EDUCATION NETWORK

Paramjot Kaur of Class XI was one of the few students selected globally to join the Generation Global Youth Advisory Group for the Biodiversity Challenge. She played a key role in promoting the dialogue based on the theme of ‘Biodiversity’ by engaging in the organization’s activities on social media platforms.

She is also a part of the student team which is collaborating with Mr. Lorenzo Raffio, the Digital and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Lead at Generation Global, for designing a curriculum tailored for the students with special needs, promoting inclusivity in education.

Charu Falwaria of Class XII and Paramjot Kaur of Class XI attended the ‘Global Inclusion’ conference, organised by GIEN, the School of Social Work at Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Brotherhood, at the India International Centre, on 31^st July, 2024. They interacted with Children With Special Needs which deepened their understanding of the idea of inclusivity in education and society.

• CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE

An introductory virtual meet was held between the Primary Department of our school and Eagles Academy International Bilingual School, Nigeria, on 16^th October, 2024. 8 students and 2 teachers, along with their respective Heads, participated in thought-provoking discussions on the meaning of Peace, sharing inspiring resolutions to create a better world. This enriching experience showcased the students’ passion for becoming responsible global citizens, leaving everyone motivated for the next session which is scheduled on 25^th October, 2024.

• UNVEILING STORIES THROUGH MONUMENTS

As part of the RIDS curriculum, the students of Class IX engaged in a creative intra-class rangoli competition on 10^th September, 2024. The theme ‘Unveiling Stories through Monuments’ motivated the students to explore and depict iconic landmarks from India, the UAE, the USA and Australia. The students described their vibrant and intricate rangoli designs while showcasing their talent and understanding of the historical significance of the monuments.

• INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE

Students across all classes celebrated International Peace Day on 26^th  September, 2024, by organising special assemblies. They affirmed their commitment to peace through inspiring speeches, melodious songs and graceful dances. The celebration culminated with all participants taking a collective pledge to follow the path of non-violence and spread this crucial message to the wider community.

• RIDS ACTIVITIES

• LEGO – BUILDING MONUMENTS

In line with the theme of friendship between India and the UAE, the students of Class II engaged in an exciting ‘LEGO – Building Monuments’ activity on  23^rd  September, 2024. Using colourful Lego blocks, they recreated iconic landmarks such as India Gate and Burj Khalifa. Class I students put their problem-solving skills to test by assembling multi-piece puzzles, featuring monuments from India and the UAE. This hands-on learning experience not only introduced the children to famous architectural wonders of both the countries, but also fostered teamwork and sparked their creativity.

• CANVAS OF GLOBAL IDEAS

An inter-class Board Decoration Activity was held for Classes XI and XII on 12^th  August, 2024. The boards featured creative displays in the form of collages and 3D designs, with each board highlighting one of the countries: India, the UAE, the USA, and Australia. The students depicted the following topics on their respective class boards:

• • Uniting for Better Health
  • Impact of Digital World on the Youth
  • Celebrating the Strength of Family
  • Rich Culture and Diversity
  • Building Bridges for Global Peace
  • Reviving our Connection with the Planet Earth
  • Unveiling Stories through Monuments

• GLOBAL GOURMET COMPETITION

The Primary Department hosted an inter-house ‘Global Gourmet – Cooking without Fire’ competition, offering young chefs a platform to showcase their skills while exploring global cuisines on 27^th September, 2024. The students prepared unique dishes such as Chaat-e-Awadh and Kerala Jamun Smoothie (India), Aussie Fusion Feast and Cheese Steak Skewers (Australia), Umm-Ali Dessert and Fattoush Salad (UAE).

• • Over 60 students from Classes IX to XI participated in a series of Generation Global Video Conferences held in the months of April and May. They interacted with students across the globe on various topics such as Earth Day, Climate Change, Fake News, Social Media, Civic Participation and Future of Work. These sessions helped them gain a deeper insight into different issues and improve their dialogue skills.
  • Our school received an approval from the British Council  for the Action Plan 2024–2025 for our next Recognition of International Dimension in Schools (RIDS) Award (earlier ISA/IDS). The respective departments have begun conducting activities and organizing virtual exchanges across all classes. The school has been a recipient of this award for six consecutive times since 2004.
  • An inter-house Global Cuisine Competition was organised for students of Classes VI to XII on 8^th May, 2024. As part of the event, students prepared famous dishes of the countries – India, Australia, the UAE and the USA. The participants also charted down the nutritional value of the dishes and suggested ways of enhancing their nutritional content without changing the essence. The event saw an enthusiastic participation, with Kabir House emerging as the winner.
  • GOI PEACE FOUNDATION: Children across Classes III, IV and V participated in an essay writing contest organised by the Goi Peace Foundation wherein they shared their experiences of having overcome any conflict in their lives and their learning from it. Results are awaited.
  • A webinar on the theme ‘Growing a Peaceful Future with Nature- Building a Sustainable World through Empathy’, was also organised by Goi Peace Foundation on 13^th  July, 2024. The speaker, Mr. Joaquin F. Leguia Orezzoli, Founder and Director of ANIA, shared the need of today’s generation to connect with Mother Nature effectively.
  • Ms. Nidhi Wadhawan, TGT English, attended the official launch of ‘Climate Skills-Seeds for Transition India Project’, an initiative by the British Council and HSBC, on 11^th July, 2024. The project aims at empowering young people with the skills and knowledge necessary to address climate change and promote a green economy. It is being implemented across several countries including Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and the UK.

IDS UPDATES 2023-24

• • Our school has registered for ‘Recognition of International Dimension in Schools (RIDS)’. It is a special programme by British Council giving recognition to schools for their global connect, activities and exchanges with schools across borders. The designing of the Action Plan is in progress and shall be submitted at British Council this week.

• • VIDEO CONFERENCE

30 students from Classes IX, X and XI participated in a Generation Global Video Conference on 8th February 2024. The topic of the Video Conference was ‘Peace and Security’, based on Sustainable Development Goal – 16  (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The facilitators from Generation Global appreciated how our students gave specific examples from their own lives, pertaining to the topic under discussion.

• • The children of Classes IV and V along with the teachers attended the online GOI Peace Youth Event “How Can We Create Peace through Nonviolence?” on 2nd March 2024. Mr. Kazu Haga, a trainer and practitioner of nonviolence and restorative justice, was the speaker. He works with incarcerated people, youth, and activists from around the country (U.S.A.). The workshop focused around understanding how trauma and violence impacts individuals, including our inability to practice nonviolence, and give empathy. He emphasised how by creating peace we can create a better world for ourselves and our future generations.

• • VISITS:

Mr. Joseph Arum and Mrs. Love Arum from Eagles Academy International Bilingual Schools, Enugu, Nigeria visited our school on 21st February 2024. The guests visited the school premises and interacted with the staff members and students gauging the methodologies used at our school to make the teaching-learning process enriching and fulfilling. They appreciated our various endeavours, such as the Integrated Approach of Teaching, Paper Recycling Unit, Solar Panels, Butterfly Garden, Herbal Garden, and Vegetable Garden.

Dr. Ravneet Kaur, Associate Professor, Department of Elementary Education, Mata Sundari College for Women, along with Professor Doris Buhler- Niederberger, presently teaching sociology of family, youth and education at the University of Wuppertal (Germany), visited the Pre-Primary Department on 20^th February for academic and research purpose, focusing on the sociology of childhood. They found children to be confident and capable of expressing themselves well. They also appreciated the Montessori apparatus activities and pedagogies being followed.

• • GOI Peace Event

An online interactive session with Ms Toshika Tanaka, a bomb survivor from Hiroshima, Japan was organised by the Goi Peace Foundation as a part of Peace initiative on 16^th September’ 23.  Students of Classes IV to VIII along with 8 teachers attended the same. Ms Toshika Tanaka recalled and shared her horrifying firsthand experience of her survival in the historic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

Ms Toshika proved to be a very positive and inspirational influence on the audience especially during the question-answer session. She laid emphasis on ‘Forgiveness as the key to creating Peace among nations’. The children interacted with the speaker through the Live Chat.

• • ‘Peace Pals International‘ organised an Art Exhibition in partnership with Unity Earth on the theme ‘Unity’ as a part of their peace initiative for the year 2023. 40 students of the Art Club from Classes III to VIII uploaded their entries and received Certificates of Participation.

• • To celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, the following activities were conducted at school:

• • More than 200 students from Classes VI to XII enrolled themselves for multiple online courses offered by UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP). The students received appreciation certificates on successfully completing the courses.
  • The students of Classes VI to XII participated in the 2023 International Essay Contest for Young People organized by the Goi Peace Foundation. The theme for this year’s contest was ‘Youth Creating a Peaceful Future’. 9 students from the Middle and Secondary Department submitted their essays. The students as well as their teacher in charge, Ms. Gursimran Kaur received an Appreciation Certificate for the same.

 IDS UPDATES 2022-23

IDS UPDATES 2021-2022                IDS UPDATES 2020-2021                IDS UPDATES 2019-20         

IDS UPDATES 2018-2019               IDS UPDATES 2017-18