Berdine Beukes - The Responsibility of Progress

Berdine Beukes, Executive Head at St George's Diocesan School in Namibia talks about how Round Square is primarily driven by women at the school and how our greatest strength lies not in perfection, but in authentic leadership grounded in compassion, resilience and purpose.  

Transcript

Hello, my name is Berdine Beukes and I am the Executive Head of Saint George's Diocesan School in Windhoek, Namibia. Saint George's is an Anglican Church School founded in 1919 with approximately 940 students from grade RR to grade 13, following the Cambridge International Curriculum. Our long-standing promise is a tradition of excellence where every student matters. a belief that continues to shape who we are and who we are becoming.  

As we move forward, our new mission and vision statements enhance this purpose. Our mission commits us to educational excellence while nurturing each child into a confident, innovative, spiritually grounded, and resilient global citizen. Our vision is to create a safe, inclusive, and innovative environment where every child is known and future-proofed to thrive in an ever-changing world. These statements align naturally with the Round Square IDEALS. At St. George's, Round Square is not an add-on it is increasingly the lens through which we view learning, character formation, and leadership.  

As we celebrate International Women's Day, it feels especially meaningful to acknowledge that Round Square at our school is primarily driven by women. These are compassionate, committed, multi-skilled women who lead exchanges, service projects, outdoor learning, student initiatives, and international collaboration. They bring the IDEALS to life daily. They model leadership through service, foster global awareness, and create opportunities for our students to step outside their comfort zones through adventures and challenges. Their influence shaped not only programs but mindsets. The profession of teaching has long offered women a space where leadership and care coexist. It allows many women to pursue excellence in their careers while also navigating family life and motherhood.  

At the same time, we are proud to acknowledge the strength of women who choose to focus fully on their professional journeys. Both paths reflect courage and empowerment. Today, women have a voice and importantly, a choice. International Women's Day is also a moment to reflect on how much has changed. In the past, leadership and career opportunities were often more limited for women. Today we see far greater excess in representation across many fields. The confidence and ambition of young women entering the workplace reflect the progress that has been made and the importance of continuing that momentum.  

We see it most clearly in our alumni, young women who are confident, capable, innovative and unapologetically ambitious. Their success tells us that progress matters. With that progress comes responsibility. Our girls are growing up in a world shaped by constant visibility, influence, and comparison through social media. The pressure to be role models as educators, leaders, and parents is real and growing. Yet I believe our greatest strength lies not in perfection, but in an authentic leadership grounded in compassion, resilience, and purpose. At St. George's, we remain rooted in faith. We believe in strong families, meaningful relationships, and supportive communities.  

Whether women lead in classrooms, boardrooms, homes, or all of these spaces at once, we recognize the importance of support systems that allow women to flourish fully and sustainably. So today, I celebrate the woman who lead boldly, the woman who serve quietly, the woman who nurture future global citizens, and the woman who are shaping round square at our school, often without seeking any recognition, but with profound impact. To all women in education and beyond, your strength may be gentle, your leadership may be humble, But your influence is lasting. Happy International Women's Day!