HYDERABAD: On arriving at the Biju Patnaik airport on January 25 evening at Bhubaneswar, we were brought to the venue of the British Council Global Citizen Summit-2012, Sai International School, which was scheduled from January 26 to 29.The summit started with a Flag hoisting ceremony on the occasion of our Republic Day. The opening ceremony was inaugurated by the Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik and was followed by the Gotipua dance, which was a mesmerizing experience for all of us. Next day we assembled at our chosen activity centre in the morning. There was a list of 12 modules to choose from which was really interesting and exciting. First module was 'Communication and Presentation Skills' conducted by Alen Mckinsey who had come down from the council's head quarters at London. I had a great experience and learned the nuances of public speaking and presentation skills. The session also helped me overcome my stage fright and also develop my communication skills. It was followed by a lecture by Subrato Bagchi, who gave an inspirational speech on overcoming our limitations and excelling in our areas of interest. We were then put through a Youth Leadership conducted by Alison Willmott, who gave a lecture on the qualities of a young global citizen and enlightened us about the responsibilities of the younger generation in building a better future. The evening bonfire and banquet was an occasion for us to interact with fellow global citizens and to witness a variety of entertainment by the participants who came from different parts of our country. This was also an occasion to watch our teachers dancing to the latest Bollywood tunes.Another module we sat through was the 'Forum Theatre' conducted by Sanjoy Ganguly who spoke about acting skills. HEMC Bhandare, the Governor of Orissa also addressed us, wherein he stressed upon the qualities and responsibilities of being a young citizen. An award distribution and valedictory function concluded the event. Our school bagged two awards for maximum collection of waste paper and the cleanest day drive activities.Our visit to the Konark Sun Temple in the evening was a breathtaking experience where we saw sand sculptures. Different sculptures made by various artists showcased our rich tradition, culture and also highlighted current themes and issues.Meenakshi Menon is a class VIII at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School
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