Inspiration From Our Academy in India

Claire IJsbrandij, Video Production Associate Manager in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Communications and Branding team, visited the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad as part of a video production shoot at IB World Schools in India. The trip gave her a unique opportunity to witness the impact of IB programmes in action and capture it on film. Here, she shares some highlights.

As always, visiting IB World Schools reignited my belief in what the IB does and why I want to be a part of this organization. The cameraman and I were warmly welcomed at Sreenidhi International School, Oakridge International School and the Aga Khan Academy, all situated in and around Hyderabad  – the location of the IB Asia Pacific Regional Conference. 

Over the course of the shoot, I interviewed around 30 students, as well as teachers, parents, and heads. The students were all bursting to tell me about their actions and aspirations for making the world a better place. These engaged and articulate young people are already making a difference, and they continually credit the IB programmes for empowering them to do so. Hearing them speak, it’s obvious that they are receiving a different kind of education. They are analytic, creative, critical and active – they are “do’ers”. The IB Learner Profile attributes are alive in all of them. I was in awe of their motivation and confidence.

A highlight was joining a group of Middle Years Programme (MYP) students from the Aga Khan Academy during their “service in action” activity. 60% of the Aga Khan Academy students are on scholarships and want to give back to the community they came from – often deprived ones. Every two weeks they travel to a local government school, a dilapidated building filled with children whose frowns turned to smiles when we arrived. The MYP students had planned activities, songs, a play, painting, and origami.

The principal told me his pupils come from very poor households and that it was hard to run a school with so many kids and so few resources. But he smiled and told me about the positive impact that the IB students have on the lives of his pupils who jumped and laughed and climbed around me, dishing out high fives. They were excited to sing me songs and tell me the English they’d learned.

On camera, the older students told me about initiatives they’d started—fundraisers and book drives—and how they are helping these kids realize that education is their ticket to a better future.

All the footage captured during my trip will be used in several films which explore an IB education in an Indian context. It was my most humbling and inspiring video shoot to date.