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ROUND SQUARE ROUND SQUARE INSTITUTED KING CONSTANTINE AWARD

Winner: Varun Bakshi

ROUND SQUARE STUDENT COMMITTEE CHAIRS' REPORT Varun's journey reflects the Round Square IDEALS of Internationalism,
Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure Leadership, and Service in his work.
Over the past four years, he has led several initiatives advocating for gender
Our Round Square journey has been a equality across 40 villages in rural India by combining education, awareness,
transformative one, rooted in the six IDEALS and engaging boys and men in the movement for women's equality and safety.
and meaningful student-led action across Collaborating with Presidential Awardee Mr. Sunil Jaglan, Varun challenged
the entire student body. Over the years, we systemic barriers and aimed to transform community mindsets. He established
have grown as leaders, collaborators, and a girls-only library stocked with 865 books in Kanwari, Haryana, conducted
changemakers, whether it’s by hosting gender-sensitization sessions across 10 schools, and engaged over 600
events like Earth Week celebrations, the students, emphasizing the creation of safe spaces for girls while fostering male
support for gender justice. At the library's opening ceremony, he was
World Food Day module, the Sustainable interviewed by several local news channels, which helped amplify the message
Innovation Challenge, or planning for EKTA of educational empowerment for girls. He also addressed cultural taboos by
(Encouraging Knowledge, Tolerance and distributing 355 period kits and installing 50 nameplates recognizing joint
Acceptance) Conference on conflict female ownership of homes, each action marking a small but symbolic victory against long-standing traditions.
resolution. Round Square has given us the Additionally, he interned with Weber Shandwick, a global public relations company, where he promoted the
opportunity to connect with students around the world and has instilled powerful values such as compassion, HeForShe campaign. As part of a team that facilitated over 1 million male students signing the pledge for gender
leadership, and courage. equality, Varun helped plan and orchestrated screenings of Son Rise in nearly 100 schools across India.
This year, we were especially excited about expanding our reach: from organising E waste collection during the school Varun expressed: “Round Square taught me that empathy-driven action can shape global change when rooted in
fete and scaling up sustainability initiatives throughout the school to bring the spirit of Round Square for every student collaboration and courage. I remain committed to carrying these values forward as I strive for a more inclusive and
to experience it. We look forward to hosting our own Round Square conference, EKTA RSC in Jamnagar from 10-13 gender-equal world.”
September 2025, as a step towards peace through conflict resolution. As the Round Square Student Committee Chair,
Middle School Round Square Coordinator, and Primary School Round Square Coordinator, we are united in our goal to
foster an active, value-driven student community and leave a lasting impact on our school and the wider ELLIE THE ELEPHANT:
Round Square network.
- Ariana Desai (MSRSC) NMAJS MYP G8, Ishaan Surve (RSSCC) DAIS IBDP G11, PETA'S ANIMATRONIC ELLIE TEACHES ABOUT EMPATHY
Renaya Lakhani (PSRSC) NMAJS PYP Class 5.
On 10th June 2024, DAIS hosted PETA India's Ellie,
the animatronic elephant, as a part of a series of
ROUND SQUARE REPRESENTATIVE'S REPORT engaging sessions for students. Ellie was

designed to inspire compassion for animals and
At DAIS/NMAJS, the Round Square philosophy is more than a set of ideals, it is the foundation of our educational raise awareness about elephant conservation.
vision. The seamless integration of Round Square IDEALS with the schools mission and vision continues to shape a During these sessions, the primary goals were to
vibrant learning environment grounded in leadership, collaboration, innovation, and global citizenship. This year, foster empathy by educating students about the
students brought the Round Square IDEALS to life through participation in Postcard sessions, artistic initiatives like challenges faced in captivity, and to spark
Moving Palette, in person conference SEVA, in Noida. A major highlight was the whole-school celebration of Earth discussions about compassion for all living beings
Week under the theme: "Our Power; Our Planet." Across grades, students, faculty, and staff came together to focus and how they could act towards solving this
on climate action, sustainability, and the power of individual and collective choices around renewable energy problem on a personal level. 65 DAIS Round
options. As part of Earth Week, the Sustainable Innovation Challenge 2025 (SIC) was a a platform for student led Square student volunteers planned sessions for
tech solutions for real life issues. SIC was opened for outside schools and had participation from over 60 students as each grade to ensure that they were age
the event showcased remarkable creativity and commitment to sustainability. Another such event was the appropriate and fun. At each session the students
awareness building during World Food Day and hosting of E-waste collection drive during the school fete. Each interacted with the robotic Ellie and heard her
experience reinforced our school's commitment to empathy, responsibility, and positive change. Our sustainable story of release from captivity after separation
initiatives were recognised by CIE awarding our school the from her family. They students were then divided
Sustainability Award for the region. Student leadership into smaller groups to discuss the effect of
remained central, with seniors mentoring juniors through humans on animals and how promote empathy
age-appropriate activities that built collaboration, resilience, towards animals. During PYP sessions, students
and a shared sense of purpose. Looking ahead, the Round reflected on how they may have inadvertently
Square student team is preparing to host EKTA supported animal cruelty through animal rides,
(Encouragement, Knowledge, Tolerance, Acknowledge), our visiting zoos and circuses where animals are kept
Round Square Conference, from 10–13 September 2025. in poor conditions. Volunteers instilled a sense of
e m p a t hy a m o n g t h e i r yo u n g e r p e e rs ,
As we reflect on the year, it's clear that Round Square encouraging them to be mindful to animals and express kindness towards them. MYP students devised innovative
continues to energize and inspire our journey. We look solutions aimed at ending animal abuse and advocating for the liberation of circus animals. They also committed to
forward to another impactful year of learning, leading, Manisha Nanda pledges, in which they promised not to support animal cruelty. Throughout the day, Round Square leaders

Pratima Sridhar
and living our values. conducted sessions that motivated students to take action and make a difference in the lives of animals. Ellie's
Round Square Round Square
Representative Representative unique way of telling her story significantly contributed to this impact.

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