What if a kid could feel at home pretty much anywhere? We do not mean racking up passport stamps or snapping photos in front of famous buildings, but actually getting people, how someone halfway across the world thinks, what keeps them up at night, what makes them laugh.
There are more than 8 billion of us now, and the children growing up today are tangled up in each other's lives in ways their grandparents never were. They make friends over online games, sit beside classmates whose families came from somewhere far away, and read news from countries they've never visited before they've even finished breakfast.
This is the kind of outlook nurtured in one of the best schools in Bangalore, Goldenbee Global School in BTM Layout. Good academics matter, of course, but Goldenbee pairs them with real-life problem-solving and cross-cultural collaborations.
But how do you actually get there? How does a curious 6-year-old become someone who genuinely belongs to the wider world? Read on to find out!
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Who/ What is a Global Citizen?
The term global citizen simply refers to someone who is a citizen transcending geographical boundaries. That is, a person who understands the workings of the wider world and is able to equip himself with information about it, while also reaching a wider population. In simple terms, a global citizen is a citizen of the world.
The UN defines global citizenship as “the umbrella term for social, political, environmental, and economic actions of globally minded individuals and communities on a worldwide scale.” It simply refers to engaging oneself with matters that concern the global population at large, engaging with different cultures and identities and being able to contribute towards easing their struggles.
What Makes a Global Citizen?
Needless to say, there are certain attributes that make it fit for a person to be called a ‘global citizen’. Here is what being a global citizen entails:
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: The two must-have qualities in a global citizen, critical thinking and problem-solving help one to come up with solutions effectively. One must be able to reason, both inductively and deductively, in order to come up with efficient solutions to issues that might otherwise seem unsolvable at first glance.
- Collaborative Sentiment: A global citizen should possess the ability to make themselves one with the community. They should be able to develop a sense of belonging to the community at large, while also willing to collaborate with people from different backgrounds in and for different contexts.
- Skilled at Technology: The 21st century runs at the mercy of technology, almost every step of the way. A survey has revealed that 86% of teachers believe that a better understanding of technology is crucial for a global citizen. A global citizen must also be able to use technology and social media to enhance their understanding of the world and employ the same as effective strategies.
- Cross-Cultural Adaptability: A global citizen is a citizen of the world. Thus, a global citizen must be aware of the wider world at large. They should be able to adapt well to different cultures and backgrounds. Even studies have shown that 94% of millennials believe that having information about other cultures is a crucial attribute for a global citizen to have.
How to make Children into Global Citizens?
Children are the future of a nation or the world at large. It is at the ripe age of childhood that they need to inculcate essential skills and qualities that will help them later in life.
Furthermore, students, during childhood, can be moulded into responsible future global citizens if offered the right encouragement and some help. Here are some tips to shape children into global citizens-
- Discuss Global Issues: To be a global citizen, it is essential to know about the global issues that are currently wreaking havoc. Such issues should be discussed in the classroom, while also encouraging students to research the same and come up with possible explanations or solutions in the form of a classroom activity.
- Encourage Cultural Curiosity: Children are curious by nature. Given the number of different cultures that we have contact with or at least hear about, children are bound to be curious about them as well. Cater to this curiosity, encourage them to explore other cultures and learn more about them, about their varying customs, beliefs and practices.
- Imbibe Critical Thinking: Critical thinking is, hands-down, one of the most crucial assets for a global citizen to have. Even in terms of other daily activities, inculcating critical thinking and problem-solving skills can help children in several ways. Such skills can be imbibed by exposing them to environments that require the use of these skills, like a puzzle activity or a series of riddling games.
- Nurture Humanity: Nurturing humanity is essential for a person to imbibe feelings of empathy and inclusivity- feelings crucial in a global citizen. Children should be encouraged to be compassionate, starting from their classmates to those who help them, people they know and even people they don’t. Collaborative activities should be organised to help them realise that humanity is the most primal instinct for one to possess.
Check Out | Learning Through Culture: Building Bonds and Broadening Perspectives
Goldenbee Global School, BTM Layout: Shaping Students into Global Citizens
Goldenbee Global School in BTM Layout runs on a simple but ambitious belief, captured in its motto, "I Am Possible," that every child can grow into a capable, confident person who feels at home in a wide and connected world. The school maintains a 14:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for individual attention and learning at each student's own pace. Academics are delivered through smart classrooms, fully equipped audio-visual rooms, and well-equipped physics, chemistry, and biology labs.
GoldenBee uses a STREAM methodology, integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, along with AI, coding, design thinking, and entrepreneurship. The academic program is designed to build strong foundations while developing curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
A key part of the school's offering is its G-Embark programme, which focuses on experiential learning, global exposure, and holistic development beyond the classroom. It spans six areas:
- STEM & Robotics: Practical, hands-on work across the sciences, technology, engineering, and maths, backed by modern robotics labs.
- Experiential Learning: Learning rooted in real situations through field visits, projects, and tasks that ask students to solve actual problems.
- Global Programmes: Opportunities to engage internationally via student exchanges, Model United Nations, and partnerships that bring different cultures together.
- Leadership Development: Avenues such as the student council, community service, and dedicated workshops that help young people grow into confident leaders.
- Creative Arts: Theatre, visual art, music, and dance that give students room to be creative and find their own voice.
- Life Skills: Practical grounding in areas like mindfulness, managing emotions, handling money, and communicating well.
One of the best ICSE schools in Bangalore, GBG offers co-curricular activities including dance, music, art, theatre, and public speaking, as well as sports such as swimming, taekwondo, gymnastics, and skating. The school also provides nutritious meals through its canteen, GPS-enabled transport with trained attendants, daycare facilities, and inclusive support for students with special needs.
For more information on this and other boarding schools, check out this list of the best schools in Bangalore.
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