DBIS has been associated with Eumind for over a year now. Eumind is a non-profit school network that creates and supervises virtual exchange projects in which Indian and European students work together on real-life issues such as sustainability, human rights and arts and culture. European schools are matched with a suitable Indian school and ensure a direct line of communication. This process truly empowers them to be global citizens as they understand cultural diversity in a more in-depth manner and build respect for people and environment all around them.

The Strenna of 2020-21 as presented by the Salesian Society of Don Bosco was ‘Good Human Beings and Upright Citizens’. This was set into practice by the students of DBIS on the global platform in the Eumind Exchange Programme – Values 2020. When the entire world was hit hard by the pandemic and values were on the threshold of stagnation from society, students of Don Bosco International Schools worked on the project ‘Values 2020’ , which was the need of the hour.

The Eumind platform allows students to explore these value systems with their European partner school situated in the South Holland province of Netherlands named ‘The Helinium High School’. Our countries are culturally diverse yet share a similar and distinct set of values which were surveyed through areas of ‘Women empowerment’, ‘Multi-cultural school’, ‘Student-teacher relations’, ‘Celebrations’ and ‘Friendship’. using their own cultural background as their basis. With the main focus being exploration of values in our home country, students interviewed various people to answer their research questions and write a report based on their findings. A written reflection and comparison report were part of this project – Values 2020.

The pandemic made life harder to coordinate freely but the online interactions via Zoom and Discord* made learning a blessing to successfully explore this cultural diversity despite the distance. Eumind recommended weebly.com, an easy-to-use website. Our student participants in collaboration with the ICT department created a website to showcase their valuable research work. https://eumindvalues2020dbos.weebly.com

*Kindly note Zoom and Discord were used only after taking parent consent and under the supervision of the school management and cyber security rules.

All the five groups worked under the timely guidance of their mentors Ms Hemangini Gupta and Mr Vaibhav Chinchalkar and received certificates of excellence after completing their research. The research was assessed under a three tier system – the self-evaluation by students, evaluation by Teacher-Mentor and the International Panel of Eumind. Out of 46 schools of India, Don Bosco International School’s project was appreciated and looking at the quality research by students, the Director of Eumind Mr Ludo Mateusen recommended Don Bosco International School to take up a new challenge in the 2021-22 Eumind Project, namely “Creative Entrepreneurship”.

Every year 25 children participate and contribute their ideas towards a chosen theme of environment, values etc. This year DBIS has had the privilege to work with the chairperson of Eumind Mr Ludo Mateusen and Ms. Noa de Zeeuw on a pilot project involving ‘Creative Entrepreneurship’. With the start- up segment being red hot in India currently, our students grabbed this opportunity with open arms to channelize their inner Elon Musks and Steve Jobs.

The thought of creating a sustainable product or innovating an idea that could change the landscape of the business world or disrupt an existing system by itself is very exciting. Our students went through a multi-layered process of brainstorming with their mentors and heads where they came up with products they wanted to create. A myriad of ideas ranging from AI to solar paint that could act as a source of renewable energy to an app that could collate the transport problem within the commercial capital of India, to finding alternate uses of stone paper for gifting and sustainable school- books for rural regions to taking up a recycling project that could support their school, cutting costs by utilizing cardboard waste, making note books thus helping the school take these small initiatives to make it a more sustainable one to even creating a trekking bag out of plastic – a segment yet unexplored could help explore their own passion.

This process in itself sharpens their mind as they decipher various options to study feasibility of these ideas as some may be too expensive while some look good on paper and some truly hard to implement because of social and economic factors. This year our students will deep dive into ‘Design Thinking’ a process often used by multinationals like Apple, Samsung, Google and more which helps to solve problems (environmental, human, social etc) in a quick and creative manner.

Once their idea for a product/ service is finalized they brainstorm their thoughts with the partner school in Europe or Netherlands. This helps them empathize with the problems faced by their counterpart and helps them offer effective solutions where this has been successfully tackled in their own country and vice versa. This also helps students analyse the problems based on country size, target population, economic growth, manufactured products and sources of income and incorporation of environmental standards and policies to tackle climate change- a much needed requirement of the future.

Empathising with an existing problem leads to defining what can be done to solve it which helps our students to brainstorm and finally create a prototype to check if the process is actually worthy of implementation. This may sound tedious but this is what ‘Design thinking’ is all about as it forces students to reanalyse, modify and improvise their own prototypes to suit their target audience and yet be profitable.

At every stage in this process, exchange of ideas with the partner school via video conference or other digital channels boosts their confidence or helps them delve deeper into a research that can help them resolve the issue in their home country
https://eumindvalues2021dbos.weebly.com

iRobokid is an organisation specialising in STEM education, aiming to provide the latest in STEM education. iRobokid team comprises of over 25 trained instructors & educators with a mix of experience of teaching and background education of engineering. iRobokid has education collaborations with partners in USA, Germany & China enabling it to offer the latest in STEM educ ation across the world. iRobokid currently offers 6 different programs for age group 6 – 14 years and plans to add 1 new program every year.

Our objective is to enable Schools to introduce these programs to students in a fun and scientific manner. We follow a systematic sessions plan and have a well-integrated curriculum that not only encourages children to be more hands on – mind on, but also promotes practical learning of STEM (Science / Technology / Engineering & Maths) via Robotics.

We align our programs to seamlessly merge with school education and enhance the learning process for the students. With clear focus, we are able to provide specialisation in our field and make the offering cost efficient for schools and students.

The students of Don Bosco International School, experienced diplomacy at the annual United Nations simulation conference; with students donning the role of a delegate and representing the countries from all over the world!

DBIS’s MUN was held on the 24th of January, 2019 in Bianchi Hall. The agenda was set as; Reducing Carbon Emission Footprints for Sustainable Development.The students grasped the severity of the issue which two decades of disappointing efforts to act decisively on carbon emissions; have led to the earth becoming hotter and more polluted.

However, for the Global Economy there is still a window of opportunity, fast closing; to scale back pollution and tame the rising heat. The participants researched their country’s state of affairs in relevance to the topic. After training, they stepped into the shoes of the diplomats and represented their country in the conference. They debated and brought across new and realistic solutions; to resolve the world’s conflict with their own resolutions.

Representatives verbally responded to circumstances as they arose to make impromptu queries and gave replies based on their knowledge and research. They also deliberated and took decisions on behalf of their member states; directly from the floor of the UN.

The objective of training students for this session, was to ensure that they learn to be Global Citizens and can practically use their political knowledge. This helped them in getting an experience of how UN diplomats’ work and improved their negotiation and public speaking skills. Furthermore, in the process they emerged as a good team-workers and leaders.

The greater objective of education is to create “Capacity & Competence”. Capacity to overcome obstacles, pursuing excellence with righteousness & living ‘with’ and not ‘for’ happiness. This will ensure our children are deserving and not just demanding.

The proposal given below is for the long term “Saksham – Values, SEL & Life Skills Education” program for schools.

The word Saksham means ‘To be Capable’ “Saksham” is a unique, long term, curriculum integrated, character building program for schools which helps students, teachers & parents prepare for the future by creating awareness within them of their thoughts, ideas & actions and guiding them towards values based living & decision-making.

Saksham is intended towards helping participants imbibe values & life skills which help them be Good (Ethical), Successful (Prosperous) & Flourishing (Realising Fullest Life Potential) thereby creating model citizens for a better world.

Saksham is a seismic advancement to traditional, preachy, non-impressive moral education. Here’s how

• Based on the 21st Century Science of Character : Saksham draws upon cutting edge, latest research studies & frameworks in “Social Emotional Learning, Character Development & Positive Psychology” recommended by well reputed experts & bring them to schools.
• Custom Designed as per School & Child Needs : Saksham teaches what is needed rather than what is scripted. Every school’s needs & wants are different so the saksham team designs a unique approach, values & events for every standard as per inputs of school.
• Experiential, Conversative, Reflective & Action Oriented : Saksham doesn’t preach or profess values but reasons & builds conviction in children about higher ideals of thinking, behaving & living through open ended & powerful techniques, aids, tools, in-house developed card & board games.
• Multi-Educator & Delivery Model : Saksham can be delivered Online or Offline, Weekdays or Weekends by Trained Val-Ed Educators or Chosen School Educators who will be trained in the art of inspiring children to understand & adopt “Values-Based Thinking & Living”. The messenger & the message is always the same.
• Involves & Transforms Parents & Teachers : Saksham-by-design involves the family at home & school through Teacher Trainings, Parenting Orientations & Values Events throughout the year ensuring overall transformation.

• Instills right attitude, mindset, behaviour & habits in children which stays for long term.
• Decreases indiscipline, violence, depression, aggression, impatience etc∙ Helps child’s chances of long term success both inside & outside the school including academic, non academic, co-curricular success.
• Improves Emotional & Spiritual Well Being.
• Build Character in Teachers, Parents & the Wider Community too Stronger Positive Public Brand of the School.
• Increases Admissions of the Right Audience into the School.

• Experience
• Reflection
• Realisations
• Transformation

The Award’s concept is one of individual challenge, giving young people a balanced, non-competitive programme of voluntary activities which encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community. Those who participate in the Award are expected to follow its requirements in a non-competitive manner with a determination to succeed, either individually or as part of a team. The Award therefore is challenging, and can be undertaken at your own pace.

The Participation Age is between 14 and 25 years. The basic structure of the Award consists of 4 mandatory sections Voluntary Service, Adventurous Journey, Skills and Physical Recreation. There are 3 levels of the Award – Bronze, Silver & Gold. Participants must complete the four mandatory sections of Voluntary Service, Adventurous Journey, Skill & Physical Recreation. Participants can undertake all three categories of the Award programme or enter directly at any of the three levels in the following age group; Bronze Award (for those over 14), Silver Award (for those over 15) and Gold Award (for those over 16 years).

The minimum period of participation is 6 months for Bronze, 12 months for Silver and 18 months for Gold. For each of these levels a participant is required to undertake activities under each of the four sections. At Gold level, participants undertake a Residential Project in addition.