This fall, Fountain Valley – the only Round Square partner school in Colorado – sent a delegation of five students and two faculty to Bogotá, Colombia for an International Conference centered on reflecting on one’s roots, learning from the past, and paving the path toward a better future.
FVS is among approximately 250 schools across more than 50 countries and territories – just one of only seven schools in the western United States – to partner with the Round Square network, which facilitates annual student and faculty exchanges, service projects, and global conferences abroad. Since 2013, FVS students and faculty have benefitted from this unique opportunity to engage in life-changing experiences aimed at fostering global citizenship and cross-cultural understanding.
Last month, Fountain Valley seniors Lily C., Maddie S., Tyler S.N., Braulio V., and Somtso M. – along with FVS Round Square Director Simon Walker and Dean of Academics Dorothy Strehl – attended the Round Square International Conference in Bogotá. Joined by individuals from around the globe, students dove headfirst into service-learning projects in the northern Andes, helping to construct earthquake-resistant chicken huts, restore soil, and plant trees.
For day student Maddie, this fall marked her third interaction with the Round Square program, having also participated in a student exchange in Bermuda in 2023 and completed service work in Thailand in July of 2024. “It changes people’s lives and you really appreciate every opportunity,” she said. “I’m beyond happy that I have taken part.”
Beyond service projects, the International Conference broadened participants’ perspectives through opportunities for cultural immersion and meaningful discussions on global issues such as gender inequality. Following a keynote from prominent Colombian human rights advocate and politician Juanita Goebertus, students representing a variety of countries broke into groups to share their unique points of view. “My group had a really good discussion [wherein] everybody participated, which I think is unusual in a topic like that,” Somtso, an international FVS boarding student, shared. “It proves we’re all the same even if we come from totally different places.”
Tyler agreed, “As a global citizen, it's important to accept others with open arms because we aren’t really all that different.”
Equally as important as networking among students were the connections made between like-minded Round Square peer schools. For FVS, this included talks of future collaborations with MLC School in Australia and Spanish-language schools throughout Bogotá, to name a few, as well as continued partnership with Markham College in Lima, Peru.
“My student exchange in Lima was a transformative journey I will cherish forever,” said Braulio. “This exchange program not only allowed me to improve my Spanish-speaking skills. It also provided me with a broader perspective on the world. The warmth of my host family, the exposure to a new lifestyle and culture, and the eye-opening lessons about social issues have left an incredible mark on my life.”
Fountain Valley School’s engagement with Round Square continues to enrich the lives of students and faculty alike, empowering them to become thoughtful, engaged global citizens. As with each new Round Square experience, FVS’s International Conference delegation returned to Colorado Springs, Colo., with new ideas and a broader understanding of global issues. And, the group looks forward to sharing its newfound knowledge with the entire school community at events this academic year.