“The Round Square Conference 2025, organized by The Assam Valley School, can be said to be a masterclass in resilience and effective leadership, as delegations from schools such as The Emerald Heights International School, and Podar Pearl School (Doha), despite severe travel disruptions, arrived at the venue determined to put the ‘six IDEALS of Round Square’ into practice. Under the able guidance of Mrs. Sagarika Dutta and student delegations such as Aliden Jahzara Ovukum and Agnivh Borah, the focus shifted beyond theory, as students who once preferred to participate in manual work such as building greenhouse walls from plastic bottles discussed the long-term effects of ‘earning money vs. charity.’ By engaging with experts such as Mr Abhijit Bhattacharya, Dr. Sonali Ghosh and social activists such as Miguel Das Queah, commitments diversified from ‘good deeds’ to ‘good causes’ as they focused on interactions with a global community instead of short-term actions as a group of volunteers.”
The Network: Who Made the Conference Possible
The quality of a conference depends strictly on the people who are attending the conference. The 2025 conference had many representatives who would be traveling to attend, each having different cultures to share.
The Leadership Team:
This event was initiated by Mrs. Sagarika Dutta (AVS Round Square Representative). Student coordination was carried out by Aliden Jahzara Ovung and Agnivh Borah, who was recently appointed as the representative for 2026. Coordination of the event was successful in spite of the travel challenges faced by the students of the visiting schools.
Participating Schools:
The conference witnessed delegates from across the country and even outside, along with these schools;
- Daly College, Indore
- Maria Public School, Guwahati
- Step By Step School, Noida
- The Lawrence School, Sanawar
- The Lawrence School, Lovedale
- The Doon School, Dehradun
- The Emerald Heights International School, Indore
- Vivek High School, Chandigarh
- Yadavindra Public School, Patiala
- Rajkumar College, Rajkot
- Podar Pearl School, Doha (Qatar)
The addition of Podar Pearl School brought yet another significant dimension to internationality, which enabled comparisons to be made between the problems in the Gulf region and the problems in Northeast India.
The Framework: Understanding the IDEALS
To understand the relevance of this conference, one must first understand the IDEALS—the six pillars that guide every Round Square school. During the 2025 event, these were not just posters on a wall; they were the foundation of every activity:
- Internationalism: Breaking down regional and national borders to build a global community.
- Democracy: Encouraging freedom of thought and the responsibility to use one’s voice.
- Environmentalism: Developing a hands-on duty to protect the planet.
- Adventure: Pushing personal limits and embracing challenges.
- Leadership: Learning that true power comes from serving others.
- Service: Committing to consistent, practical help for the community.
From Theory to Hard Work: Practical Value
The relevance of the conference was the physical involvement. At AVS, we believe that the IDEALS of Round Square should be learned through “labour and problem-solving.” The students at the conference did not simply talk about environmental issues; they became environmentalists. They constructed greenhouse walls out of plastic bottles and a frame, and also constructed “eco-bricks” for dustbins. The students learned that environmentalism is a tedious job, and one has to get one’s hands dirty to save the environment.
Expert Insights: Redefining Service and Nature
The guest speakers brought us valuable, hard-earned wisdom that challenged conventional thinking:
- The Century Rule: Mr. Abhijit Bhattacharya’s (Former Captain of Indian Men Volleyball Team and Founder of Brahmaputra Volleyball League) lecture was a reality check. Mr. Abhijit Bhattacharya had asked the students to measure the service in centuries rather than decades. His example of starting a big volleyball mission with 100 balls had taught the students the importance of not expecting anything to change overnight.
- Technology in the Wild: Her explanation by Dr. Sonali Ghosh (Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve) who is the first Indian to win Top IUCN Conversation Award, brought the students back to earth and emphasized how modern methods of conservation involve the application of technologies like AI and camera traps to monitor the rhinos and the tigers, yet it’s all done in a simple human way – we will not disturb them, and they will not disturb us.
- Domestic Empathy: In order to shift the focus back to home, Miguel Das Queah (Child Right Activist and founder of UTSAH), who is an AVS Alumnus, said, “It is about how we treat the people around us, how we use our voices on social media platforms to speak up or advocate.”
Student Mindset Implications: The Baraza Effect
The Baraza sessions were the intellectual heart of the event. Named after figures like Rakesh Khatri and Wangari Maathai, these small groups forced students to grapple with difficult questions.
I think one of the true highlights, though, was the debate, “Charity vs. Empowerment: Was a donation better or a job?” It forced students to look beyond what we like to refer to as the “feel good” factor of charity, to the dignity and strength attached to working. Possibly the greatest lesson for any young leader is this mind-set shift, from charity recipient to empowerer.
A day at Kaziranga National Park added yet another dimension of impact. Instantly, seeing a one-horned rhino in its habitat made “nature” alive, breathing, and somehow even a humanistic obligation to protect.
Why This Matters: The Long-term AVS Legacy
By hosting this conference, The Assam Valley School strengthened its standing as a school committed to sustainability. The ripple effect was much more than those three days in December. This is depicted in the campus itself, with the utilization of solar energy, water recycling systems, and low-waste practice.
Leadership Development: Students like Aliden Jahzara Ovung and Agnivh Borah managed some real-life challenges at the event. Overcoming setbacks and managing logistics helped them understand leading from experience.
Building Bridges: Partnerships with the different visiting schools forged usefully meaningful links between the students. These relationships will continue through shared social initiatives after school.
Conclusion: The Shift from Words to Action
The Round Square Conference 2025 demonstrated that our children are prepared to be more than just spectators. Eventually, the students participating in the Conference understood that “Internationalism” and “Environmentalism” are not just labels to adorn but a call to action to take seriously. We will see the true extent to which they will carry the “century rule” to their own towns and neighborhoods, and carry forward the work they have begun here in Balipara.
FAQ
What is the Round Square Conference?
It is a gathering of students and educators from a global network of schools that share a commitment to character education. These conferences focus on moving beyond traditional academics to develop students through shared experiences and community engagement.
Who hosted the 2025 Round Square Conference?
The conference was hosted by The Assam Valley School (AVS) at its campus in Balipara, Assam. The school utilized its extensive green campus and existing sustainability infrastructure to provide a practical backdrop for the event’s theme of Service.
Why is the Round Square Conference conducted?
The primary goal is to bring young people from different cultures together to collaborate on real-world issues. It is conducted to help students step out of their local bubbles and understand global challenges like environmental conservation and social inequality through first-hand experience.
What do students learn from participating in these conferences?
Students walk away with much more than just certificates. They learn practical leadership by managing logistics, improve their communication through “Baraza” debates, and gain a deeper understanding of sustainability by working on service projects that require manual labor and problem-solving.
Who attended the 2025 Conference at AVS?
The event saw participation from prestigious institutions including Daly College(Indore), Maria Public School (Guwahati), Step By Step School(Noida), The Lawrence School(Sanawar), The Lawrence School (Lovedale), The Doon School(Dehradun), The Emerald Heights International School(Indore), Vivek High School (Chandigarh), Yadavindra Public School(Patiala) and Rajkumar College (Rajkot). It also featured an international perspective from Podar Pearl School in Doha, Qatar.
What are the six IDEALS of Round Square?
Round Square is built on six pillars: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. Every activity during the conference—from the Kaziranga safari to the school-building projects—is designed to reflect one or more of these values.
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