RSIC2025 – Thank you to our hosts and thank you for coming!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the 57th Round Square International Conference in Dubai and congratulations to our host schools The Indian High School Dubai, GEMS Modern Academy, and The Millennium School Dubai.

Asked to sum up the conference in one word on the final day, student delegates told us it was vibrant, amazing, culturally diverse, eye-opening, mind-blowing, incredible, completely-new, warm and friendly. Some said they appreciated the extraordinary variety, determination, future-focus and celebration found in Dubai, in particular through the hospitality of its people. Some were surprised by how much they enjoyed the service activities, while many talked about the sense of achievement they felt in completing the Adventure Day Hike, and others, on Environmental Day, discovered that there is more complexity to the natural landscape of the desert… beyond the dunes… than they ever imagined.

Students participating from St Stithians Girls’ College in South Africa said “The trip challenged many of our preconceptions about Dubai. We discovered the resilience of the Ghaf Tree—a national symbol of the Emirates that can live for over 400 years and thrive in the harsh desert climate. For us, simply stepping outside in temperatures soaring above 40°C was a challenge in itself!”

Delegates visited each of the three host schools for Keynote speeches and Baraza discussions. On Adventure Day, at The Indian High School baraza groups collaborated on a leadership tapestry before heading out on a scenic hike at Wadi Shees Park. On Environmental Day, The Millennium School hosted a Climate Fresk workshop, before taking delegates to Aventura Park for a range of activities, that connected with the natural world, including a scavenger hunt, sand art, natural pesticide-making, and neem tree planting, with 1,280 seedlings planted. 

Abdul, a student from Cadet College Hasan Abdal in Pakistan said “The best aspect of the conference for me was the scavenger hunt. It was my favourite because it combined teamwork, problem-solving, and a sense of adventure in a really engaging way. Working closely with my team, we supported each other, stayed motivated, and pushed ourselves to do our best.

On Service Day, GEMS Modern Academy organised a speaker-panel in which People of Determination addressed delegates about the realities of living with different abilities and needs. Delegates then organised and played games with, young people who are differently-abled, and prepared and served lunch for their activity day. At the Gurdwara, another group of delegates participated in Sewa, serving food in the temple’s community kitchen. In the evening a charity souk sold items donated by delegates from around the world and raised more than AED $20,000 (equivalent to over USD $5,000) to contribute to construction of a school in Nepal by Dubai Cares.

Olerato, a student from Tiger Kloof Educational Institution in South Africa said, “The service rendering to the People of Determination was truly humbling and going to the Wadi Shees Trail and stepping out of one’s comfort zone was the best part and highlight of it all.” Diabla, a student at RGS Surrey Hills said, “There were so many highlights that it is difficult to name just one. I was particularly impressed by the visit to the temple (Gurdwara), where I learned a lot about sewa and community. Dinner in the desert was like a dream, the atmosphere, the shows and being together were simply magical. And Environmentalism Day showed me how important sustainability is and really made me think differently about many things.”

Throughout the week, entertainments included a dhow cruise through Dubai’s iconic skyline, a Bedouin-style desert dinner complete with fire-show and bumpy camel rides, intricate henna tattoos, a fantastic cultural performance evening in which delegates shared their talents, a high-energy treasure hunt at Festival Mall, and countless opportunities to connect with new friends from around the world. Throughout the week, there was an emphasis on pushing boundaries, stepping beyond comfort zones and embracing new, and sometimes challenging, experiences, and, above all, building international understanding.

Kurt Hahn, on whose principles Round Square was founded. He observed that when you spend a period of time living everyday life in the company of those from other countries you “cannot help but learn to care about the rights and the happiness of at least one other nation.” Building this sense of empathy and connection is one of the core aims of the RSIC, and was evidenced in the warmth of affection on display as delegates said their farewells on the final day.

But what did we learn? 

“I gained a lot of experience in both learning and personal development”, says Henry from Oxbridge Academy in America. “I learned how to communicate with people from different backgrounds and to respect different religions and cultures. It helped me grow better communication skills, confidence and the ability to listen actively. I also realized the importance of teamwork and building meaningful connections. Overall, the experience helped me grow as a more confident individual.”

Adhiraj, a student from Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi said “Dubai showed me that friendship and learning have no borders”, and Anthony, a student from The Southridge School “I learned that students all around the world share the same visions of how to change the world. I feel more inspired to make a change, knowing that many others will act for the same causes”

Tanvi a student at Ashbury College in Canada observed that “Meeting everyone, and being in baraza groups where no one knows each other made everyone feel more comfortable with each other since they knew no one”. This is echoed by Sara, Head of School at Carrollwood Day School, who told us that, “In our reflections, many of our students said it was the best experience of their lives. Forever, they know they can walk into a room of 15 strangers from all sorts of different countries, schools, and backgrounds and find connection, conversation, challenge, and lasting friendship. What greater skill is there than that as we strive to foster a more just and peaceful world?”

James, a teacher from Southridge School said his students learned “that being put out of your comfort zone can be quite a worthwhile experience. My students were exposed to so many different cultures, experiences, and interesting ideas”, he said. This was echoed by Sunita, a teacher and Round Square Coordinator from Vidya Devi Jindal School in India, who told us that, “interacting with delegates across the globe broadened students’ global perspective, enhanced cultural understanding, and nurtured empathy. The Service sessions, especially with the ‘People of Determination,’ instilled values of inclusivity and respect. Adventure activities built resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Overall, the conference fostered confidence, leadership, and global citizenship, leaving a lasting impact on participants growth and outlook”.

If you participated in the RSIC2025 and would like to share your feedback with us, please complete THIS FORM. Thank you 🙂

RSIC Dubai 2025 Conference Video

There is a longer edit of the RSIC Dubai 2025 Conference Video, which you can watch HERE.