Page 12 - DAIS - HOPE NEWSLETTER

ALUMNI PANEL TEACHER PANEL

The IB Festival of Hope at Dhribhai Ambani International School was a remarkable event that brought
together students, alumni, and special guests to celebrate the power of hope and technology in
education. The highlight of the event was the DAIS Alumni Panel, which featured accomplished individuals
who have made their mark in various fields.
The Alumni Panel included Om Dhumatkar, the Head Boy of the first graduating DAIS IB Class of 2005,
who is now a senior banker based in London. Sukriti Y.J., of DAIS IB Class of 2008, shared her journey as a
writer, screenwriter, and researcher. Ranveer Allahbadia, a well-known YouTuber, influencer, and
entrepreneur, represented DAIS ICSE Class of 2009. Ushma Ghatlia Marwah, a corporate lawyer based in
Mumbai, shared her experiences as a graduate of DAIS IB Class of 2008.

A striking feature of the Festival of Hope event was a panel discussion led by Aryan Kaushal,
a student from DAIS. This panel featured four esteemed educators from different schools in India -
Ms. Mahera Goel, Head of Early and Elementary School at Fazlani L'Academie; Ms. Koel Ray, Senior School
Principal at The Aga Khan Academy; Ms. Nisha Kaul, Principal at Strawberry Fields High School; and
Mr. Bipul Pande, Assistant Head of Sciences at DAIS.

The session was led by the distinguished IB Director General, Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen. He kicked off the
discussion by asking the alumni about one scene they would include in a film that changed their lives. This
thought-provoking question set the tone for the engaging conversation that followed.
Throughout the session, Mr. Heinonen asked insightful questions that prompted the alumni to reflect on
the value of hope and the role of technology in shaping their educational experiences. The alumni shared
their perspectives on how technology has transformed education and instilled hope for the future. Aryan posed a question to each panelist, focusing on the role of technology in promoting diversity,
inclusion, and equity. He asked Ms. Goel about the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on technology's
ability to foster collaboration, communication, and connection among students from diverse
backgrounds. Ms. Ray was asked about leveraging social media and online platforms to promote
inclusivity, empathy, and understanding, including addressing the issue of cyberbullying. Ms. Kaul shared
examples of successful initiatives and programmes that have used technology to drive inclusion, equity,
and diversity in education. Mr. Pande addressed the challenges of incorporating technology for inclusion
and diversity, and suggested ways to overcome them.
Throughout the panel discussion, the educators provided insightful responses, drawing from their
experiences and sharing examples of how technology has been utilized to promote unity, equity, and hope.
The panellists emphasized the significance of events like the Festival of Hope in showcasing how
technology can promote hope, diversity, inclusion, and equity.