A Journey of Leadership and Growth at the Round Square International Conference in Colombia

This past September, the vibrant city of Bogotá, Colombia, hosts the annual Round Square International Conference, bringing together young leaders from across the globe. Our students accompanied by Mrs Gretchen Maruggi, Director of Round Square are currently in Colombia and have had the most amazing trip thus far.

The conference is co-hosted by four Round Square schools, namely Colegio Anglo Colombiano, Colegio Gran Bretana, Colegio Los Nogales and the English School. The theme for this year, “Blooming from the Past,” invites delegates to reflect on their roots, learn from history, and unite towards growth for the future.

Before the conference, they joined our Girls' College and other South African and European Round Square schools for an unforgettable Pre-Conference Tour. The tour took them into the Amazon rainforest, where our students spent four incredible days immersed in the culture and traditions of the local people. The group hiked through dense forests, marveled at ancient rock formations, explored caves, and even swam alongside the elusive pink river dolphins.

After the Amazon adventure, our delegation flew into Bogotá, where they joined nearly 1000 other delegates at Colegio Los Nogales for the official start of the Round Square Conference. Delegates were divided into Baraza groups designed to spark rich conversations and build cross-cultural understanding.

From Bogotá, the conference journey took a scenic turn, as the delegates embarked on a four-hour bus ride to Villa de Leyva, a quaint village nestled at 2,149 meters above sea level in the mountain’s northeast of Bogotá. Here, students immersed themselves in hands-on community service, spending the day planting seedlings and trees in the National Park.

The conference has also been a platform for thought-provoking keynote addresses, which have stirred deep reflection among the delegates. These talks have sparked lively discussions in Baraza group meetings, as students grapple with global challenges and share their diverse perspectives. 

#One4AllAll4One #InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #PassionDriven #HappyFulfilment #PurposeInspired