LEADERSHIP

Siddharth Singh, Vice-Chairperson

Siddharth Singh is the Vice-Chair, AFS India Board. He is the Director of The Emerald Heights International School, Indore. Siddharth completed his education from the Stony Brook University, United States He was selected by Education

World magazine as one of the “Young Shining Stars of Indian Education” in 2017 and was felicitated at the ASMA India’s ‘Top 40 Under 40 Awards 2021’ for his contribution in the field of education.

Question 1: What are the main challenges you have encountered throughout your very diverse career, especially in relation to advancing global citizenship?

Global Citizenship refers to the belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, society despite belonging to one. Promoting global citizenship in sustainable development allows us to embrace our social responsibility to act for the benefit of all societies, not just our own. I have as such not faced many challenges in advancing Global Citizenship at my school, as our students and their parents have been very accepting & ready to explore.

Question 2: How should education systems keep evolving around the world? What new trends are you seeing in global citizenship education (GCED)?

The education system around the world should follow the pillars of Global Citizenship Education. The students should be aware about the three domains of learning – cognitive, socio-emotional, behavioral The new trends in the GCED are putting emphasis on pro-social values and behavior which may be intergroup empathy, valuing diversity, social justice, environmental sustainability and responsibility to act.

Question 3: AFS convenes stakeholders across sectors to advocate for global citizenship education and include global competence as a core 21st century skill. What should AFS India focus on to advance this movement in the coming years?

AFS should offer more opportunities of inter-cultural learning study abroad programs. This will help them in acquisition of knowledge and skills that support the ability of learners to both understand culture and interact with people from other cultures.

Question 4: AFS India planned to host an AFS Network meeting in October 2023 at New Delhi where various AFS Partners from across the world would be participating. How do you think AFS India can leverage this opportunity to further AFS mission in India?

AFS should leverage this opportunity by showcasing the diverse India culture to various AFS partners. This will help us in promoting India as a host country destinations for study abroad programs. The local volunteers and schools should be invited to interact and explain the basic challenges faced by them at grass root level. The guests can be shown a few more different parts of the country to overcome any apprehensions, if they have about India.

Sonal and Bankim Mehta, AFS Chapter - Vadodara

It was August 2008 when we attended our first ever volunteer meeting at Baroda and were instantly inspired to become volunteers at the AFS Chapter in Vadodara. Time has flown since then…

AFS has given both of us so much that we can write a whole book on it. Apart from being volunteers, we are proud sending and hosting parents We have also been to different countries under volunteer exchange programs, taken many trainings and attended workshops.

Apart from being the active life-time volunteers, we both have worked as office bearers at our chapter. Sonal has been working as Hosting Coordinator for many years and I had been contributing as Finance Coordinator for years and currently as the Chapter President for last one year.

We have won many awards like best volunteer, best host family and best finance coordinator. The AFS impact in our life is immense and ongoing as we are very lucky to have 10+ Sons & Daughters which makes us a very big family globally and in true sense we can say ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ as we have extended family in various countries through AFS.

We are in touch with many students who were hosted in our home and in our AFS Chapter. And when they express their wish to visit us again that adds joy to our life. The bonds and relations that we build are for lifetime. We tell people to experience it for the new bonds, new learnings, sharing of cultures. This way one can create peace in the world.

Mehta Family’s Hosting Journey…