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 (2024-2027) by the British Council for the 7^th consecutive time. We have been a recipient of this award for more than 20 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.

IDS UPDATES 2024-25

• Ms. Monica Keswani and Ms. Nidhi Wadhawan attended an Online Orientation Session organised by ‘Hello World’ (a Japanese company) in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, on 24^th January 2025. Led by Mr. Taiga Koizumi, the session provided insights into the vision and mission of the Online Exchange Program, connecting students in Japan and India. The program will be hosted on ‘World Classroom,’ enabling virtual dialogues where teacher coordinators and students from partner schools will participate in International Exchange Classes.
• A Letter Exchange initiative took place between Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura and Mount Clear College, Australia on 28^th January, 2025. Students from Classes IX and XI wrote letters on the theme of 'Environment,' which were exchanged via email with their Australian counterparts. This initiative aimed to foster meaningful dialogue, encouraging students to reflect on environmental challenges and share diverse perspectives.

ISSE

• A virtual onboarding meeting for the International Student Exchange Program (ISSE) was conducted on 26^th February 2025, with team members participating from around the globe, including Ms. Tanu Jain and Ms. Meena Katyal from the Primary Department. The agenda was to introduce ISSE members and provide an overview of the ISSE process. This included detailing the steps from the selection process to the successful completion of the exchange. Various forms required for the process were also shared during the meeting.
• Interactive virtual meetings were held with the following schools across borders, to promote cultural exchange, academic collaboration and providing global learning opportunities to the students:
  • Mount Clear College, Australia
  • High School 59, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Coatimundi School, United States
  • Eagles Academy International Bilingual School, Nigeria
  • Nuevo Continente, Mexico
• Mrs. Mary Stanton, a Fulbright Scholar from Richfield High School, Minnesota, visited the school on 26^th November, 2024. She conducted a session on 'Animal Therapy’ which provided a cross-cultural perspective that expanded students' understanding of global educational practices. American classroom dynamics, new technologies and various academic challenges faced across borders were also discussed.

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.
• 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.
• MOTHER’S DAY-Mother’s Day was celebrated by Preschool and Pre-Primary children on 10^th May, 2024. Students made beautiful thumb and fingerprint creations to show love and affection towards their mother. It was a heartfelt gesture, fostering creativity and self-expression.
• The Primary Department participated in the ‘Letter to My Supermom Campaign’. Students and teachers wrote personalized letters to their mothers. The words, woven with love and gratitude, undoubtedly made Mother’s Day unforgettable.
• EARTH  DAY-Earth Day was celebrated across all classes in April to celebrate the existence and importance of  our beautiful planet. Students made badges and took a pledge to preserve Mother Earth. They were sensitized about the 3 R’s. The wrappers and plastic bags brought by students were collected in a box for recycling. Earth Day bookmarks were created using tree shaped/rectangular cutouts. Sustainable Tote Bags and Earth Day Buddies were also made.
• WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY-Let’s nurture nature, to have a better future! Students across all departments participated in various activities and organised special assemblies to commemorate World Environment Day, 14^th May, 2024, with a special emphasis on the theme for this year, ‘Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience’. The assemblies concluded with a pledge, wherein all the students and staff members committed to adopting sustainable practices in their daily lives.
• WORLD FAMILY DAY-World Family Day was celebrated on 9^th May, 2024, wherein grandparents were invited to spend a day at school and share their fond memories with students. Children made their grandparents feel special by presenting badges to them, singing songs and dancing together.
• WORLD HEALTH DAY-World Health Day was celebrated by the students of the Pre Primary Department in the month of April. Children were sensitized on the importance of keeping fit by engaging in physical exercises and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Teachers and children presented a small skit and performed Yoga and Zumba.
• A puppet show on healthy habits titled ‘Our Superheroes' was presented by the dietician Ms. Sheetal Bansal.

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 2022-2023

• GLOBE TROTTERS CLUB-45 students of Class IX have been registered on the Generation Global portal under the initiative ‘Globe Trotters Club’. These students are being made to practise dialogue skills using the modules and resources available on the portal.
• Generation Global is currently hosting its SDG Dialogue Series! This global dialogue is an opportunity for young people to come together and dialogue about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in a fun and engaging way. 20 students of Class IX have been actively attending these enriching sessions and honing their dialogue skills.
• TRAVERSING THE BOUNDARIES-To enable them to become global citizens, the students of the Primary Department are exposed to various customs, cultures, and traditions by introducing songs from different countries around the world. During the months of April and May 2022, the students learnt ‘Malaika’ which is a Swahili song written by Tanzanian musician Adam Salim in 1945. This song is possibly the most widely known of all Swahili songs in the world. Malaika in the given context means ‘angel’ in Swahili.
• With an aim to help the students of the Primary Department appreciate and enjoy the variety of dance forms from across the world, they were taught FLAMENCO, the famous dance form of Southern Spain in the month of May 2022. The students learnt the same most enthusiastically.
• 45 students of Class IX participated in a Generation Global Video Conference on 20^th May 2022. The topic of the video conference was 'Values, Beliefs and Cultures'. The students impressed the facilitators from Generation Global with their confidence, knowledge and dialogue skills. Ms. Nidhi Wadhawan, Ms. Amandeep Kaur and Ms. Nishtha Sikand prepared the students for the session and facilitated it.
• JAPAN INTERNATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION 2022-Students from the Primary Department participated in Japan International Essay Competition – 2022 ‘International Essay Contest for Young People’ organised by the Goi Peace Foundation, Embassy of Japan.
  

  DAY	TOPICS	CLASS	DATE
  World Health Day	Choose Water For Healthy Hydration	Preschool and Pre- Primary	07.4.2022
  	Yoga- A Healthy Way Of Living	I & II
  International  Earth  Day	Earth Warriors	PP-II	22.04.2022
  	Single Use Plastic	IV
  World Environment Day	Poster Making	III-V	09.05.2022
  World Family Day	Colouring Activity	PS-II	15.05.2022

• The World Literacy Day was observed by the children of Pre-Primary Department on 8^th September, 2022. Children were motivated to enhance their literacy skills and assist those who are facing difficulties in reading and writing. As part of the campaign, our children visited NGO Matrachaya, where they donated story books and stationery items, and shared their reading experiences together.  Children engaged in various activities like slogan writing, word chain game, creating beautiful handmade bookmarks for their favorite storybooks. A puppet show was presented by the students of Class II on the importance of being literate. An activity ‘Read-a-thon’ was conducted to develop the interest of children in reading. Good readers were also awarded.
• The International Day of Peace was observed in Pre-Primary Department on 27^th September, 2022. The students wore white, and the teachers discussed how each one of us can bring peace into the world. They created beautiful dove birds with finger printing and peace plates. Children came dressed up as peace messengers e.g. Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhiji etc. Famous slogans were read followed by a rhyme dramatization.
• To mark the International Day of Peace 2022, the students of Class III made bookmarks on the theme of Peace. The students of Classes IV and V made cards based on the topic 'End Racism, Build Peace’.
• The students of Globe Trotters Club have been participating in various video conferences organised by Generation Global. The students are trained in the modules by the teachers in charge and after thorough research and preparation, they attend the scheduled sessions moderated by the experts at Generation Global. 6 students of Class IX completed a 4-week long SDG Dialogue Series, organised by Generation Global, and received certificates of appreciation for the same. Under this programme, they interacted with their peers across the globe by participating in video conferences pertaining to the SDGs chosen by them.
• An exchange programme was organized in collaboration with Global Exploration, Netherlands, from 11^th to 22^nd January, 2023. A group of 15 students from Classes VIII to XI, along with Ms. Nidhi Sood, TGT, English visited various schools and colleges in Amsterdam, Maasstricht, Weert and Heerlen and participated in a wide spectrum of collaborative activities. They also attended the grand opening of the Dutch Cultural Exchange to promote the UN SDG Goals which was attended by 450 students from countries across the globe.The team returned happy and appreciative of Dutch culture and is looking forward to host the Dutch students in the month of July, 2023.
• 68 students from Classes IX and X participated in ‘Topical Talk Festival’, an initiative by the Economist Foundation. It was a seven-week global discussion on the top news stories and issues of the current times between schools and leading topic experts. The festival was packed with  inspiring activities and online events. It provided students a platform to engage them in thought provoking discussions and quiz competitions. Our school was one of eight schools to make it to the Leader Board. Our students’ standpoints were also shortlisted and published in the Editor’s Picks.
• 90 essay entries from Classes VII to IX have been submitted for the Vietnam Essay Writing Competition.
• 20 students from Class IX participated in the ‘Digital Literacy Awareness Training Program’ - a joint CSR initiative of UNICEF & Microsoft, and completed the course. They were awarded certificates.
• Keeping in view the enthusiasm of each of the two partner schools, a virtual meeting between the team BBPS, Pitampura and DPS, Sharjah was conducted on 5^th November, 2022, to speculate the probability of a physical exchange between the two schools. The discussion deliberated around the most plausible time and duration of the visits, number of children to be selected and the criteria for their selection.

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

IDS UPDATES 2018-2019               IDS UPDATES 2017-18