The DEIJB
Club

The DEIJB Club stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging.

Canadian International School (CIS) is a top school in Bangalore with a population of over 650 students and over 120 faculty members and support staff. Since our inception in 1996, our community has grown to include individuals from all walks of life – from diverse backgrounds to various ethnicities. Today, the CIS community has students and faculty members from over 35 countries! As an international school with a large multicultural community, inclusion is a very important part of CIS, and we promote inclusivity and diversity in our classrooms. The DEIJB Club plays a major role in that.
Click here to view the club's mention in the press. 

What is the role of the DEIJB Club?

The DEIJB club stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging. As a club, we aim to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment, helping every student at CIS feel included and a sense of belonging. Every school faces issues of discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, or other factors, but as a club, we strive to eradicate discrimination and encourage open discussion about topics that may be deemed uncomfortable. This past year, we gave a presentation to normalise talks about menstruation. We believe this is an important topic that aligns with our goal of Inclusion as we want to make students more comfortable with topics that are considered taboo.

Similarly, the club presented to high school students about the use of racial slurs. We created a well researched presentation, explaining the root and reasoning of the creation of racial slurs, and why saying them creates a bigger impact that is sought for.

Beyond our school, we also take feasible actions to make a bigger impact on our community in Bangalore, helping stand up against discrimination as best we can. In the past, we have collaborated with NGOs and Foster homes like the Freedom Foundation, and the Shrishti Special Academy.

Every time we visit a palace outside school, we hold fundraisers in school during events to raise funds to be able to buy anything that may be needed. During the upcoming CISMUN, we plan to hold a fundraiser to raise funds for our next visit. This has shown to be extremely successful as every time, we make a lot of profit, which can then be used towards funding our efforts.

However, we do not just aim to provide them with resources, but also go to the places ourselves and interact with the people there as a part of our mission to include. Over the past two years, we have made meaningful connections with many of the people we have worked with, creating a relationship to be fostered.

International Women’s Day and Why It Matters to DEIJB

International Women’s Day, celebrated each year on March 8, recognizes the achievements of women and highlights the ongoing work needed to achieve gender equality around the world. This year's theme is "Rights, Justice, Action for all women and girls!"  While progress has been made over the past century, women still do not have the same legal rights as men globally, and many forms of stigma and discrimination continue to affect their daily lives.

At CIS, our DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging) club works to address these issues by raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about topics that are often misunderstood or stigmatized.

Members of DEIJB presented to Grade 8 students about menstruation, helping to normalize conversations about menstrual health and reduce stigma. By educating younger students and promoting understanding, the club aims to create a more respectful and informed community where everyone feels supported.

This work reflects the spirit of International Women’s Day: advocating for equality, challenging stigma, and building a more inclusive future for all.