International Study Tours 2026

We are excited to be offering the following International Study Tours to Mulberry Schools Trust students in 2026.

New Delhi, India

Join St. Mark’s Group of Schools, New Delhi, for Anjali International Friendship Week (AIFW). AIFW will be a dedicated week of learning, action, and collaboration centred on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Students will come together to explore the SDGs through engaging activities, thought-provoking discussions and creative projects. This trip will involve workshops related to Indian culture and cuisine, sightseeing in Delhi, a Model United Nations Conference, adventure sports, a Global Cultural Fair, and trip to Agra to visit significant landmarks.

United States

Attend the 50th annual international UNIS-UN Conference in New York, commencing with a Welcoming Day at UNIS, followed by two days at the United Nations in the General Assembly Hall. This year’s conference theme, The Price of Progress: Rethinking the Next Fifty Years of Global Economy, will explore how economic systems evolve in a rapidly changing world. Students will also have the opportunity to visit The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago and experience iconic activities within New York City.

Venice, Italy

Attend the 12th edition of FoscaMUN, hosted by Foscarini High School, who attended our Global Girl Leading Summit in 2025. Students will participate in Model United Nations, growing knowledge about international issues and fostering a spirit of dialogue and debate. Students will also take part in outings in Venice and experience the magic that the city has to offer.

Mexico City

Attend the 13th youth forum for international dialogue, BIMUN Mexico 2026, hosted by Colegio Carol Baur, who attended our Global Girl Leading Summit in 2025. Students will participate in Model United Nations, engaging in formal debates and negotiation focused on finding viable solutions to the challenges faced by our international community. Students will also participate in tours of the vibrant towns of Mexico, learning about traditions, food, crafts and visiting outstanding tourist attractions.

Amandola, Italy

Spend a week in a villa in the Sibillini National Park, in the heart of Italy, developing your leadership skills. Students will participate in workshops focused on inspirational female role models and effective campaigning and activism. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the local area through visits to town and hiking. The trip will culminate in students completing a project outlining how they can address opportunities and barriers facing themselves and other female leaders today.

Hosting International Schools

Throughout the week leading up to our Global Girl Leading Summit, our international guests took part in a rich programme of cultural and educational experiences.

The programme began with a warm and vibrant Welcome Ceremony at Mulberry School for Girls, where delegations from Penola Catholic College (Australia), Lenana Girls High School (Kenya), Colegio Carol Baur (Mexico), and Foscarini High School (Italy) were greeted with open arms. Each school shared presentations that celebrated their cultures, school experience, and visions for the future. The atmosphere was electric with excitement and purpose, as girls across continents connected and looked forward to the journey ahead.

At Mulberry Academy Shoreditch, students were immersed in a ‘Day in the Life of a Student’ experience – attending lessons, joining co-curricular activities and engaging in lively discussions with their UK peers. It was a chance to explore education through a new lens and build meaningful connections across schools.

The learning extended beyond the classroom with a selection of cultural visits. A trip to the majestic Hampton Court Palace offered a window into British history and heritage, while a scenic riverboat journey along the Thames to Greenwich allowed students to experience London from a new perspective – soaking in its rich stories and iconic landmarks. The group also enjoyed an unforgettable evening at the West End, attending The Lion King – a dazzling celebration of music, culture and resilience that resonated deeply with the summit’s themes.

On Tuesday evening, the prestigious venue The Athenaeum Club hosted a special reception in honour of Global Girl Leading. Friends of Mulberry, international delegates, staff and students came together to celebrate the global partnerships that have flourished through the programme. Heartfelt speeches and reflective conversations highlighted the powerful sisterhood and shared mission of achieving gender equality cultivated through this programme.

Global Girl Leading Summit 2025

On Friday 10th October, 2025, over 300 students attended Mulberry Schools Trust’s annual Global Girl Leading Summit at Mulberry School for Girls, with other schools across the country and abroad watching live online. This year, four international schools attended the event in person: Lenana Girls High School (Kenya), Penola Catholic College (Australia), Colegio Carol Baur (Mexico), and Foscarini High School (Italy). 66 Global Girl Leaders – students from across Mulberry Schools Trust, who were selected from over 165 applicants – helped lead the conference by welcoming and registering schools, managing logistics, hosting international schools, and compèring the event. The livestream was managed by a team from the Mulberry Production Arts Academy.

At 9am BST, the main conference began with a keynote speech by Tina Tchen, Executive Vice President, Programs, for the Obama Foundation, focused on her personal and professional journey and highlighting the importance of resilience.

Students then engaged with an interactive activity based on the Beijing+30 Action Agenda established by UN Women, reflecting on current gender statistics and associated actions to achieve the equal rights of all women and girls.

Next, was the first panel, titled ‘Inspirational Women’s Leadership at a National Level’. It featured:

  • Baroness Nicky Morgan, Member of the House of Lords and former Conservative MP and Minister
  • Dr. Joanna Abeyie MBE, MD of People, Data and Culture Consultancy for Blue Moon & Partners
  • Fatima El-Meeyuf, Acting Headteacher of Mulberry School for Girls
  • Natalie Campbell MBE, Co-CEO of Belu Water & Chancellor of University of Westminster
  • Dr. Fatima Rajina, Senior Legacy in Action Research Fellow at the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre at De Montfort University
  • Dr. Vanessa Ogden CBE, CEO of Mulberry Schools Trust (Chair)

Following the panel, students watched Voices Across Time, a film created in collaboration with Magic Me. This marked the first public showing of the film, with the students and adults involved in creating the film watching in the room. This was followed by a short panel featuring two student and two adult project participants, alongside the filmmakers, where they reflected on the creative process of making the film, and its impact on them.

After a short break, students moved into workshop rotations focused on the tools needed to lead change at a local level. These were hosted by various social impact organisations and skilled individuals, including:

  • Women for Women International: #PowerToChange workshop
  • Sisterhood: Your Future Legacy
  • Amnesty International UK: Intro to Youth Activism
  • Applied Stories: Global Girl Writing
  • Faima Bakar: A Journalism Workshop
  • Dr. Joanna Abeyie MBE: How to be a values-based leader
  • Dr. Fatima Rajina: What does building a campaign look like?
  • Fawcett Society: Closing the Gender Pay Gap

Following these engaging workshops, conference attendees enjoyed an exhibition held during the lunch break, featuring stalls from some of the workshop hosts and displays from the Voices Across Time film and For Our Mothers poetry projects, alongside a range of interactive activities, including gingerbread women decorating and a polaroid photobooth.

After lunch, the final session was launched with a performance of five poems from this year’s poetry anthology, led by Applied Stories, For Our Mothers. Through their poems, students reflected on the impact their mother, or a key maternal figure, has had on them.

Next, was the second panel, titled ‘: Inspirational Women’s Leadership at International Level’, again hosted by Dr. Vanessa Ogden, featuring:

  • Tina Tchen, Executive Vice President, Programs, for the Obama Foundation
  • Ms. Ritika Anand, Principal, St. Mark’s Sr. Sec. Public School, Meera Bagh, New Delhi
  • Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, Founder and Director of Edna Adan University & Hospital in Somaliland

Following the panel, a selection of Speakers’ Corner videos was then shown, showcasing the power and passion of Global Girl Leading’s international sisterhood.

To close, conference attendees reflected on their summit experience by completing an evaluation form and writing a ‘Letter to My Future Self’, outlining their takeaways from the conference and hopes for the future.

The summit culminated in a powerful rendition of Alicia Keys’ Girl on Fire, led by a choir of Mulberry Schools Trust students and accompanied by videos from students across the globe.

Following the summit, conference attendees were invited to the House of Commons for a post-summit reception event, sponsored by Apsana Begum MP. Reflections were shared about the day, highlighting the empowering nature of the event and the global connections the Global Girl Leading programme fosters.

Speakers’ Corner – Call for Submissions

As a part of our 2025 Global Girl Leading Summit, held on International Day of the Girl, we’re spotlighting the voices of girls from every corner of the globe. Through a powerful video project called Speakers’ Corner, we’ll amplify the stories, struggles, and solidarity of girls who are shaping the future.

What is Speakers’ Corner?

Inspired by the famous Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, London, where people have gathered since the 1800s to speak freely and advocate for change, our digital Speakers’ Corner gives young women a chance to share their voices with the world. In 1866, when people fought for their right to vote and be heard, they marched to Hyde Park to demand justice. Today, we’re handing that platform to a new generation of changemakers – girls who speak up for each other, stand together, and lead with courage.

What are we creating?

We’re producing an exciting international video compilation made up of 30-second speeches from female students. These videos will be edited together with music by a female DJ and premiered during the Global Girl Leading Summit on Friday 10th October 2025. It’s a celebration of voice, vision, and sisterhood. Watch what last year’s students created: Global Girl Leading Speakers’ Corner 2024.

Who can take part?

Speakers’ Corner is open to female students only (we plan to expand in future years!). All schools around the world are welcome to participate and each school can submit as many entries as they like. Every participating school will be represented in the final film.

We believe every girl has a voice worth hearing. Through this project, we’re connecting classrooms, communities, and continents in a shared mission: to celebrate and uplift girls as leaders, changemakers, and allies. Whether your students are seasoned activists or just discovering their voice – this is for them. If you have any further questions on how to get involved, please email us at info@mulberryschoolsfoundation.org.

Italy Study Tour: Students Lead Global Girl Leading Projects Abroad

The final Global Girl Leading Study Tour for this academic year took place in June in Amondola, Italy. Students got the chance to lead their own Global Girl Leading project on a topic that really mattered to them, such as the gender pay gap and activism. They also took part in outdoor activities, such as hiking – one student even learnt to swim! The group reflected that these activities gave them time to relax and take care of their wellbeing. Upon their return to the UK, students reflected on the importance of having PE in Year 12, to promote physical health, reduce stress, and encourage a balanced lifestyle during a demanding academic year.

“This trip wasn’t just about the project – it was about discovering our own leadership skills, growing in confidence, and learning more about myself. We all came home feeling proud, empowered, and ready to take on new challenges.”
Italy Study Tour Participant

Exciting Global Girl Leading Experience: Empowering the Next Generation of Global Citizens in New York.

As part of our transformative Global Girl Leading programme, our students were given a unique opportunity to embark on an extraordinary international study tour. In March 2025, six of our talented students travelled to the vibrant city of New York, where they attended the prestigious United Nations International School Conference at the iconic UN headquarters. The conference, aptly titled ‘Beyond the Algorithm: Navigating the Future of Artificial Intelligence,’ was a captivating exploration of how AI is shaping our world and the global challenges we face.

This incredible event brought together thought leaders, activists, and experts to delve deep into the impact of artificial intelligence. The students were privileged to hear from powerhouse speakers such as Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, Solon Barocas, Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, and Melissa Fleming, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. Their discussions and debates touched on AI’s influence across critical areas such as education, cybersecurity, gender, employment, conflict, the arts, health, misinformation, environmental sustainability, and even sports.

But the journey didn’t stop there. After immersing themselves in cutting-edge discussions at the conference, our students were able to experience the heart and soul of New York. From the stunning views at Top of the Rock to the historical significance of Ellis Island, every moment was an adventure. The students explored the buzzing energy of Times Square, walked through history at the 9/11 Memorial, and paid heartfelt tribute to the victims of that tragic day.

This trip was more than just an educational tour—it was a life-changing experience that not only expanded the students’ understanding of AI’s potential but also ignited their passion for becoming global citizens who can make a real difference in the world. Their journey to New York was a perfect blend of innovation, culture, and reflection, and it’s one they will never forget.