Four students from our prep school attended the inaugural Young Round Square (YRS) International Conference from 4-10 May at Camp Discovery in the Dinokeng Nature Reserve. Lourens Kok, Famke Beukes (both grade 7), Joshua Smith and Georgina Palmer (both grade 6) rubbed shoulders with pupils from all continents on the globe in a programme which included workshops around the Round Square IDEALS of Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service. The pupils were divided into groups called Barazzas and had daily meetings apart from the activities where they shared ideas. They also met as a region (Africa) and wrote a pledge to take back to their respective schools. They were also exposed to several speakers and presentations throughout the week to enlighten and educate them and came away enthused and inspired as a result.
Some of the highlights on the programme included the RSlympics(won by India), a sleep out under the stars, game drives, campfire reflections, visiting the Union Buildings, Freedom Park and the Voortrekker Monument, raft building, International Teambuilding on the Adventure Course, Archery, Drumming, a rhino talk and the end of conference party. The feedback from students was phenomenal, highlighting the social interaction and networking but also exposure to different cultures and nations realising that there is a “bigger world out there”.
