The Festival of Hope celebrated the power of an inspiring young community in India

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More than 100 schools from across India joined the IB's Festival of Hope to celebrate the power of hope inspiring and creating an impact for a better world.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) hosted the Festival of Hope in New Delhi and Mumbai, bringing together students from over 100 Indian schools to engage young minds in impactful dialogues. Delivered in collaboration with Pathways World School in Gurgaon and Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) in Mumbai, both events unveiled a combination of in-person workshops and exhibitions, fostering a supportive space for students to express their views and share ideas.

“The Festival of Hope started with the vision to support impactful ideas and conversations that translate to positive action. The exhibits by the students in New Delhi and Mumbai have proven to be powerful testimonials of this vision. What we have experienced over the last few days was truly phenomenal and has strengthened our conviction in the potential of the students, and in the IB curriculum.” — Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the IB

The first day of the event held in Delhi represented a captivating journey that left a lasting impact on all the attendees. The "Hope Path Dialogues" featuring Anoushka Jolly, a 13-year-old anti-bullying app developer, and Deepak Ramola, TED speaker and UN Action Plan Executor, sparked meaningful conversations and ignited a sense of hope among the young participants. Project FUEL's interactive performances provided transformative learning experiences, sharing valuable life lessons from around the world. The event also witnessed thought-provoking panel discussions on climate change, justice, equity, identity, belonging, and spiritual well-being.

Inspiring audiences to adopt a fresh perspective and influence change, the Exhibition of Hope showcased incredible creative expressions and service initiatives. The Open Mic by Letters to Strangers shared powerful personal stories, fostering empathy, and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health.

The second event kicked off in Mumbai with a cultural programme by Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) students. Following this, an alumni session with IB Director General- Oli Pekka Heinonen delved into the power of hope as a key driver of opportunity. The event offered a diverse range of activities and presentations, and welcomed revered speakers such as Ms. Isha Ambani Piramal, an Indian businesswoman and Vice Chairperson of Dhirubhai Ambani International School. Insightful roundtable discussions around the power of technology in inclusive and scalable education brought teachers, educators, and academicians together.

“At the IB, we want to keep empowering learners to thrive and make a difference. The Festival of Hope in India has validated our belief that youth have the vision, compassion and entrepreneurial spirit to make positive impact. Bright minds from more than 100 schools convened to show that Hope is the fulcrum for a better future. We are overwhelmed with the participation in India, and we plan to leverage bigger platforms for the youth in the country as they become agents of change.” — Nicole Bien, Chief Schools Officer, International Baccalaureate

The IB’s Festival of Hope has previously been celebrated in the UK and the US and has brought hundreds of people together virtually by hosting interviews, workshops and opportunities for action. Bringing together spiritual leaders, artists, technologists, youth leaders, environmentalists, mental health experts and other young changemakers, the sessions are aimed towards inspiring attendees and initiating a scalable discourse on the youth’s power to create an impact for a better tomorrow.

During the Festival, the IB and Haryana School Education Board signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of Education Minister, Kanwar Pal Gurjar. The MoU will ensure that teachers have access to international-level training from the IB, which will improve the level of teaching as well as provide quality education.