Round Square Africa Info.pdf - St George's Diocesan School

A QUICK
REFERENCE GUIDE
FOR NEW ROUND
SQUARE SCHOOLS
2012 AFRICA REGIONAL INFORMATION

Round Square Africa Region
AN INTRODUCTION…
Round Square is most important as a movement in education, a guiding light with its roots in the
philosophy of Kurt Hahn and its wide umbrella providing a link within and between schools for a
myriad of activities focussed around committed service to others, nurturing ‘servant’ leadership,
environmental awareness and stewardship, adventure and challenge, a framework of international
focus and opportunities for democratic expression.
Round Square is also a wonderful family of schools who share a common commitment to holistic
education and who meet regularly at student-centred conferences for various age groups of young
people. At these conferences courage and compassion are nurtured in equal measure, and young
people benefit enormously from the opportunity to mix with peers from near and far, celebrating
their cultural diversity and common humanity.
Globally, Round Square is divided into five regions – the Americas, Europe, Australasia, South Asia
and the Gulf…and the Africa region, where conferences and exchanges flourish within a vibrant spirit
of community and friendship amongst the member schools.
If you are reading the material contained within this for the first time, then it is likely you are new to
Round Square and so on behalf of the young people and adults who make up the membership of the
Africa region may I say … welcome to our family.
John O’Connor
Africa Regional Director
Email: oconnor@brookhouse.ac.ke
www.roundsquare.org
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INDEX
Round Square Africa Region ................................................................................................................... 1
AN INTRODUCTION… .............................................................................................................................. 1
Kurt Hahn ............................................................................................................................................... 3
WHO’S WHO at Round Square International? ........................................................................................ 5
Future Round Square Conferences ....................................................................................................... 10
Senior Conferences ............................................................................................................................... 10
Round Square Rep Duties: .................................................................................................................... 11
Round Square Regional Coordinator (Rep) Duties ................................................................................ 12
Young Round Square ............................................................................................................................. 13
Young Round Square Member Schools and Contact Details ................................................................ 14
Round Square Exchanges ...................................................................................................................... 15
RSIS Projects .......................................................................................................................................... 16
Friends of Round Square (FoRS) ........................................................................................................... 17
Africa Conference Themes and Logos ................................................................................................... 18
Previous African Themes and Logo’s .................................................................................................... 19
Brochure compiled and edited by: John O’Connor, Yvette Russell and Rebecca Mocke (Baraza
Group Leader, Dainfern College: JRS 2012)
DID YOU KNOW?
Baraza
Old African word meaning
THE COMING TOGETHER OF
DIFFERENT PEOPLE
Barazas allow for delegates, teacher reps,
Heads and Governors to hold debates and
free discussions where everyone’s opinion
is valued equally -
Every conference delegate is allocated a
Baraza group. Barazas are smaller than
Rikas and are led by a student Baraza
2 leader. | Updated: 2012/07
Rika
Old African word meaning
THE COMING TOGETHER OF
SIMILAR PEOPLE
Rikas are separate student delegate,
teacher representative, Heads and
Governors meetings and take place
throughout a conference in order to
discuss important topics raised.
Rikas are a great opportunity to express
your views with your peers.

Round Square
Kurt Hahn
by: Laura Bishop (Baraza Group Leader, Dainfern College: JRS 2012)
Kurt Hahn (1886-1974) was a famous German educator who founded the idea of experiential
education. He created many influential educational philosophies which are used in schools around
the world today.
Kurt Hahn served as secretary to Prince Max Von Baden. Together, they founded the Schule Schloss
Salem, a prestigious private school in the South of Germany. He researched principles and ideas that
were being successfully applied in various schools and brought them all together in one. He believed
that in order to achieve success it was best to use methods that were tried and tested. He carefully
selected the methods in which he would use and then combined them in a unique manner in order
to achieve ultimate success.
He then proceeded to be involved in the establishment (both directly and indirectly) of many more
schools and organisations, such as: Atlantic College, the first United World College; the Duke of
Edinburgh's Award; Gordonstoun School; Outward Bound; the Atlantic Challenge; the Kurt Hahn
Trust; and Round Square….some of which were initiated by others who were inspired by his ideas.
His educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents as he believed that they possess an
innate decency and moral sense. However, he believed that as adolescents grew older they were
negatively influenced and corrupted by society and the environment around them. Therefore, he
tried to prevent this corruption through more holistic education. He believed that students should
be given leadership opportunities so that they could prove to themselves that they could make
progress and make a difference. The prefects at Hahn’s schools were known as “Colour Bearers” and
were promoted according to his values: concern and compassion for others; the willingness to
accept responsibility; as well as concern and tenacity in the pursuit of the truth. Punishment of any
kind was viewed as a last resort.
Kurt Hahn was concerned with the social declines and diseases he observed in society which he
described as:
1. The decline in fitness due to the modern methods of locomotion.
2. The decline of initiative and enterprise due to the widespread disease of ‘spectatoritis’.
3. The decline of memory and imagination due to the confused restlessness of modern life.
4. The decline of skill and care due to the weakened tradition of craftsmanship.
5. The decline of self-discipline due to the ever-present availability of stimulants and tranquilizers.
6. The decline of compassion due to the unseemly haste with which modern life is conducted.
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He then came up with solutions to these problems which he implemented in all of his schools:
1. Fitness Training (to compete with one's self in physical fitness; in so doing, training the discipline
and determination of the mind through the body)
2. Expeditions (via sea or land, to engage in long, challenging endurance tasks)
3. Projects (involving crafts, manual skills and service to others)
4. Rescue Service (lifesaving, fire-fighting, first aid)
Kurt Hahn made it his life’s mission to make people around the world realize the truth about
themselves - he believed that “there is more in you than you think” and that “each of us has more
courage, more strength and more compassion than we would ever have fathomed.” Hence the
philosophy of Round Square…
Round Square is a worldwide association of schools which share a commitment, beyond academic
excellence, to personal development and responsibility through service, international
understanding, challenge, adventure, democracy, and environmental stewardship. It seeks inspire
students throughout the world so that their generation will strive for new levels of co-operation,
communication and understanding.
Reference List:
http://www.kurthahn.org/links/links.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Hahn
http://www.roundsquare.org/index.php?id=564
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“There is more in you than you think……”
“…each of us has more courage, more strength and more
compassion than we would ever have fathomed.”
KURT HAHN

WHO’S WHO at Round Square International?
Source: http://www.roundsquare.org/index.php?id=449 [Downloaded: 4 February 2012]
PATRONS
His Majesty
King Constantine
HRH The Duke of York,
CVO, ADC
Nelson Mandela
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
H M King Constantine, President
Craig Kielburger
HRH The Duke of York, CVO, ADC
Rod Fraser, Chairman, Executive Committee
Tracey Balch, Executive & Advancement Committee
Simon Bruce-Lockhart, Members Committee & Americas Representative
Raul Otero, Members Committee
Mike Walton, Members Committee & Australasia Representative
Doug Golden, Advancement Committee
John O'Connor, Members Committee & Africa Representative
Helmuth Aigner, Members Committee & Europe Representative
Hugh Macdonnell, Executive and Finance Committee
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Guy McLean, Executive and Finance Committee
Paul Crouch, Staff Representative and Members Committee
Sumer Singh, Executive, Members Committee & South Asia and Gulf Representative
John Hamilton, External Operations Committee
Eleanor Dase, Chair Members Committee
Shereen Mahmood-Ispahani, Advancement Committee
Executive Director
Brian Dawson
P.O.Box 50, Haenertsburg South Africa 0730
Tel +27(0)823351328 Fax +27(0)865539279 brian@roundsquare.org
Secretariat
Ann West, MBE JP DL- Round Square Guardian rsprojco@aol.com
Jane Howison - Business Manger jane@roundsquare.org
Liz Gray - RSIS Project Manager projects@roundsquare.org
Julie Driver- Accountantjulie@roundsquare.org
Clare Cloverdale - RSIS Project Assistant rsisadmin@roundsquare.org
Suzanne Bookless - Marketing and Advancement admark@roundsquare.org
Angela Dawson - Administrative Assistant admin@roundsquare.org
London Office
Round Square - Longfield Office (Secretary and Treasurer)
PO Box 105, LONGFIELD DA3 9DA
Tel: +44(0)7922 848918
Registered Office
Fairfax House, 15 Fulwood Place, London WC1V 6AY
“Do your little bit of good where you are: it’s those little bits of good put
together that overwhelm the world.”
ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
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A Brief History of Round Square in Africa
by: Courtney Jones (Head of Round Square, Dainfern College, 2012)
On the continent where life began, where landscapes are vast and where legends have been born is
one of the many homes of Round Square. This mighty organisation first reached African soil in 1989
with the pioneering school being Starehe Boys School in Kenya.
In 1998, under the guidance of Anne van Zyl, David Wylde and Tessa Fairbairn, St Stithians Boys and
Girls Colleges and St Cyprian’s School became the first South African members at the Athenian
School Conference in California in 1998. Tiger Kloof Educational Institution followed in 2000 and
Stanford Lake College in 2003. This resulted in a growth of awareness of Round Square in Africa,
leading to its eventual expansion to other schools in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia.
Round Square has produced many unforgettable conferences under the African sun, promoting the
youth to come together to work towards a better world. As an organisation, it has allowed the world
to unite in a way that is totally unique. Africa has made Round Square proud in many ways, from
having a Kurt Hahn Prize winner to many people who have selflessly contributed to Round Square as
an International Organisation:
Nqobani Mkhwanazi from St Cyprian’s School received the Kurt Hahn Prize in 2002 for her
pioneering work in Aids Awareness whereby she started the Noepsie Badge project, selling
badges through the RS Schools world-wide to assist HIV positive mums and babies.
Jen Wallace and Sonia Christian and have both served as project leaders on Round Square
International Service Projects.
Anne van Zyl, Tessa Fairbairn, Peter Habberton and John O’Connor have all been the Africa
representatives on the Round Square Board.
Anthony Haggie is the Chairperson of the Friends of Round Square – South Africa (FORS).
In 2003 St Cyprian’s and St Stithian’s jointly hosted the international conference.
Brian Dawson is the current Executive Director of Round Square.
The following have been made Honorary Life Members of Round Square – Tessa Fairbairn,
Wendy Kerr, David Matthews, Anne van Zyl and Barry Hart.
Africa has also hosted the RSIS Philipolis Service project and another one is due to start in
Mpumalanga in 2012.
In 2012 Brookhouse School and Penryn College co-host the international conference.
In 2012 we celebrate another step forward as Young Round Square is launched in Africa, with two
mini-conferences hosted by St Cyprian’s School and Cornwall Hill College.
Round Square in Africa has come a long way, and we are so proud. It is a tool that has given us the
power of change: power to change ourselves, power to change the circumstances of those less
fortunate and ultimately the power to change the world around us.
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WHO’S WHO in Round Square Africa
Africa Regional Director: John O’Connor (Brookhouse School, Kenya)
Deputy: Ivanka Acquisto (St Stithians Girls’ College, Johannesburg)
Secretary: Caron Olivier (St George’s Grammar School, Cape Town)
Treasurer: Riëtte Hanekom (St George’s Diocesan School, Namibia)
Regional Rep: Willie Ng’ang’a
(Brookhouse School, Kenya)
YRS Rep: Tracy Laubscher
(St Cyprian’s Prep School, Cape Town)
wnganga@brookhouse.ac.ke
tlaubscher@stcyprians.co.za
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Round Square MEMBERSHIP Africa Region as at May 2012
Global Member Schools (in order of year admitted to Global Membership)
School Year Head Teacher Reps
1. Starehe Boys Centre and School
Nairobi, Kenya
1989
Matthew Kithyaka
matthewkit@yahoo.com
director@stareheboys.ac.ke
matthew.kithyaka@stareheboyscentre.ac.ke
Peter Ndungu
kingndungu@yahoo.com
kingndungu@gmail.com
2. St Cyprian’s School
Cape Town, RSA
1998 Sue Redelinghuys
redelinghuyss@stcyprians.co.za
Dave Carr
carrd@stcyprians.co.za
3. St Stithians Boys’ College
Randburg, RSA
4. St Stithians Girls’ College
Randburg, RSA
1998
Stephen Lowry (Rector)
rector@stithian.com
David Knowles
DKnowles@stithian.com
Ivanka Acquisto
IAcquisto@stithian.com
Wendy Robb
WRobb@stithian.com
Christine Ashton
CAshton@stithian.com
5. Tiger Kloof
Educational Institution
Vryburg, RSA
1999
Peter Habberton (Rector)
pdhabberton@gmail.com
John Zackarias
zackariasj@gmail.com
Claire Top
clairephutieagae@gmail.co
6. Stanford Lake College
Haenertsburg, Limpopo, RSA
7. Bridge House School
Franschhoek, RSA
8. Brookhouse School
Nairobi, Kenya
9. St. George’s Grammar School
Cape Town, RSA
10. Penryn College
Nelspruit, RSA
11. Dainfern College
Johannesburg, RSA
2003 Johann Ueckermann
johannu@stanfordlakecollege.co.za
2006 Mike Russell
mikrus@bridgehouse.org.za
2008 John O’Connor
oconnor@brookhouse.ac.ke
2008 Julian Cameron
jcameron@sggs.co.za
2010 Greg Theron
head@penryn.co.za
2012 Stuart West
swest@dainferncollege.co.za
Rona McGaffin
rs@slc.co.za
Rob McKay/Debbie Watson
RobMcK@bridgehouse.org.za
debwat@bridgehouse.org.za
Willie Nganga
wnganga@brookhouse.ac.ke
Caron Olivier
olivier@sggs.co.za
Allison Hay
Allison@penryn.co.za
Yvette Russell
yrussell@dainferncollege.co.za
Regional Member Schools (in order of year admitted to Regional Membership)
School Year Head Teacher Reps
1. Vela
Umtata, RSA
2005
Francis Trollip
velaschool@computronics.co.za
Ruth Marillier
velaschool@computronics.co.za
2. Cornwall Hill College
Johannesburg, RSA
2009
Dennis Maritz
d.maritz@cornwall.co.za
Wendy Barrett
w.barrett@cornwall.co.za
3. St George’s Diocesan School
Windhoek, Namibia
2009
Riette Hanekom
rh@stgeorgesnamibia.com
Hella Rust
hcr@stgeorgesnamibia.com
4. Oprah Winfrey Leadership
Academy for Girls, RSA
5. Elaraki School
Marrakech, Morocco
2010
2011
6. Roedean School
Parktown Johannesburg, RSA 2011
Anne van Zyl
anne.vanzyl@owla.co.za
Younes T El Araki
y.elaraki@elaraki.ac.ma
Mary Williams
mwilliams@roedeanschool.co.za
Tasnim Abed
Tasnim.abed@owla.co.za
Abdellatif Firdaous
a.firdaous@elaraki.ac.ma
Sandy Murray
smurray@roedeanschool.co.za
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Associate Member Schools (in order of year admitted to Associate membership)
1. International Community
School, Kumasi, Ghana
2009
Dr Charles Yeboah
cyeboah64@yahoo.com
Victoria Mensah
awotwe2001@yahoo.com
Future Round Square Conferences
Regional Conferences
Year Host School Contact Person Name Contact Person Email
2012 Bridge House School Carol Kramer carkra@bridgehouse.org.za
2013 Tiger Kloof Educational Institution Claire Phutieagae clairephutieagae@gmail.com
2014 Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Tasnim Abed tasnim.abed@owla.co.za
Junior Conferences
Year Host School Contact Person Name Contact Person Email
2012 Dainfern College Yvette Russell yrussell@dainferncollege.co.za
2013 St Stithians Girls’ College Christine Ashton cashton@stithian.com
2014 St Stithians Boys’ College Wendy Robb wrobb@stithian.com
Young Round Square Conferences
Year Host School Contact Person Name Contact Person Email
2012
St Cyprian’s School Dave Carr carrd@stcyprians.co.za
Cornwall Hill College Wendy Barrett w.barret@cornwall.co.za
2013 Penryn College Allison Hay allison@penryn.co.za
2014 Dainfern College & Fern Hill School Yvette Russell yrussell@dainferncollege.co.za
International Conferences
Year Host School Contact Person Name Contact Person Email
2012
Brookhouse School, Kenya Willie Nganga wnganga@brookhouse.ac.ke
Penryn College, South Africa Allison Hay allison@penryn.co.za
2013 St Andrews College, Florida USA
2014 Jordan and India
“Challenge by Choice”
Stanford Lake ‘DAD’ (Dream And Do) Centre
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Round Square Rep Duties at a School:
Produced by Brian Dawson, Executive Director
Please note that each member school is likely to have a slightly different specification.
The ‘Rep’ is responsible for the successful operation and implementation of the Round Square program at each
school. Areas of involvement may include the Exchange program, the Round Square Student
Council/Committee, developing structures to ensure there is substantial involvement by a diverse crosssection
of participants from across the school. The Rep provides guidance to the Junior Round Square and/or
Young Round Square program.
Major responsibilities:
To make the Round Square philosophy live within your school and raise the profile of RS in the school
To promote the IDEALS within the school environment
To liaise and communicate with Round Square International
To ensure that the school complies with the criteria for membership
To submit the annual self-review document on time
To develop and manage the Round Square budget
To coordinate an effective exchange program
To maintain relevant files, paperwork and publications for the Exchange program, such as an Exchange
Manual and/or Exchange Welcome Handbook for incoming students
To liaise with other Round Square representatives to foster communication, trust and a climate of
reciprocity with exchanges, projects and Round Square initiatives
To oversee the organisation and planning for attendance atRound Square Conferences
To facilitate and lead delegations to Round Square Conferences
To oversee the organisation and planning for hosting of Round Square Conferences
To mentor the Round Square student council/committee in the school
To facilitate fundraising for the Prince Alexander Projects Fund
To manage incoming and outgoing Round Square exchange students
To prepare students for international travel for conferences and exchanges, and debrief with returning
students about their experiences
To coordinate student participation in Round Square International Service Projects
To manage the selection of the (annual) school winner of the King Constantine Medal
To ensure a permanent and up-to-date bulletin/honour board reflecting winners of the Kurt Hahn Prize
and the King Constantine Medal
To attend Round Square Heads and Reps meetings
To develop and oversee the Junior Round Square program and the Young Round Square program
To coordinate teacher exchanges
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Round Square Regional Coordinator (Rep) Duties
The Regional Coordinator is elected based on the specific charter for that region. Each region may have a
different approach to the democratic election of this coordinator as long as it is clearly stated within the
charter. The coordinator should be an existing RS Rep of a member of school in that region but could also be an
honorary member with a large amount of experience, etc. The successful person will serve at least a one year
term in this role supporting the Regional Director, preferably from the February / March regional meeting to
the same time the following year.
Expectations of the Regional Rep (RC):
Mentoring and Support
The RC provides support to reps within the region. This ranges from mentoring reps of observer and new
member schools to sharing ideas or advice to reps about implementing programmes and preparing for
conferences, exchanges or RSIS projects, etc…
Induction, Inset and Professional Development
The RC is responsible for welcoming reps from new member schools at regional conferences and regional
meetings, making sure that they are ‘buddied’ and mentored through the new experience. The RC must also
look to create and offer valuable inset and professional development opportunities at regional conferences
and regional meetings to ensure that good practice is shared and celebrated amongst the reps.
Communication and Regionalisation
As the Round Square organisation continues to grow it is the responsibility of the RC to communicate
effectively with the Global Representative on the Board (and vice-versa) ensuring that key strategic items are
discussed and reviewed within regions. The RC is responsible for eliciting the opinions and responses of those
not attending split international conferences from a region, for agenda items in regional rikas and the
dispersion of the minutes after conferences and meetings. The RC will provide important feedback and
discussion points to the Global Rep that can then be taken to Board meetings or placed on an agenda at an
international conference rika. Minutes of all regional meetings involving reps must be taken by the RC and
sent to the Global Rep as part of the reps report to the Board.
Regional Director Support
The RC provides valuable admin support and advice for the Regional Director. This includes communication to
all member schools within the region, organising regional meetings and supporting regional conferences,
compiling reports and the assessments of schools, maintaining contact lists and databases, creating calendars
of events, organising teleconference meetings and ensuring that communication and collaboration is effective
within the region.
Website update
The RC collates information from reps in the region and regularly updates the regional section of the RS
website in liaison with the Executive Director and the Regional Director.
“To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that
respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela
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Young Round Square
The focus of Young Round Square (or YRS) is students in the age group 12 – 14 years.
Although other regions, such as the Americas, have been very active in YRS for several years, YRS in Africa was
only launched in 2012.
Preparatory/Primary School Heads and YRS reps were invited to join the Dainfern College Junior Round Square
Conference in February 2012 for the first two days in order to expose them to the elements of a conference.
They joined in activities, including the Service Projects in Diepsloot and on Sunday morning had a rika and
networking opportunity to discuss the way forward. Both hosts of the mini-YRS conferences presented
information on their programmes and activities.
Although student exchanges are not envisaged for this age group at this stage, school visits which include a
member of staff, joint tours and internet collaborations on projects are some of the activities that could assist
schools to network YRS across the globe.
YRS Conferences 2012
The first YRS Conference was held in March 2012 at St Cyprian’s School in Cape Town and was a great success
with the theme: “Lead the Ideals”.
Cornwall Hill College in Johannesburg hosts the second YRS Conference in July 2012 with the theme: “The
Power of One – Maatla A Bootee – Die Mag Van Een”.
YRS Conference 2013
Penryn College in Nelspruit, South Africa will host the 2013 YRS conference at a date to be communicated.
International YRS Conference 2014
In May 2014 the first INTERNATIONAL YRS Conference is planned at Camp Discovery – north of Pretoria. This
will be hosted as a collaborative effort between various stakeholders – Dainfern College(RSA), Fern Hill School
(Canada), Buzz Communications and Round Square Central - to provide an opportunity for interaction and
travel for younger Round Square delegates from around the globe.
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Young Round Square
Member Schools and Contact Details
Preparatory Schools: Young Round Square (Alphabetical)
School Staff member Email
Bridge House School
Franschhoek, RSA
Brookhouse School
Nairobi, Kenya
Dainfern College
Johannesburg, RSA
International Community School
Kumasi, Ghana
Penryn College
Nelspruit, RSA
St Cyprian’s School
Cape Town, RSA
St George’s Diocesan School
Windhoek, Namibia
St George’s Grammar School
Cape Town, RSA
Melvin King (Head)
Marc Barrow
Michelle Forsyth (Head)
Helen Bidali
Darrel Webb(Head)
Lauren Myburgh
Dr Charles Yeboah (Head)
Victoria Mensah
Neil Malherbe (Head)
Penny Andre
Tracy Laubscher (Head)
Ross Dallas
Dawie Leibbrandt (Head)
Anita Park
Dave Bester (Head)
Harold Erasmus
melkin@bridgehouse.org.za
marbar@bridgehouse.org.za
mforsyth@brookhouse.ac.ke
hbidali@brookhouse.ac.ke
dwebb@dainferncollege.co.za
lmyburgh@dainferncollege.co.za
cyeboah64@yahoo.com
awotwe2001@yahoo.com
prephm@penryn.co.za
penny@penryn.co.za
tlaubscher@stcyprians.co.za
dallasr@stcyprians.co.za
dl@stgeorgesnamibia.com
anita@geonamibia.com
dbester@sggs.co.za
ras@sggs.co.za
“There is NO Planet B!”
GENERATION EARTH
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Round Square Exchanges
Adapted from: http://www.roundsquare.org/index.php?id=449
[Downloaded: 2012/02/04]
The exchange program is limited to students attending Global or Regional Member schools.
This starts with an initial enquiry, either from another school or from one of your own students. The
quickest way to gain preliminary information is to engage with the proposed exchange school via the
membership list on the Round Square website.
The advantage of a Round Square exchange is that you will quickly get to know the Staff Reps at
reciprocal schools and this allows for direct and personal communication making it more likely that
an appropriate pairing can be made. It is assumed that the schools involved endorse the pupils as
suitable ambassadors for their school, for Round Square and for their country.
It is not unknown for boarding schools to take one way exchanges on the understanding that the
return exchange will occur at a later date.
The length of an exchange can vary considerably, from one month to one full term.
1. The student fills in an exchange form. The official Round Square Exchange Form can be
downloaded from the website.
2. Once the forms are completed and schools/regions selected, the process of communication
between the two schools starts. Initial enquiries (which are also often initiated at conferences)
about the feasibility of the exchange will require the faxing or emailing of forms.
3. At this stage it is probably best practice to work only through the Staff Rep though some schools
do work differently. Each school may also have its own requirements.
4. Once the exchange is confirmed, parents handle travel, insurance and visas (although as Rep you
will need to check that this is all in order). The Staff Rep is responsible for internal paperwork and
communication with the host school.
5. There may be a need for an acceptance of a Cultural Exchange letter, or written confirmation that
the student is involved in educational and cultural activity only.
6. For an exchange under three months, a tourist visa may be best – depending on the country.
7. Whilst the exchange is underway there should be open communication between parents and Staff
Reps. Email is easiest. Students often communicate via Facebook.
8. Whilst on exchange, students must expect to be subject to the rules of the host school. This will
apply to such matters as work ethic, behaviour, drinking and smoking etc. It is expected that
whilst on exchange, students will engage in some form of community service.
9. National exchanges operate on similar lines but are usually of a shorter duration.
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RSIS Projects
Every year, Round Square runs Service Projects for students, teachers and sometimes parents from
its global community. These Projects bring together participants from all over the world, to work as a
truly international team, providing much-needed assistance to disadvantaged communities.
In 2011, there are nine Projects in South Africa, Ladakh, Peru (all in July) and in December - Kenya,
India, Thailand (student/parent Project), two in Cambodia (one is an adult leader training Project)
and Honduras. In 2012, we anticipate running all these Projects again, and will be introducing a new
Project in Canada in July.
Through our global network, and Project partners overseas, we identify needy causes and
communities that need our help, and match the Round square IDEALS. We work with local people
and organisations to identify the most pressing needs. We purchase materials locally in order to
support local economies and local practices and all these materials are paid for out of the Prince
Alexander Project Fund. We work alongside local people, allowing them to take ownership and
supporting the progression towards self-sustenance, which we monitor and support as we return to
the site for three to five consecutive years. Our aim is to bring long-term benefit to communities, as
well as life-changing experiences to our participants.
Each project team is made up of an experienced adult Leadership Team and approximately 20 young
people (typically aged 16-19 years) from around the world. The service element of each trip usually
lasts for 2 to 3 weeks, and after the service element is finished, students then go on a cultural or
adventure tour to see more of the country they are in. Participants return to their school
communities with changed attitudes to life and often eager to apply what they have learned to their
local community.
"I went on a service project in India, and I learned my most valuable lesson from Diskit, a 17-year-old
Ladakhi resident who taught me Ladakhi singing and dancing [while I taught her the American
equivalents]. By the time we were beginning the Cotton-eye Joe and the Macarena, I realized that,
after two hours and despite not knowing each other’s languages and hardly being able to relate to
each other’s worlds, we were nothing more than two 17-year-old girls who loved learning to
dance. What I learned from her and Ladakh was not how different, but how alike we are." American
Student
“Madam, me and my parents are really grateful to you, for all the help that you provided me in
reaching and realizing the best moments of my life. This trip has really changed my view towards the
life and I have gained loads and loads of confidence from it. It has proved as a turning point in my
life. I will be always looking forward to contribute to my best to Round Square and maintain my
association with it. This RSIS project is the biggest achievement of my life so far and the best thing
that has happened to me. I have made friends for my life. My deep regards to you, from the bottom
of my heart. THANK YOU”.
Indian Student
Information on the Round Square website: http://www.roundsquare.org/index.php?id=79
Contact Liz Gray, RSIS Project Manager on projects@roundsquare.org
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Friends of Round Square (FoRS)
The Friends of Round Square has been established in several countries within
the five regions of Round Square around the world with the aim of providing
financial support to assist students who otherwise would be unable to be
involved in Round Square International Service (RSIS) projects and other
Round Square activities, initiatives and conferences.
Within Africa, we have a Friends of Round Square South Africa. When constituted in 2009 the
following Trustees were appointed:-
Anthony Haggie – Chair
Stephen Lowry
Anne van Zyl
Sue Redelinghuys
Brian Dawson – Executive Director, Round Square
Tessa Fairbairn
Wendy Kerr
Peter Habberton
Barry Hart
The Friends of Round Square South Africa Trust makes bursaries available on an annual basis to
support attendance at the regional conference. Reps are invited to apply for bursary assistance for
deserving students, using the relevant form (available from the African Regional Representative).
It is hoped that in the not too distant future other Friends of Round Square can be established in
countries around the African continent.
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Africa Conference Themes and Logos
International Conferences 2012:
“No Existence without Coexistence”
Brookhouse School:
Penryn College:
Junior Round Square 2012
“Inkululeko – Freedom”
Dainfern College:
Senior Round Square 2012
“Breaking Chains – Forging Links”
Bridge House School:
International Conference 2003
“Ubuntu” – St Cyprian’s and St Stithian’s Girls College
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Previous African Themes and Logos
Junior Conferences
Namibia 2011
Senior Conferences
Stanford Lake 2004
Stanford Lake 2006
Botswana 2008
Stanford Lake 2009
St George’s Grammar
St Stithian’s Girls
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