RSIC 2026
The Round Square International Conference (RSIC) 2026, hosted by Barker College, Sydney, Australia, from 28 September to 3rd October 2026, brought together students from across the world for five intensive days of adventure, service, environmental action, cultural exchange and leadership. Centred on the theme “Visions of the Future from an Ancient Land,” the conference challenged delegates to move beyond discussion and experience the Round Square IDEALS through demanding collaborative tasks, service projects and sustained intercultural engagement.Modern School, Barakhamba Road delegation comprised Amaira Jain (S7I), Nandini Khanna (S7I), Moksha Dhian Kochhar (S7J), Angad Atharv Suri (S7C), Vyan Aggarwal (S7F), and Aryaveer Singh (S7J) and the Round Square Co-ordinator Ms Shalini Dahiya.
From the outset, delegates were divided into four streams — Dharug, Darkinjung, Wonnarua and Yolngu — and further into Baraza groups that became their teams for discussions, challenges and reflections throughout the conference. This structure placed students alongside peers from different nationalities and backgrounds, requiring them to communicate, collaborate and adapt constantly over the course of the week.
The conference began with the “Australian Fair”, an introduction to Australian culture and the Barker community. Following traditional Australian experiences and an Australian Stockman presentation, delegates were immediately put to the test through the Great Barker Race, an energetic team challenge designed to familiarise them with the campus while encouraging quick thinking, cooperation and trust among newly formed groups.
The next day, themed “Australian Story,” formally opened the conference. The Opening Ceremony was followed by keynote addresses from Benson Saulo and former international cricketer Lisa Sthalekar, as well as a panel discussion that invited delegates to engage with questions of leadership, identity and the responsibilities of young people in an interconnected world. International activities, team-building exercises and Baraza reflections ensured that the ideas raised on stage continued into smaller and more personal conversations among students.
Perhaps the most physically and intellectually demanding part of the conference came during the two-day Australian Experience, when the streams rotated between Adventure, Service and Environment programmes so that every delegate participated in both major experiences.
For the Urban Challenge, delegates spent an entire day navigating Sydney in teams, completing a series of tasks and challenges across the city. Their route took them through landmarks including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, Barangaroo and Chinatown, combining navigation, problem-solving and teamwork with an immersive exploration of Sydney. Far from a conventional sightseeing excursion, the challenge required students to work independently within unfamiliar surroundings, manage time effectively and rely on one another to complete the programme successfully.
The complementary Service and Environment programme placed delegates directly into community-oriented work. Students contributed to the Anglicare Project, sorting clothes for redistribution, and participated in environmental work at Hornsby Park Quarry. The programme culminated in cultural performances, allowing participating schools to share elements of their traditions while experiencing those of others. The rotation between the Urban Challenge and these service initiatives ensured that every delegate experienced the conference not merely as an international gathering, but as an opportunity to translate the Round Square values of service and environmental stewardship into tangible action.
Throughout the week, Baraza discussions and reflections gave delegates space to exchange perspectives, reflect on their experiences and build meaningful connections across cultures. The conference concluded with a keynote and Q&A by Samantha Gash, Baraza talent performances, the Closing Ceremony and a traditional Australian Bush Dance.
The scale and intensity of RSIC 2026 were reflected in its remarkable collective achievements: across 4 streams, 30 countries, 60 Baraza groups and 153 schools, delegates together covered 75 million steps, contributed 2,400 hours of service, planted 1,700 trees, completed 1,144 city challenges, crossed the Sydney Harbour Bridge 54 times, and shared approximately 30,000 meals over the course of the conference.
