The Federation of British International Schools in Asia, known as FOBISIA, is a not-for-profit membership organisation aimed at supporting and promoting high quality education, with over 79 Member Schools across 18 countries and regions across Asia. As part of this incredible community, FOBISIA will both offer support to our school and facilitate inter-school enrichment events. Membership allows us to provide additional opportunities for students to become involved in academic competitions, student leadership conferences as well as taking part in performing arts and sports competitions.
By participating in these activities and events, we believe that RBIS students have greater opportunities whilst also improving their leadership skills.
Our first FOBISIA conference from February 1- 4, 2024 was a resounding success. Ten of our students, accompanied by two teachers, set forth to Penang, Malaysia to join 400+ of their peers at the 2024 FOBISIA Student Leadership Conference hosted by Prince of Wales Island International School (POWIIS). The trip was packed with back-to-back events, leadership and mentorship opportunities, new friendships, a talent showcase, and much more.
Arrival in Penang: An early morning start and a short flight later, we were in Penang. Energized by the beautiful backdrop of the Andaman Sea, the kids were more than ready to head to opening night. This was an informal mixer organized by POWIIS at a restaurant not far from our hotel. A musical evening and dinner allowed students to mingle and socialize with other delegates, which made them even more excited for Day 1 of the conference.
Conference Day 1: On the first official day of the conference, we made our way to POWIIS, where a full day of activities awaited us. Ms. Linda Cruse, founder and CEO of Race4Good was among the speakers that morning. Students were assigned to diverse teams with other FOBISIA students, where each group was tasked with creating a presentation. These presentations were centered on a Race 4 Good project based on climate change in the Arctic region. Guided by their mentors, students showcased a range of skills such as budgeting, marketing, branding, leadership, and more. These were then presented to Ms. Cruse who works closely with people affected by these events. A long day’s hard work paid off, as our students did some of their best work and created some outstanding presentations.
Conference Day 2: Another exciting day which started with a delicious (and very early!) breakfast at our hotel. We then made our way to POWIIS again, where students attended several interactive sessions led by inspiring youth leaders from around the world including Balinese climate activist Melati Wijsen, Malaysian speaker and entrepreneur Michael Teoh, and Malaysian social rights advocate Heidy Quah. Following these inspirational sessions, our day took an even more meaningful turn as we headed to the beach to participate in a clean-up activity as part of community service. This was followed by a quick pit stop at the hotel to get dressed for the gala. The evening was a great success - lots of pictures, lots of laughs, and joining their new friends on stage to showcase their singing and musical chops. An exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable day!
Conference Day 3: Last day in Penang
This was the last day of our conference (and the trip). Even though we left for the airport at midday, students got the chance to attend some more workshops, including beatboxing and public speaking. Our thanks to POWIIS for hosting us and to all the amazing youth leaders who shared their insights. If this conference is anything to go by, our students are sure to have many more exciting opportunities yet to come.
