School Achievements

DAIS IB
Predicted score 42/42

DAIS IGCSE TOPPER
ACHIEVED 9 A*'S

Given to students who demonstrate leadership, digital citizenship, empathy, and collaboration

DAIS
House Sports Captain

Congratulations to Varun Bakshi, a DAIS IBDP student, whose essay “Pay it Forward” has been selected for the 2024 Global Empathy Conference in Prague! Varun’s inspiring narrative on empathy, inspired by his experiences at India’s largest garbage dumping ground, highlights the transformative power of compassion. #Empathy #GlobalConference #InspiringEssays

Varun Bakshi won first place at the Public Policy Challenge at the John Locke Institute summer program at Princeton University. He was also a finalist in the John Locke Essay Competition. Congratulations for this excellent achievement!

FIRST PLACE IN THE IB LEAGUE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETITION 2023 IN JAIPUR

Securing first place at the IB League Entrepreneurship Competition in Jaipur, India, marked a defining moment in my journey, reflecting my dedication and perseverance. Driven by a mission to forge a safer, more equitable world, my team and I dedicated countless hours to developing a potential device that could enhance women's safety in public transport. Under the guidance of my business teacher, we relentlessly refined our concept and presentation, often working through the night and making continuous improvements up until the final moments before our presentation. Our hard work and unwavering commitment paid off when we had the honour of presenting our innovation to Shark Tank Judge Namita Thapar, who recognised our efforts and the impact of our work by awarding us first place—a victory for our team, led by persistence and passion.

Team leader for DAIS at the World Economics Cup: Secured National 3rd Ranking (all across India)

Tutor's Award 2023-2024
(Recognition of efforts to provide support to teachers, cultivate a friendly environment for new students, and display exemplary leadership qualities)

Basketball: 1st place at the Ecole Mondiale U19 Basketball Tournament and Team won Under-19 HFS LIGA basketball tournament

Son Rise - Film to a Global Movement
(Involved in Weber Shandwick project to screen the National Award-winning documentary "Son Rise," which seeks to engage men and boys in the movement for women's equality and safety.)

Intern at PRS Legislative Research, India's foremost parliamentary research institute, during India's parliament session. assisted in non-partisan research, analyzing bills, and preparing explanations for members of parliament and state legislators.

Varun Bakshi has been awarded the prestigious Round Square King Constantine Medal for his sustained work on gender equality, empowering girls, and engaging boys as allies in creating a safer and more equitable world.

Varun’s Journey as a Male Ally for Gender Equality Published on the Official Round Website (in recognition of his Round Square King Constantine Medal):

Bridging Perspectives: My Journey for Change

Projects

As a Gender Rights Activist, I work closely with Mr. Sunil Jaglan, a Presidential Awardee whose work on gender equality has been recognized by Prime Minister Modi. Under his mentorship, I have worked across more than 40 villages in India, including communities in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, where gender inequality and women’s safety remain serious concerns.

Our work is often rooted in simple ideas that can change how families think about gender. We have helped establish girls-only libraries, distributed period charts that encourage men in the household to better understand and support girls during menstruation, and installed women’s nameplates outside homes as a symbol of recognition and shared ownership. We have also visited government and private schools in rural communities, speaking directly with students about gender inequality, women’s safety, and the attitudes that shape both.

One of the most meaningful parts of this work was being invited to speak to around 100 students in Grades 11 and 12 at a Senior Secondary School in Jind, Haryana.

Lado Pustakalya: Libraries for Empowerment

A campaign dedicated to building libraries in villages, providing girls with the resources and opportunities to continue their education, pursue higher studies, and prepare for competitive exams. By fostering a culture of learning, Lado Pustakalya empowers young girls to break barriers and strive for a brighter future.

Breaking Barriers: Promoting Equality and Women's Safety in Schools

I was honoured to serve as the Guest of Honour at the Supreme Secondary School in Jind, where I addressed over 50 students from grades 11 and 12 and discussed cultural taboos that perpetuate inequality and address important issues surrounding women’s safety.

Period Chart Campaign: Breaking the Menstruation Taboo

This campaign introduced period charts displayed on the walls of girls' homes, encouraging open conversations about menstrual health. By normalizing the discussion and addressing the stigma surrounding menstruation, the initiative empowers girls to take control of their health while challenging deep-rooted taboos in society.

Beti Hui Hai: Celebrating the Girl Child

With the simple yet powerful words "Beti Hui Hai" (A Girl Child is Born), this initiative spreads the message of equality, urging rural government leaders to celebrate the birth of girls. Through meaningful discussions and meetings with the village leaders of Kanwari, Hisar, it challenges traditional biases and seeks to inspire communities to value and empower every girl child, fostering a culture of acceptance and opportunity.

Nameplates of Equality: Recognizing Women in Their Households

During a session held in one of the villages in Haryana, I worked with families to install nameplates bearing women’s names outside their homes. These nameplates symbolized joint ownership and sought to challenge traditional norms that often prioritized male recognition in households. This initiative not only created visible symbols of equality but also encouraged families to take pride in empowering the women in their homes.

Addressing Women’s Safety and Gender Injustice with Aseema NGO:

Conducted a session with 9th and 10th graders from the Aseema NGO in Mumbai, focusing on women’s safety and gender injustice. I have been actively involved with this NGO for two years, including one year as part of my CAS service work for the IB program.

Media coverage

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about my mentor

Sunil Jaglan is a social activist and founder of the 'Selfie With Daughter Foundation,' focusing on women's rights and empowerment, particularly in rural India. He developed a successful village development model as the Sarpanch of Bibipur Panchayat, which was adopted by the Haryana government and included in the CBSE class 8 curriculum. Jaglan's work has earned recognition from national and international organizations, with praise from India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on his talk show Mann Ki Baat. He is also the author of the book Lado Rights.

SUNIL JAGLAN NOW PART OF THE INDIAN SCHOOL CURRICULUM REACHING 10 MILLION STUDENTS IN INDIA