Global Jaya School welcomed over 200 students from across the city to take part in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Festival of Hope on 11 and 12 April 2025. This initiative encourages young people to engage in meaningful dialogue, consider complex global challenges, and develop actions that create positive change within their communities.
The festival, themed “Igniting Hope, Creating Impact,” offered students a platform to explore the role of hope in addressing today’s pressing issues, ranging from digital wellbeing to resilience in adversity. Through a series of workshops, performances, and student-led discussions, participants were invited to reflect critically and creatively on the world they are growing into.
The opening ceremony featured performances by Year 6 students and speeches from the Minister of Youth and Sport, Dido Ariotedjo, and Global Jaya School’s Head of School, Howard Menand. Their messages focused on the importance of student agency and the power of hope in shaping future solutions.
Throughout the weekend, students worked in groups to develop “Hope Goals,” linked to themes such as Hope in a Digital Society, Hope in Adversity, and Hope in Wellbeing. A “How to Hope” workshop provided tools and discussion frameworks to guide students in transforming their ideas into practical, community-focused actions.
Interactive elements such as a cultural bazaar, sports tournaments, and live music performances complemented the reflective sessions, helping to foster connection and collaboration among participants. The festival culminated in student-led presentations of their SDG-aligned Hope Action Statements, followed by a closing performance by Year 11 students.
Speaking about the event, Howard Menand remarked, “Hosting the Festival of Hope at Global Jaya makes me hopeful for the future. Our students demonstrate agency, innovation, passion for social justice, and an awareness about the needs of our world.”
While the tone of the festival remained optimistic, its focus on inquiry, reflection, and action underscored the complexity of the challenges ahead. For many of the students involved, the weekend served as a chance not only to share ideas, but also to take first steps towards creating tangible impact in their communities.
Global Jaya School
Emerald Boulevard, Bintaro Jaya Sektor 9, Tangerang
+62 21 7457 7567
globaljaya.com
