IB brings ‘Festival of Hope’ to India to ignite young minds for a better world

India, 01 June 2023 – Bringing the success of their Youth Ambassadors programme to India for the very first time, the International Baccalaureate (IB) hosted–the Festival of Hope–in New Delhi and Mumbai. Bringing together students from over 100 schools, in an effort to engage young minds in impactful dialogues, the events were held in collaboration with Pathways World School in Gurgaon and Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) in Mumbai. Both editions were a combination of in-person workshops and exhibitions that were successful in creating a supportive space for students to express their views and share ideas, rooted in inspiring action for a better world.

At the event in Pathways World School, the Haryana School Education Board signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the IB in the presence of Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gurjar. The MoU will ensure that teachers have access to international-level training from the IB, which will improve the level of teaching as well as provide quality education.

Commenting on the association, Mr. Gurjar said, “The signing of this MoU marks the start of the collaboration between the IB and the Board of School Education, Haryana (BSEH). We are looking at 20 schools implementing the various IB Programmes and this gives our schools the opportunity to investigate approaches to teaching and learning by embedding IB curriculum with the NEP. Dr. Yadav is committed to improving the skills of our students and his efforts have already begun to produce extraordinary outcomes, leading to newer heights in the field of education. As IB and BSEH work together to develop new possibilities and forge a brighter future for our students, I look forward to the joint efforts of both boards”.

Attendees of the Delhi event were taken on a captivating journey that left a lasting impact. The “Hope Path Dialogues” featuring Anoushka Jolly, a 13-year-old anti-bullying app developer and Deepak Ramola– TED speaker and UN Action Plan Executor–sparked meaningful conversations and ignited a sense of hope among the young attendees. Further, Project FUEL’s interactive performances provided transformative learning experiences, sharing valuable life lessons from around the world. The event also witnessed thought-provoking panel discussions on climate change, justice, equity, identity, belonging, and spiritual well-being.

Inspiring audiences to adopt a fresh perspective and influence change, the Exhibition of Hope showcased incredible creative expressions and service initiatives. The Open Mic by Letters to Strangers shared powerful personal stories, fostering empathy and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health.

Just as captivating, the Mumbai event kicked off with a cultural programme by Primary and Middle School students. Following which an alumni session with IB Director General- Oli Pekka Heinonen, delved into the power of hope as a key driver of opportunity. The event offered a diverse range of activities and presentations, and welcomed revered speakers such as, renowned Indian businesswoman and Vice Chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Ms. Isha Ambani Piramal. Insightful roundtable discussions around the power of technology in inclusive and scalable education brought teachers, educators, and academicians together.

“The Festival of Hope started with the vision to support impactful ideas and conversations that translate to positive action. The exhibits by the students in New Delhi and Mumbai have proven to be powerful testimonials of this vision. What we have experienced over the last few days was truly phenomenal and has strengthened our conviction in the potential of the students, and in the IB curriculum,” added Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General, International Baccalaureate.

“At the IB, we want to keep empowering learners to thrive and make a difference. The Festival of Hope in India has validated our belief that youth have the vision, compassion and entrepreneurial spirit to make positive impact. Bright minds from more than 100 schools convened to show that Hope is the fulcrum for a better future. We are overwhelmed with the participation in India, and we plan to leverage bigger platforms for the youth in the country as they become agents of change,” said Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer, International Baccalaureate

The IB has previously organised the Festival of Hope in the UK and the US. Bringing together spiritual leaders, artists, technologists, youth leaders, environmentalists, mental health experts and other young changemakers, the sessions are aimed towards inspiring attendees and initiating a scalable discourse on the youth’s power to create an impact for a better tomorrow.

IB now plans to expand their reach further in India by investing heavily in its programmes which run across the country.