Q&A with Madeleine Roberts and Lillian Spralja, Year 12, on Their Unforgettable Experience

What is Round Square International Service (RSIS)

Round Square International Service (RSIS) is a global initiative under the Round Square network, which connects schools like TAS worldwide to promote experiential learning, leadership, and service opportunities.

RSIS organises international service projects that bring together students from Roud Square member schools to work on meaningful community projects in different parts of the world that focus on key features like:

• Global Collaboration
• Sustainable community development, including education, health, infrastructure, and environmental conservation.
• Real-world leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
• Adventure & Cultural Exchange
• IDEALS Framework: Activities align with Round Square’s six IDEALS—Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service.

What was the 2024 RSIS project?

Lillian: The 2024 RSIS project started off in the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, in the first day was used for sightseeing the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology. We then traveled by bus for approximately five hours to the community near Mai Chau in which we were welcomed into the locals’ homes to live for the next week.

Madeleine: In the village, we built solar-powered streetlights and a dam. The lights allow the local people to see at night when driving or harvesting rice in the summer evenings. While the dam provides a better water source to irrigate the rice crops.

Lilian: Our days consisted of building and visits to the local school in which we participated in activities such as tree planting and bottle painting to further benefit their environment. The project was finished off with a talent show with showcases of traditional Vietnamese dancing before we traveled back to Hanoi to begin our journey home.

What tasks did you work on as part of the project and how did it impact the local community?

Madeleine: We rotated daily between working on the streetlights or the dam. When building the solar-powered streetlights, we dug holes for the lights and filled then cement. The cement was carted in wheelbarrows and mixed with water we fetched from fields or nearby homes.

Lillian: While building the dam, we moved rocks and mixed cement. With the help of locals, we stacked up the rocks and mortared them together.

Did anything about the local culture spark a new interest or practice you plan to incorporate into your life?

Madeleine: While working in the village, it was inspiring to see how connected the community was. When we were working, locals would come out of their homes to help us. The culture of teamwork shines a light on how disconnected Western cultures can be. It is an inspiration to build a connected community.

Lillian: By living in the local homes and experiencing daily practices, I was able to witness how resourceful the locals were. I found it interesting to see how they would use bamboo sticks to prop up the solar panels whilst the cement dried, and using banana leaves to store their food. It has inspired me to incorporate sustainable practices into my daily life.

How do you feel the values of Round Square are reflected in the experiences you had in Vietnam?

Madeleine: The project leader wove in the values of Round Square very well in everything we did, and the entire trip had values of community, adventure, service, unity, leadership, environmentalism, and democracy embedded. For example, we went to a restaurant in Ha Noi that was non-profit, and the proceeds went to at-risk youth. We were immersed in local cultural activities including embroidery and dancing.

Lillian: Each day, a new group of people were elected as leaders, doing their job to instruct the group while also maintaining everyone’s well-being. The use of limited resources demonstrated environmental stewardship. By volunteering our time to help the community of Mai Chau, we were experiencing the value of service, and adventure.

What was the most rewarding part of the trip?

Madeleine: While it was very rewarding to see our labor achieve something special for the community, the most rewarding aspect of the project was experiencing it all with people I had never met before. Creating lifelong friendships and working well together as a team was incredibly rewarding.

Lillian: Being a part of an incredible team of students, all of which volunteered their time to better the lives of others was the most rewarding part. Meeting new people, developing new friendships ,and creating new memories as well as developing an understanding of Vietnamese culture made the trip a once-in-a-lifetime experience.