2020 A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 2020 Welcome A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
PRESIDENT OF UWC
HM Queen Noor of Jordan The central credo of UWC’s founder, Kurt crisis, from racial and other injustices to INDEX Hahn, rang particularly true in 2020: COVID-19 response. UWC INTERNATIONAL BOARD “There is more in us than we know. If we As of 1 January 2021 could be made to see it; perhaps, for the What this year has made clearer than Welcome 2 rest of our lives we will be unwilling to ever is that we are needed. An education Dr Musimbi Kanyoro Marco Provencio settle for less.” that empowers forward-looking, Looking Back on 2020: Chair of the Board, Chair of Committee for the compassionate and resilient individuals Reflections of a 3 Chair of Personnel and Governance of the National There had to be more in us than we from all cultures, countries and social UWC East Africa Pioneer Dr Musimbi Kanyoro Remuneration Committee Committee System Chair, UWC International Board knew: as a global organisation with backgrounds, is needed to rise above the school communities drawn from all challenges we could not have imagined Who We Are Pål Brynsrud Dr Maria Inês Kavamura parts of the world, UWC was deeply just one year ago. Vice-Chair of the Board, Chair of International affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Vision 4 Chair of Nominating and Development Committee But that was not all. The situation We are so thankful to stand together Our Approach 4 Governance Committee in Hong Kong and the Nagorno- with you in our pursuit. The partnerships Mariana Arrobas Karabakh conflict presented unique that we formed and continued to Our Global Reach 5 Aram Rabadi Vice-Chair of Committee of challenges to two of our schools. cultivate this year enable us to provide Interim Vice-Chair of the National Committees The Black Lives Matter movement, a UWC education to ever more diverse 2020: Rising Committee of the National meanwhile, reminded us all that even an young people, so that they can unite to the Challenge Committees Dr Victoria Mora Dr Quique Bassat organisation like ours, built on uniting with their communities to build a future President of UWC-USA Chair, UWC International Council people and celebrating diversity, has with sustainability, justice, solidarity My 2020 With UWC 6 Carma Elliot to practice critical self-reflection in and peace at its core. Beyond the crucial College President, UWC Veronika Zonabend the fight against racism in all its forms. scholarships that our donors provide Rising To New Challenges 7 South East Asia Founder and Chair of UWC 2020 was about working through are the opportunities our partnerships Dilijan these challenges and about identifying engender to stretch our impact even Rising To New Prominence 8 Colin Habgood opportunities in adversity. And indeed further. In 2020, this included growing Our Students in 2020 9 Treasurer, Jane Foster we did “find more in us than we knew” the number of educational offerings for Chair of Finance and Audit Special UWC International and we made it through the year far refugee students in partnership with Rise, Our Education in 2020 10 Committee Board Representative on better than could have been expected. an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Safeguarding Rhodes Trust, alongside building bridges Impacting 2020 Dr Christian Hodeige In this Annual Review you will learn of mutual understanding in Cyprus with Jens Waltermann Permanent Proxy Chair of about how UWC rose to the challenges support from the European Commission, COVID-19 12 Executive Director, UWC Robert Bosch College, UWC International of 2020. You will read about how the and more. We thank you for enabling The Environment 13 Chair of College Chairs’ With special thanks to the UWC community overcame great us to plant seeds of change in more Committee UWC International Board hurdles, eventually bringing almost all of communities around the world. Anti-Racism 14 members who supported our 11,000 students from 158 countries Driek Desmet UWC through 2020: back on our campuses to live and learn And change is possible. As we saw in The Refugee Crisis 15 Chair of Community together. It is the continued generosity 2020, both within the world of UWC Grappling with Conflict 16 Engagement Committee Nicole Severino of our partners and donors, and the and beyond, seemingly insurmountable Vice-Chair of Committee of monumental shared effort of UWC barriers can be overcome. Support in 2020 Gabriel Abad Fernandez the National Committees families, staff, volunteers and friends, Head of UWC Dilijan, who made this possible. So Kurt Hahn was right: now is the time With Gratitude 17 Chair of College Heads’ Peter Howe to stretch further, to dream bigger, and Committee Principal of UWC Atlantic, Students become alumni, and UWC to take action to shape a better post- Partner Spotlight: 18 Chair of College Heads’ alumni go on to impact the world. Within COVID future for all. Let us grasp 2021 Shelby Davis and Phil Geier Laura Carone Committee this Annual Review, you will see how as a new starting point and inspire a new Partner Spotlight: Chair of Committee of the our graduates brought their grit, skills generation to strive for more. 19 Kjartan Björnsson National Committees Tove Veierød and multi-layered perspectives to the Special UWC International key areas deserving all of our attention, We look forward to making this journey Fundraising Spotlight: 20 Tez Steinberg Lin Kobayashi Board Representative on from the refugee crisis to the climate together with you. Chair of UWC ISAK Japan Safeguarding 2 Looking back on 2020: Reflections of a UWC East Africa Pioneer
My name is Peter Makuei. I started my challenging to continue with online studies UWC journey one year ago, as part of the due to limited internet and power supply first group of UWC students (pioneers) at access at the settlement, but with the UWC East Africa. Before that, I was born support from CAREDUCA Foundation all and grew up in South Sudan, a nation went well and I successfully completed my that has been prone to wars. It was of no first of the two-year programme. surprise that I was finally forced out of the country during the 2013 civil war. I 2020 has not been an easy year for anyone Pandemic or no pandemic - the experience I Peter Makuei sought asylum in Uganda as a refugee at - and it has contributed further challenges have so far had here with my UWC East Africa South Sudan UWC East Africa, 2019-2021 Kiryandongo refugee settlement, a place to refugee communities. This is why I believe family has been amazing, from the social that has been my home ever since. that this year’s World Refugee Day theme is diversity to the beautiful environment and the so important: ‘Every Action Counts’ calls for hospitality of the Tanzanians that makes it the As a refugee child, life was full of surprises, everyone in their own capacity to help refugee best home away from home. As the pioneer especially where my education journey populations. For me this meant starting generation of UWC East Africa we were also was concerned. I found out about UWC with small steps. When I returned to the able to play a big part in shaping this school as scholarships at a time when I was faced settlement during the pandemic I set about a UWC. We do believe that we have a huge role with the possibility that I might not be able translating the World Health Organisation to play in setting the legacy that future UWC to complete my final two years of high COVID-19 guidelines into local languages students will follow. Recently, we summited the school: few schools in the region offered that people there would understand. Once highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, this, and none inside the settlement could. I graduate from UWC East Africa in six as a way of showing future students that it months time, I would like to go back to the is doable. The teamwork we display in and It was the UWC mission itself that inspired settlement again and set up a project that will outside the classroom makes us stick together. me to apply for this opportunity to realise help reduce disease outbreak through proper Even during the pandemic we stayed in touch my dreams and work together with my waste disposal by constructing at least one via Zoom calls. friends to make the world a better place for latrine in each cluster. everyone, by recognising our differences And we are here - a young generation of and learning how to live together amidst These plans are important to me because changemakers ready to solve the world’s these differences. I applied through the from the day I arrived at UWC East Africa problems. Our ability to collaborate with one UWC Ugandan National Committee and my life has not been the same. I have another and come up with common objectives fortunately I got accepted: I am now a met friends that have become part of gives me hope that we shall overcome the happy second-year student and member of my life and my hope that was lost has future challenges that our global community the great UWC East Africa community. now been restored with this novel gift of will face. Education. I am thankful to CARECUDA This same mission has carried me through for making my dream of attaining an I hope you will enjoy reading in this Annual the added challenges of being a first-year international education possible. I am Review about how my fellow UWC community UWC student in 2020. thankful that I already had the opportunity members are already taking big steps towards to translate this gift into action by helping overcoming those challenges. During the pandemic, I went back to the the COVID-19 prevention efforts in the camp while the school was closed. It was settlement this year. Thank you.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 3 Who We Are UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures EDUCATE
A UWC education strives to empower students for peace and a sustainable future. to create a more peaceful and sustainable future. Although each school and UWC short course operates differently, our educational model provides the framework for all UWC students to develop the skills and perspectives that will help them on this journey. A UWC education can be Our Vision Our Approach accessed through two educational experiences: UWC SCHOOLS
UWC is a global education movement that SEEK UWC’s 18 schools on four continents provide brings together young people from deliberately unparalleled learning opportunities for students. diverse backgrounds. Our schools and short Each has their own distinct characteristics, courses equip them with the skills, values and Our community is deliberately diverse. We but all our schools nurture students’ passion perspectives that empower our students and welcome students from across the globe through for service, action and creativity. They foster alumni to build a more peaceful and sustainable two application routes: academic excellence, and encourage intercultural future. To ensure that a UWC education is understanding, compassion and innovation. INSPIRE accessible for anyone with the drive and potential THE UWC NATIONAL COMMITTEE SYSTEM In their final two years, most students enroll to positively impact their community, we raise in residential programmes where they live Whether UWC students spend two years at one over USD 60 million a year in scholarship funds Our national committee system of volunteers is and learn alongside fellow young people from of our schools or as little as 10 days at a UWC and partner with a number of key organisations present in over 155 countries. The committees find the most diverse backgrounds and cultures. short course, they will forever remain a part of that help us to expand our reach. students from within their own regions, often in the a thriving international community. Guided by most unlikely of places. These students are selected UWC schools place a high value on experiential the UWC values and mission, members of the Most of our students are aged between 16 and based on their potential to thrive at a UWC school or learning, while also providing students with the UWC movement become actors of change and 19 years old. This is a time when young people’s short course, independent of socio-economic means. world’s most recognised international diploma: forces for good, in whichever field they choose energy and idealism can be guided towards the International Baccalaureate Diploma to pursue. To date, a network of almost 60,000 empathy, responsibility and lifelong action. Our Once the most promising students have been Programme (IBDP). alumni across the world have been empowered students come from all kinds of cultural, ethnic identified through a rigorous selection process, our to inspire others. and socioeconomic backgrounds, and over 155 financial assessment process allocates scholarships to UWC SHORT COURSES different countries. those who need them. The majority of UWC students are selected through this application route and over UWC short courses offer an intense and immersive This level of diversity is integral to a UWC 80% of national committee selected students receive experience with a focus on experiential learning. education. By bringing together the entire partial or full scholarships based on need. With a duration of usually one to four weeks, these spectrum of our global society, from refugees to short programmes increase the number of people royalty, young people’s eyes are opened to fresh THE GLOBAL SELECTION PROGRAMME (GSP) who can access a UWC education. Participants may perspectives. They learn to navigate intercultural come from the same country, region or continent, and intersocietal tensions and differences in a Students who are able to pay the full fees for a or they may be an entirely intercultural group. way that enables them to see the world as one school can apply through the GSP route. This UWC short courses focus on a variety of different global community. With the increasingly complex is open to young people who wish to apply to a themes or skill sets: from youth leadership to and global nature of today’s most pressing UWC school 9 to 12 months before the beginning sustainability, from dialogue to migration, from challenges, the world needs visionary leaders from of the school year. For 2020 entry, 112 students gender to conflict resolution. all backgrounds who can work across differences were selected through this application route. to come up with shared solutions to the shared During the 2020 school closures, the UWC school problems our world faces. For 58 years, UWC has Students applying through either selection route are and short course education experience was been committed to making this vision a reality. assessed along the same UWC selection criteria. translated to the online sphere for the first time.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER WHO WE ARE 4 Our Global Reach
UWC RED CROSS NORDIC Norway
UWC ATLANTIC UWC ADRIATIC Wales, UK Italy
UWC MOSTAR UWC CHANGSHU CHINA Bosnia and Herzegovina China
UWC ISAK JAPAN Japan PEARSON COLLEGE UWC Canada UWC LI PO CHUN Hong Kong
USA UWC DILIJAN UWC SOUTH Armenia EAST ASIA Singapore UWC UWC COSTA RICA MAASTRICHT UWC THAILAND Costa Rica The Netherlands Thailand
UWC MAHINDRA COLLEGE UWC ROBERT India BOSCH COLLEGE Germany UWC EAST AFRICA Tanzania
WATERFORD KAMHLABA UWC SOUTHERN AFRICA Eswatini
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER WHO WE ARE 5 2020: My 2020 with UWC Rising to We asked the UWC community to share the three words that sum up their 2020 with UWC. We received almost 200 responses from UWC students, alumni, staff members and volunteers. Here is the Challenge how they summed up this past year:
Watch the 2020 UWC End of Year video 2020: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 6 JANUARY-APRIL All 18 UWC schools The community sprang into action in a combined effort involving Large-scale discussions about how racism and implemented partial school staff, national committee volunteers, parents, alumni and UWC MAY International to bring almost 5,000 IBDP students from 158 countries other inequities continue to manifest themselves, The murder of George also within UWC institutions, took place including or full campus closures, home, into host families or to fund their stays on campus between June via a three-part UWC Unlocked Talk special series and August for those students who could not safely return home during Floyd sheds light onto each lasting varying that aimed to offer a dialogue space and provide this period. lengths of time. the systemic injustices opportunities for learning. Soon thereafter, also affecting UWC anti-racism and equity at UWC was placed at the centre of deliberations at the June UWC institutions. International Board meeting, a UWC-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion course was created by UWCx Initiative, Critical Engagement, and an Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and UWC educators worked together to find ways to move JANUARY-APRIL Inclusion Steering Group was formed. This the experiential, holistic and interactive UWC education last step involved the most far-reaching call for The UWC experience model online in a matter of days. A core focus of this steering group membership in the history of UWC moves online. journey was providing the increased level of support and attention students needed in a time of global governance, leading to over 160 applicants crisis. This included providing a Social and Emotional from across the UWC movement. Learning framework helping students to understand and manage their own emotions, set goals, manage time and continue to build relationships with others. It also involved the more practical steps necessary to provide UWC short courses took the plunge to students in more disadvantaged contexts with internet JUNE Six move online this year with UWC Unlocked access and online learning devices. In-person UWC Short Courses. From exploring how to build a short courses sustainable future to discovering how a deeper understanding of identity can help us to enact Rising cannot go ahead. the change that we envision - these online courses offer new opportunities for more young people from more backgrounds and areas to To New access a UWC education. Challenges
AUGUST The UWC transfer system was developed for those students who could not travel to The cross-UWC collaboration in this area culminated Ongoing travel their originally allocated UWC school. in the UWC Global Campus: an online learning restrictions affect 197 students were transferred to another platform currently in development and accessible UWC school through this system. to all UWC teachers, students and short course students’ ability organisers where they can collaborate, co-create to return to or start By December 2020, all but one UWC campus and run professional development courses, as well was fully operational again, bringing together as courses on core-UWC themes. their UWC journeys. 93% of the full student body. After an unusual beginning to the year involving a 14 day quarantine for many, these students were able to enjoy living and learning together UWC Unlocked Talks were launched, a series with young people from 158 countries again. of online conversations hosted by UWCers on MARCH a range of important topics, from the climate A global crisis to the refugee crisis, from mental health to racial inequities. The Talks connected UWC SEPTEMBER The UWC community - led by the UWC Dilijan leadership team - banded community goes together to keep the school community safe from harm. This support also community members across continents Conflict ignites in the into lockdown. and generations, providing a dialogue space extended to the internally displaced people in Dilijan, the direct victims to explore shared solutions to global and Nagorno-Karabakh of the conflict and the staff members and their families compelled to serve in this conflict. So far, the UWC Dilijan community has donated UWC-specific issues. 30 Talks have so Region. far been hosted with a total audience of dry food and 1,200 meals cooked by students and staff, alongside 2,362 UWC community members. clothes, hygiene supplies and kitchen assets.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 2020: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 137 Our presence at global events helped amplify We celebrated our UWC students and alumni and the impact our vision for education into the consciousness they are having on the world. of current influencers and decision makers.
MEDIA COVERAGE YOUNG AURORA World Economic Forum, Davos “Beehive Divide” from UWC East Africa won the first January 2020 UWC was featured in prize of USD 4,000 with their solution to protect Tatler as one of four of the crops of villagers in Sanya Hoyee, Tanzania from the best global schools, elephant raids by building a chilli and beehive fence. Skoll World Virtual Forum where it gained its place April 2020 as ‘The Best School for World Peace’.
Climate One May 2020 Mai Al Qaisi (UWC Atlantic, 2007-2009) from Palestine was appointed as the Save Our Future Global Ambassador to Defend the Rights of Refugee Children to Education and was featured C20 Virtual Summit on their channels alongside Lucy Keller, the Head October 2020 of Mindfulness at UWC Thailand.
WISE The BBC featured The new partnership with Rise October 2020 two UWC Refugee was featured in the Times of Rising scholars: Summia Eswatini, spreading news of (UWC-USA, 2014-2016) the highly esteemed talent and Dechen (UWC programme supporting refugee To New Atlantic, 2019-2021). education and scholarship We were delighted to welcome new partnerships opportunities, with a particular focus on African youth through that have helped expand UWC’s reach even further. Prominence Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.
RISE EDUCATION COMMISSION A Schmidt Futures and Rhodes Trust FOR THE SAVE OUR FUTURE We showed that United We Can. initiative helping UWC to launch a CAMPAIGN new education programme at Kakuma Launched in conjunction with Refugee Camp in Kenya and supporting the publication of the Secretary- DAVIS-UWC IMPACT CHALLENGE five students per year from refugee General’s Policy Brief on Education UWC DAY 2020 All UWC schools completed the Davis-UWC IMPACT backgrounds to attend UWC on full during COVID-19 and Beyond, UWC EU-FUNDED CYPRUS With the theme “United We Can”, events were hosted Challenge. UWC Red Cross Nordic and UWC Mahindra scholarships. joined up with other leading voices SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME by over 45 UWC entities. The strength and passion College join the other schools in raising USD 1 million in the field of education to amplify Following the success of a pilot scheme of the UWC movement shone through, despite all - thereby unlocking the matched funding of USD 1 the voices of the nearly 1.6 billion which supported six scholarship challenges, and was spread across continents thanks to million from UWC patron, Shelby Davis. learners worldwide whose education students from the Turkish and Greek the online event format many had to opt for. was disrupted this year and set out Cypriot communities to attend UWC the priority action areas to protect Mostar, the European Commission education in COVID-19 response agreed to extend and expand its around the world. support for UWC activities in Cyprus. VOLUNTEERING EU funding will be provided for 20 1,019 core UWC national UWC IBDP students contributed scholarships for Cypriot youth, four committee volunteers contributed over 125,000 hours UWC short courses and an ongoing 184,488 hours to community service projects, bi-communal community engagement to the UWC movement. in-person and virtually. programme, to be implemented from 2020 to 2024.
...And we spent countless hours on Zoom, connecting, discussing, deliberating and making decisions!
14 2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 2020: RISING TO THE CHALLENGE 158 Our Students in 2020 In Numbers Meet Dechen, A Third-Generation STUDENTS REACHED* More than 11,000 students Tibetan Refugee Turned UWC attended UWC schools In 2020, a UWC education reached almost Atlantic Scholar 11,500 young people 306 participants attended virtual across its schools UWC short courses I am a third-generation Tibetan refugee my views and understanding of the world and short courses from born and raised in North India. My around me and provides me with the grandparents fled from Tibet as teenagers opportunity to grow as a whole person and 158 countries Close to students studied 5,000 and settled in the northeastern Himalayas be the best possible version of myself. in grades 11 and 12 for the International of India where me and my two siblings Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) were eventually born. Both of our parents The experience has of course also been passed away when we were very young, testing at times: the sudden switch to as a result of illness which I believe could online learning this year due to COVID-19 Nearly 3,000 students were Dechen Chokey selected by UWC national committees have been cured if they would have had was demanding and, due to the hours Tibet access to the right medical help. This lack we spent online, exhausting. However, UWC Atlantic, 2019-2021 of medical expertise and infrastructure the lockdown period definitely made me has been my tragedy that fuelled my feel appreciative of home and grateful STUDENT desire to pursue my passion for medicine for what I have. It also further expanded SCHOLARSHIPS and eventually be able to use science my horizons: as I was not able to safely GENDER to contribute to societal improvement, return home over the Summer due to the Over 80% BREAKDOWN particularly in remote areas in India like the pandemic, I stayed with a host family in of UWC national one I call home. England. There, I experienced an authentic committee selected English lifestyle - an experience I would not students in the IBDP years It was when I saw some older students at have necessarily encountered amidst the at UWC schools received 41% my school in India applying desperately varied environment and diverse cultures of partial or full financial Male to UWC that I asked my school counsellor UWC Atlantic! I also thoroughly enjoyed support based on need for details about it. Totally fascinated sharing my Tibetan culture with them. about the UWC movement, the mission, the education system and its diverse Once I graduate from UWC Atlantic I 0.14% 59% culture, I filled out the application form hope to study biomedicine at University Other Female as soon as I was old enough to apply. The - although my experience as leader of the moment I heard the news that I got into Wellbeing Council at UWC Atlantic has UWC Atlantic on a scholarship with the intrigued me into maybe also exploring Pestalozzi International Foundation, I was a career in psychology in the future. I am full of the joys of spring. I couldn’t have looking forward to applying all that I have been more excited to have been selected. learned and gained at UWC to finally I didn’t ever imagine I would be able to pursue my dream of improving health BEYOND UWC 964 UWC alumni entered They join the 3,407 Davis-UWC study in a school like this and I am forever outcomes in rural areas like the one I come the Davis-UWC Scholars Program scholars from 160 countries currently grateful for the opportunity. from, to help families like my own live a in 2020, with scholarships to benefiting from the program, and the long and healthy life. 88 US colleges and 10,424 UWC alumni that have I’ve been a student here for over a year universities, including all eight been supported by the Program since it now. My experience at UWC Atlantic has Ivy League schools. was launched in 2000. so far opened me up to a wider view of the world and allowed me to look at life from many different angles. It has been so *Figures are initial estimates based challenging and so rewarding at the same on data currently available. time. Everyday, it pushes me to challenge 2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER OUR STUDENTS IN 2020 9 Our Education in 2020
THE TRANSITION TO ONLINE LEARNING A Reflection by Shirla Sum Nga Wan, Vice Principal at UWC Changshu China
Former Intel CEO Andy Grove once said: students become more motivated when we have strived to uphold a sense of “Bad companies are destroyed by crises; they feel trusted to exercise their learner belonging to a shared community across good companies survive them; great agency. Meanwhile, an interactive cycle of UWCs. The online and offline cross- companies are improved by them.” Education experimentation starts to gain momentum cultural collaboration involved in producing institutions are no different. The COVID-19 as teachers design ways to create a nurturing music and dance shows at events such outbreak in 2020 has presented all UWC learning environment with stimulating digital as the virtual One World event at UWC schools with one of the greatest challenges resources and appropriate levels of challenges Changshu China definitely stand out as yet. As international schools with ‘deliberate to our students. terrific reminders that our community Shirla Sum Nga Wan Vice Principal diversity’ at our hearts, the closing down bonds, despite being stretched by distance, at UWC Changshu China of borders around the world poses a direct Experimentation with technology during nevertheless remain intact. threat to our education model. Limited to these times has shed new light on how we digital interactions, UWC educators have may meet the learning needs of incredibly This is not to say it was all a smooth been compelled to create experiential diverse UWC students. Disparate time journey. All UWCs have had their fair learning experiences which are dramatically zones, varying levels of connectivity, share of ups-and-downs in offering different to those on physical campuses. We juggling family responsibilities: these are online learning. What has excited me the have probably not gotten it completely right, just some of the additional hurdles UWC most is the collaboration and innovation but with a spirit of bold experimentation, teachers and students had to deal with this spurred by the crisis. Collaborating with UWC educators globally have made notable year. By creating high quality instructional representatives across 14 different UWCs, strides in enhancing our education offering in videos, for example, students can engage together we launched the Guidelines the online learning environment. with the material when it best suits them. for Effective UWC Teaching Online to English learners, meanwhile, may watch support teachers through this transition Online learning has given teachers the much- the video with subtitle support. And some as well as The UWC Global Campus. With needed push over the edge to let go of the students who are less vocal in a physical developments such as these, I am hopeful drivers’ seat. When we can no longer track classroom have found new confidence in that innovation and collaboration among students’ every move in a physical classroom, the alternative spaces for peer learning UWC educators will continue long after we teachers must learn to trust students to offered by a number of digital platforms. return to ‘normal’, meaning that the crisis take ownership of their learning. Flipped would have led to improvement after all. instruction, for example, presents a student- Meanwhile, students’ well-being remains centered model where instructional content fundamental to their learning, and even is delivered outside class time, and students more so during these turbulent times. All engage in hands-on interactive learning UWCs have identified promoting students’ activities especially designed to consolidate well-being as a paramount objective of the and extend their learning during class time. past year. Frequent communication and Students own the choice to decide the pace consistent, empathetic dialogue help to at which they would like to learn and how foster meaningful relationships between they would like to learn. What has surprised students, as well as between students and teachers is that students still learn! In fact, teachers/advisors. As much as possible,
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER OUR EDUCATION IN 2020 10 THE ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE A UWC Mahindra College Student and Teacher Look Back
Mithi (UWC Mahindra College, 2019- in an instant on campus, and which are 2021) from Delhi, and teacher of Spanish, core to MUWCI and to UWC, in the Paola, share their experiences of their online space. But after a challenging online learning journeys that began in first few months we now have a robust March 2020 at UWC Mahindra College schedule, and we’re not really missing Mithi and Paola, now back (MUWCI) due to the COVID-19 outbreak any concrete aspects of college life: we on campus at last! and continued into the new academic have college meetings, classes, and about year. Students began arriving back on the 40-50 Creativity, Activity & Service (CAS) Mithi Jethwa MUWCI campus from mid-November, projects that have found a way to work India after this interview took place. online. But we are also all very tired of What are the big learnings from this UWC Mahindra College, 2019-2021 sitting in front of screens all day. So each past year that you will carry with you How would you sum up your online part of the online learning journey had its into the next year and beyond? learning experience in 2020? own challenges. Paola: Personally I would just like to say Mithi: If I had to choose one word it Acknowledging how challenging the how amazed I have been at the resilience would be ‘growth’. The turnaround past year has been, are there any we have shown over the past year as between having to leave campus and positives that you can draw from the a community. When we had to close online learning starting was extremely experience? the school in March, it was very hard, rapid - I think faculty had around two traumatic even for the students. But still, weeks to get it set-up. And so, naturally, Mithi: At the start of online learning, we found ways to celebrate graduation, we Paola Leal last academic year the online learning one of the things I was most concerned started the new year and have found ways Teacher of Spanish and Head of experience was characterised by teachers about was how we would carry on being to carry on with the MUWCI traditions IBDP Language Acquisition at and students alike grappling with new changemakers while at home. and moments that make this experience UWC Mahindra College territory, trying to work this new journey so special. I feel very proud of UWC, out together. It has been amazing to see Now a lot of people are taking part in of MUWCI, and of all the teachers and how we all have come together to create protests at home, engaging with the students. None of us are having a good held in September. Usually, on campus a well-structured learning environment, politics in their nation, having difficult time, and especially for teenagers this we have a maximum of 30 observers for learning how to create a similar conversations with family and friends - and is a very complicated experience to be these meetings, but when we held the experience to the one we had at MUWCI then sharing those experiences with the confronted with. So the resilience that the online one 170 people attended. That is in the virtual space. rest of us online. It shows that just because community has shown despite all of that at least three quarters of the campus. To you are not on campus, it doesn’t mean has been awe-inspiring. see people so engaged with the way life Paola: To sum it up, the word I would that you can’t carry on making change is going right now and willing to come choose is ‘creativity’. We had to re-design happen in many of the same ways as you Mithi: It’s true, the community has found up with new ideas, not because they and re-think everything: our classes, would if you were physically at school. a lot of different ways to support each have to but because they care about this our teaching style, while simultaneously This is usually a process that happens after other. Teachers have been so responsive community so much, has been awesome reinventing and recreating our community graduation, but for our batch it’s happening and have done so much for us students. to see. It shows just how much people and the ways in which we understand right now and it’s super empowering. It’s The amount of effort that has gone into care about being part of UWC - whether what MUWCI is. We had to examine like living in two parallel communities at upholding this community has been so there’s a campus or not, the same MUWCI how we could facilitate the kinds of once, and that’s an experience we would inspiring to see. One clear example of this traditions or not, mud games or not… That intercultural interactions that happen not have otherwise had. is the student government meeting we is what I’m most proud of.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER OUR EDUCATION IN 2020 11 Impacting 2020
COVID-19 From Global Health Researcher in Diseases of Poverty to COVID-19 Advisor: Alumnus Dr Quique Bassat Shares his Reflections
Dr. Quique Bassat (UWC Atlantic, 1991- that of adults. This research brought us 1993) is a pediatrician with a special interest a long way in being able to advise the in infectious disease epidemiology and Spanish government on the strategy for public health. He is the Head of the Malaria reopening schools.” Programme at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), and has combined The fact that the clinical research his clinical work with biomedical research, undertaken by Quique and his colleagues focusing on life-threatening diseases in parts in the field of COVID-19 has such Dr Quique Bassat Spain of the world where many people do not strong political implications means that UWC Atlantic, 1991-1993 have access to the fragile health systems Quique’s UWC education has become Chair, UWC International that exist there. With COVID-19 entering particularly useful this past year: “The Council the world’s stage in 2020, Quique’s research work that I do has become highly focus suddenly shifted: politicized in this current global health crisis. Within this context, my UWC “I have been heavily involved in two main background has undoubtedly helped me research areas regarding COVID-19. The navigate the meetings with governments first is about evaluating drugs for the I’ve been involved in this year, which treatment of COVID-19. Here I continued vividly brought to mind our global affairs with my internationally focused lens, discussions at UWC Atlantic. The lessons This is my normal everyday job, so the put the most vulnerable at the centre, working together with our long-term I learned then are directly applicable disruption caused by COVID-19 was prioritise your scarce resources to those collaborators in Manaus, Brazil to show to the diplomatic skills that are so no surprise to me. I’ve just seized the most in need and do not forget those who the futility of Hydroxychloroquine for important to my work today.” opportunity to express my opinions and are often neglected. Globalisation has many the treatment of COVID-19 for the first provide my technical input on a problem positive aspects, but also many terrible time, as well as the potential safety issues Within these discussions, Quique’s past which is so familiar to the Global South, ones. A disease that emerges in the forests related to it. These results were highly work in tackling poverty related infectious but seemed to appear out of the blue in of the Democratic Republic of Congo, or criticised in the context of a very politicised diseases remains at the forefront of his the Western World.” in a food market in Wuhan can quickly atmosphere, given president Bolsonaro’s considerations: “My experience with become global. We need to be prepared, open support of these drugs. diseases like Malaria has helped ensure When asked about what key learnings and we must acknowledge that distance that I always place equity at the top of the Quique will take away from this year and remoteness are no longer good enough Back in Barcelona, the second focus point priorities list in any COVID-19 discussion. in terms of how our world must move excuses to remain oblivious to the suffering of my work over the last year involved For the first time in many years, a problem forward to meet the health challenges of that has long affected humankind.” groundbreaking research that showed traditionally associated with the Global tomorrow, he shared: children and adults to be similarly South, or with poverty, has hit the North susceptible to COVID-19 infections, but harder - meaning that global attention “The same key learnings that my work that childens’ transmission potential has suddenly (and finally!) focused on the in infectious diseases in low and middle to others appears limited compared to disruptive power of infectious diseases. income countries has always taught me:
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER IMPACTING 2020 12 Our Impact on 2020
THE ENVIRONMENT UWCers Unite to Help Curb the Effects of the Mauritius Oil Spill
The 2020 Mauritius oil spill has been going to be severely impacted. So as named one of the worst environmental soon as the news broke out that there disasters in the country’s history, creating was now oil in our crystal blue waters, immeasurable damage to the island’s me and a team of UWCers picked up already fragile ecosystem. the phone and started investigating how we could help. At the time, a group of local UWC alumni and students jumped in immediately to do I would admit that, had I not gone to can be made. So far I have learned that What people from around the world what they could to protect the landscape and UWC, I think I would have rather relied human negligence can cause big disasters, can do is spread awareness. The more wildlife from damage. Among them was Lina on other people to do the job instead but huge drastic changes can also be made attention the world pays to this issue Curimjee (UWC Mostar, 2018-2020), a recent and hope for the best. I think that now through simple actions. over here, the more importance will be UWC graduate, now back in Mauritius: that I am a UWC alumna, it’s become given to this crisis, and the more support my duty to make a change in the world Finally, why does the world need to listen we will receive. I urge everyone to stay When did you realise how big the as UWC has taught us to do. to what is happening in Mauritius and alert to how the smaller countries around problem was and what made you decide what can they do to help? the world are being impacted by climate to get involved? What have you learned from the change: don’t forget us and maybe we can experience so far? Like many small countries, Mauritius is help convince your people to make the In the thirteen days between the ship often ignored while the eyes of the world changes necessary in their lives to turn having crashed and the oil spill starting, The oil spill disaster has definitely focus on big countries like the US or China. the tide on the climate crisis. we all feared the worst. And given that been a learning curve for me. Having However, it’s actually the small nations there were two internationally recognised recently graduated from UWC, this is such as Mauritius that suffer the most. All marine protected areas right where the oil my first opportunity to step out into the you have to do is look at how the actions was spilling, it was clear from the start world as a graduate and start to make a of one ship have impacted Mauritius, both that endangered endemic species were difference. This is the time where change environmentally and economically.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER IMPACTING 2020 13 ANTI-RACISM A Cross-UWC Conversation on Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion between Koko and Kathrin, students at Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA, and Rod Jemison, Head of UWC ISAK Japan.
Anti-racism has been catapulted to Equity and Inclusion Steering Group. Koko, Nevertheless, the three agreed that issues want to make change happen together. the top of most diversity, equity and Kathrin and Rod got together - virtually of racism cannot be dismissed as political, We’re ready to get going.” inclusion agendas in 2020. This includes - to have a conversation about what unites emotional or put down to ignorance: the Asinakekelane group at Waterford them in the work that they are doing at “Although UWCers can be pretty passionate Wrapping up the conversation on a high, Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa. two different UWCs, the challenges they about their own views, they are also luckily the three shared what makes them positive Asinakekelane means ‘Let’s Care About face, as well as what is making them very open to broadening their horizons and and excited for the future of Anti-Racism, Each Other’ in siSwati and is a community excited for the UWC anti-racism work they to learning new things. So that’s how we Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work at UWC: organisation comprised of students, envision for 2021. need to frame the fight against racism going Kathrin Burger teachers, alumni and parents discussing forward: we need to educate people about For me it’s the fact that everyone has been Austria all issues of discrimination. As Black Lives “When it comes to racism, it’s very easy different perspectives and the struggles so made aware that racism is still a very big Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, 2020-2021 Matter protests rose to a peak back in to find people who are aware of the issues, many people face, rather than attempting issue in the world and, whether they like it or May, Koko from the Democratic Republic who are willing to share their experiences to outright ‘correct’ their views. It’s so not, we will change things. Especially with of Congo and Kathrin from Austria (both and opinions, and who want to take part important that anti-racism becomes a core COVID-19, I have a very strong sense that the Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA, 2020- in creating solutions. But we’ve also found and mandatory part of the curriculum and world has flipped - so everything else has to 2021 & co-heads of Asinakekelane) that enacting those solutions isn’t always that it’s taught at various stages of a UWC flip with it. I’m looking forward to the change saw an intensified need in their school that simple and that we often want or education. Conversations around racism I can feel coming. community to offer support and learning need things to change quicker than the cannot be the reserve of those who are Koko opportunities in the area of anti-racism. institutional nature of the problem allows directly affected by it, or those who are “We tried to do as much we could to be for”, Koko said, reflecting on the main already engaged in tackling it. And we need I’m excited to get back to campus and feel there for our community - even though successes and challenges she and her peers to create an environment where people feel that UWC spirit in real life again [once the everything was online by then due to have come across in their work so far. comfortable to share their questions and campus reopens]. As soon as we feel that, and Koko (Divine) Sanginga Democratic Republic of Congo COVID-19. We organised virtual protests, insecurities - otherwise true transformation we can talk face to face about the things we Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of videos and supported two of our co-years The group also discussed how these cannot happen,” Kathrin added. care most about, we can overcome anything. Southern Africa, 2020-2021 to set up the Waterford Kamhlaba Race challenges carry additional complications Kathrin Talks to keep the community informed amidst the diversity of nationalities, Koko, Kathrin and Rod went on to discuss about what was going on in the world backgrounds, cultures and perspectives how interconnected these challenges were In my lifetime, I have not seen the consistent, and discuss how it related to issues of that make up the UWC student-body. across all UWC schools, with Rod urging aggressive and constant dialogue that we diversity, equity and inclusion within our As Kathrin pointed out, “Some people the students to unite with their co-years are having about issues of racism across own community. Seeing how important didn’t even realise racism was such a around the world to take on this issue the board. I was used to having these these issues were to our school made it pressing issue before the Black Lives Matter together: “There’s so much momentum conversations with other people that look pretty clear to us that issues of racism protests erupted on such a global scale. I right now to get the ball rolling and like me. Now those conversations have needed to be a focus for Asinakekelane have a friend at UWC who comes from a the energy I see from you two and the spread around the world, no matter what moving forward,” Koko explained. background where racism and other forms students here at ISAK is immense. So race, colour or creed people are. You see of discrimination were just not talked once you connect with each other - and black and white people, people of all Rod Jemison Head of UWC ISAK Japan Meanwhile, Rod Jemison, Head of UWC about - so since May we’ve spent hours on I know your generation is good at that - genders and ethnicities, standing side by Co-Chair of the UWC ISAK Japan, saw similar needs brought to Zoom together discussing these issues. This the chain reaction you will set in motion side during the BLM protests - and it’s like Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity the fore, both within the ISAK community diversity of perspectives and approaches will be unstoppable. I hope you will leave nothing I’ve ever seen before. So, I’m looking and Inclusion Steering Group itself and across the wider UWC can be surprising at first, but then in a way it this conversation knowing that you have forward to it being normal for people to movement. Rod was also later named co- actually mirrors UWC: we are so diverse, so friends all over the world, and especially in understand racism. It’s exciting. chair of the UWC Anti-Racism, Diversity, of course there are different viewpoints.” the movement, who are on your side and Rod
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER IMPACTING 2020 14 THE REFUGEE CRISIS been an attempt to shift learning online, and then went on to set up his own Kiosk in REFUGEE SUPPORT many refugees, especially in camp settings, the camp - telling us that he would never AT UWC Filling the Urgent Gap in have huge challenges in accessing reliable have had that idea, had he not done the Since 2016, UWC has supported 171 connectivity and devices. At the same course. Or there’s Zamzam from the same refugees and internally displaced time, schools also function as support camp who set up a conflict resolution youth with full scholarships to attend Opportunities For Refugee Youth UWC schools in the IBDP years. structures for disadvantaged students. group for women - reporting that the in 2020: An interview with UWCx Many young refugees live complex lives, Amala course gave her the confidence to worsened by the reality that many have put her idea into practice.” 2016 44 been forced into work as their parents face Initiative, Amala job losses caused by the pandemic. These So, what’s next for Amala? 2017 90 students need to be supported in order to Amala - inspired by the Arabic word for Polly and Mia agree that the core beliefs reduce the chance of dropping out. “In the current climate a lot of it comes 2018 93 “hope” - was founded back in 2017 (then behind all Amala programmes are closely back to resilience: how can we be resilient called Sky School) by UWC alumnae tied to the values of the changemaker At Amala, we’ve been trying our very during these times, how can we maintain our and former UWC International staff education they both received while at best to support our students during this mission and continue to use transformative 2019 81 members Polly Akhurst (UWC Atlantic, UWC: uncertain time. We have been helping education to create opportunities and inspire 2004-2006) and Mia Eskelund Pedersen students with connectivity and access positive change in the lives of refugees and (UWC Mahindra College, 2005-2007) “We want to provide an education that to devices which are needed for remote their communities? How can we reach out 45% of these students are women. in response to the severe shortfall in our learners will feel is relevant, engaging learning, while our education team to more like-minded organisations to work Mia Eskelund Pedersen UWC Mahindra College, secondary education opportunities and meaningful - to improve their own has been hard at work converting our together on creating shared problems to 2005-2007 they found to be available for young lives and those of their communities. Even curriculum to online-only formats. Our the shared solutions that we face? Within Co-Founder and Co-Executive refugees. In the years since Amala’s with those education opportunities that facilitators have also been doing individual this context, we are very excited to partner Director of Amala conception, they have educated more do exist for young refugees, it is too often outreach to students to continue to with UWC and with Rise [a Schmidt Futures than 400 refugee youth through their the case that the curricula does not relate motivate them in their studies.” and Rhodes Trust initiative] to launch a programmes. to the international and complex lives new foundational programme for a total of that they lead.” Throughout all of these challenges, it’s the 60 refugee students from 2021 to 2023 at This year, Amala also launched the stories of their learners that keep Polly, Mia Kakuma camp. first international secondary education The need for the kind of learning and the rest of the Amala team going: programme specifically designed for programmes that Amala provides has only It is partnerships like this that are helping refugee youth and host communities. been accentuated in the past year. As Polly “Our learners have shown us from the us expand our reach, further diminish the The programme was developed with and Mia explain, “the pandemic has really very beginning how deeply impactful number of young people from refugee the support of UWC South East Asia as laid bare the inequalities within education transformational learning can be. Even just backgrounds deprived of a secondary Polly Akhurst UWC Atlantic, 2004-2006 a founding education partner, and with and the loss of learning is huge: where we a 10 week short programme can change education and, most importantly, instil Co-Founder and Co-Executive the support of over 150 educators and currently work in Kakuma Refugee Camp, lives. Take Mofti from Kakuma camp Kenya, hope in a generation of young people Director of Amala refugee learners, many from within the Kenyan schools have just reopened for the for example, who took our course on who will bring about positive change UWC movement. first time since March. While there has peacebuilding and social entrepreneurship in their communities.”
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER IMPACTING 2020 15 GRAPPLING WITH CONFLICT Experiencing The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict as a UWC Dilijan Student
Mica (UWC Dilijan, 2020-2022) is a showed us the procedures to follow in It was an extraordinary experience for first year student from Belgium. Having case the air raid alarm went off. And long many of us. But besides that we learned a overcome the difficulties of starting her after my social networks filled up with lot. Indeed, what could be more relevant UWC journey in the midst of a global #artsakhstrong or #armenia. No, the than learning how to build peace in the pandemic, Mica and the rest of the UWC first time I understood what war was, was midst of a conflict? Is there a better way Dilijan community were faced with the when I saw friends from affected countries to understand the necessity of peace next global challenge: the outbreak running out of the classroom as soon as than by seeing the ravages of war with of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in they got a phone call or when I saw some our own eyes? It was an opportunity to Mica Michel Belgium September 2020. Below she describes students crying while reading the news. confront our ideals with a much harder and UWC Dilijan, 2020-2022 her experiences of watching the conflict It was the constant tension, fear and more complex reality. I understood (not unfold from the UWC Dilijan campus uncertainty all over the campus that really endorsed) how two peoples can hate each in Armenia with her co-years from all took me by surprise. At first we thought it other to the point of no longer questioning around the world. would only last for a few days as it has in their responsibility in the conflict. I the past. But from ceasefire to ceasefire understood that the wars depicted on Barev dzez! My name is Mica. This summer the conflict lasted one month and 14 days. television and on several social networks I left my little Kingdom of Belgium to were often simplified to the point of come here, to Armenia. I come from a On campus we adapted, we knew that our showing us only one side of the conflict. small European country where war is Outdoor Education Instructor had gone And I also understood a form of patriotism only experienced through history books to the front, as well as many relatives of I’ve never seen in Europe. would have achieved it long ago. Peace, or in the news through blurred pictures students and staff. As the days went by, I saw such as the one I seek through the UWC and subtitled tears. I came to UWC with a bubble of support growing. Everyone was In conclusion, this experience of conflict movement, is not the absence of conflict. a view to learn how to build peace but I trying to do what they could to bring every and war made me grow along my UWC It is a daily practice to treat each other didn’t really expect to learn about it while bit of comfort to those who needed it most. journey. “UWC makes education a force with respect in order to ensure stability entering a conflict zone. It ranged from cooking or donating clothes to unite people, nations and cultures for in social cohesion and to meet the for the Artsakh refugees to the little paper peace [...]”. My experiences of the last few vital needs and protection of everyone. On 27 September 2020, Armenia and words of encouragement left here and there months have changed my view on this Experiencing this unity between Turks, Azerbaijan went to war. I don’t really know for affected staff. There were also memorable sentence. Peace now seems to me even Russians and Armenians living on the when I first realised what this meant. moments, an Armenian song sung in chorus more complicated to build but also much same campus while their countries are Probably long after I received the multiple by all the Armenians in honour of the soldiers more necessary. There is no one way torn apart makes me believe that through calls from my relatives who were panicking who fought or a Turkish pupil in a geopolitics and no miracle recipe to build a healthy, education and communication we will be watching the news. Long after the school class defending the Armenians of Artsakh. fair and lasting peace, otherwise we able to come closer to what we call peace.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER IMPACTING 2020 16 Support in 2020
With Gratitude
Seeking and educating budding changemakers from every corner of the world is a mission that needs partners. From supporting scholarships that ensure a UWC education is accessible to anyone with the drive and potential to positively impact their community to helping us cast our net wider in search of the next generation of ethical leaders - we thank you for making UWC possible.
2020 has toughened many aspects of UWC’s work. As a truly global education network that has brought young people from all cultures and all backgrounds together for almost 60 years, the closing of borders, associated disruptions and financial burdens have tested UWC and all that it stands for like never before.
These circumstances have required an immediate response. From taking on travel
costs when campuses closed and after they The Johan and Marianne re-opened to providing accommodation, Andresen family food and connectivity bundles for our more vulnerable students, UWC has not spared any costs in ensuring that each of our students’ additional needs were met throughout the challenges of 2020.
We thank you for your support throughout this crucial time and for working with us to make sure that the core values of a UWC education are not compromised as we continue to empower young people to meet the challenges of tomorrow - at a time when we need them most.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER SUPPORT IN 2020 17 PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Can you outline the driving objectives An Interview behind the many programmes that you offer to UWC students and graduates? with Shelby Davis Phil: Everything Shelby and I have done and continue to do together are based on a few core objectives: first and foremost, and Phil Geier we want to open doors of educational opportunity for tomorrow’s global decision-makers - regardless of their whose 20-Year Partnership backgrounds and circumstances - through scholarship support. Second, we aim to Has Been Nothing Short help strengthen and transform educational What would be your message to UWC institutions, particularly UWC schools and students who graduated in 2020? like-minded U.S. colleges and universities of Transformative For UWC to become more global and go beyond Shelby: My advice for the graduates of traditional domestic perspectives. Third, 2020? Do not despair and instead put all we aim to lead by example, thinking your effort and energy into fulfilling your our philanthropy and programs might greatest potential, understanding that you motivate others to join in their own forms can realize that potential with persistence, of meaningful philanthropy. That’s why patience, and an unrelenting commitment we launched the Davis-UWC IMPACT to making yourself better every day. For more than 20 years, philanthropist In the anniversary year of this crucial Challenge, to encourage all UWC schools Shelby Davis and international educator partnership, we were thrilled to approach to build their own scholarships and their What keeps you hopeful that a more Phil Geier have been a bedrock of support Shelby Davis and Phil Geier with some of own network of donors. This year, we were united, more sustainable and more for UWC, its students and its graduates. our burning questions: gratified that all the UWC schools met the peaceful future is still in reach? The early origins of the partnership stretch challenge, each earning a matching grant of back to the late 1990s, when Shelby What was it that first appealed to you USD 1 million from Davis funding. Shelby and Phil: While 2020 has been Davis started providing funds for 50 US about UWC? impaired by a terrible pandemic with American students to attend UWC on What would be your advice to other tragic loss of lives and extremely difficult Shelby Davis UWC Patron scholarships each year. Then in 2000, the Shelby: Thanks to Phil Geier, former philanthropists willing to engage in economic circumstances, we remain Davis United World College Scholars Program President of UWC-USA (1993-2005), I was education? both hopeful and optimistic about the was launched: it is the world’s largest introduced to the UWC movement just as I future. We believe that staying focused, international scholarship programme for was turning 60, the age at which, according Shelby: I would like nothing better than to working hard, and remaining true to undergraduates and has so far supported to our family philosophy, I was transitioning see other philanthropists step up for UWC, our shared values and goals will see the 10,424 UWC alumni to attend one of 99 from the “earning” phase of my life to the whether that be for more scholarships, UWC movement regain strength and US colleges and universities. Next came “returning” phase. I have long believed that educational innovations, campus become even more valuable to shaping the Davis-UWC IMPACT Challenge, a education creates opportunities and saw development, national committees, or global citizens in the years and decades USD 17 million match-funding incentive in UWC a movement with a global reach other post-secondary opportunities in other ahead. Despite the many challenges and launched in 2015 and designed to that offered educational opportunities to regions of the world. The potential of UWC unknowns that we are facing, we remain Phil Geier encourage and increase donations to UWC some of the world’s most promising and schools and their graduates is infinite but confident about the possibilities of the Executive Director, Davis-UWC schools. The Challenge was successfully motivated youngsters. I decided for my realizing that potential will take a great deal UWC movement and its graduates. Scholars Program completed by all 18 UWC schools this year. return phase to invest in scholarships for more commitment and investment by others Most recently, The Davis-UWC Dare UWC students, initially to increase the than what Phil and I can bring. My advice to to Dream Programme was launched in number of Americans attending UWC all who will listen, especially UWC graduates, 2018, enabling 100 new students from schools and then to broaden that support is to give as generously as you can—it will disadvantaged backgrounds to attend for students of all nations from around the make a difference and our collective future UWC each year - a gift worth USD 100 world, hoping to create a human network of will be strengthened by a greater reach of the million over 20 years. future leaders. UWC mission and its values.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER SUPPORT IN 2020 18 storytelling. This is particularly true for PARTNER SPOTLIGHT young people from regions that have known conflict and division since long European before they can remember. That’s where UWC comes in, the scholarship programme promotes diversity Commission and intercultural understanding through real-life interactions between those on the other side of the wall or conflict - these are Kjartan Björnsson in many ways the exact same aspirations that we have for Cyprus.
What hopes do you have for the UWC scholarship programme in Cyprus, as funded by the European Commission? both local communities to build a school What would its success look like to you? - like a UWC - in Cyprus, that will bring Kjartan Björnsson is the Head of the this aim takes on a whole new significance, together young people from the Turkish European Commission’s Cyprus Settlement with the name (deriving from the word Well, in some ways it is already a success: Cypriot and Greek Cypriot community. Unit, working to facilitate the reunification bridge in the local languages) and the Old we currently have six young Cypriots of Cyprus by supporting projects in areas Bridge itself representing symbolic and studying together in Mostar. That was For now though we are starting with these such as agriculture, the environment, physical manifestations of UWC’s and the not always a given that we would find first 6 young ambassadors. These incredibly civil society, community development European Commisions’ purposes: to build young Cypriots who would be willing (and talented students of today will be tomorrow’s and education. In 2019, the European bridges across the real and imaginative allowed by their parents!) to take part in champions of peace, they will be the leaders Commission partnered up with UWC to divides which separate our societies today. the programme. of their communities, making a future of Kjartan Björnsson Head of the European form The EU Scholarship Programme for peace and reunification possible. Commission’s Cyprus Cypriot Youth at UWC. The aim was clear, Then at the beginning of 2020 we had the Six is of course a modest number but Settlement Unit to contribute to building bridges of mutual opportunity to visit UWC Maastricht. Even we strongly believe in the power of Big question to end: 2020 has been understanding within Cyprus by granting though we were already convinced by the multipliers. If these dedicated young a challenging year - what keeps you six full scholarships for Cypriot students programme before that, quite frankly, I Cypriots bring their competitive hopeful that a more united, more from the Turkish-Cypriot and Greek- was very impressed with the knowledge of education alongside their intimate sustainable and more peaceful future is Cypriot communities to complete their these students, their dedication and with awareness of the values of peace and still in reach? final two years of high school together at the interactions that took place. friendship across communities that they UWC Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. have learned back to their families and The pandemic showed us how vulnerable our What impact do you think education - friends, and then into their respective societies are unless we plan ahead and work You were working in the EU Delegation and, more specifically, UWC’s education communities - the effects can be together. Luckily the pandemic also showed in Bosnia and Herzegovina when UWC model - can have on conflict and post- considerable. us how resilient and resourceful we can be Mostar first opened, what attracted you conflict societies, such as Cyprus? when needed. We have adapted to new ways to the school then? Then, with subsequent generations of of working and inter-acting, which hopefully Youth and education are always key for UWC students, we will hopefully build a we will continue also when the pandemic is The attraction of UWC Mostar actually change everywhere, but of course this growing community of Cypriots interested behind us. We have created new tools to help emerged for me a few years later when holds particularly true for conflict and and able to engage with others, both build more resilient societies and economies, working on a new leadership programme post-conflict societies. Without wanting within their own community but also not to preserve status-quo but to help our for young civil servants from the Western to add even more worries or burdens to outside of it. Combined with the planned societies prepare for tomorrow, including Balkans region with the aim of encouraging the shoulders of the young, I do believe UWC short courses in Cyprus on topics with the green and digital agenda. greater awareness and interaction they hold the keys to helping us find such as entrepreneurship, sustainability between young people from different new ideas and solutions to the mounting and developing leadership, we will Rather than focusing on the gloom, I am backgrounds as a way of building bridges problems that surround us. But first hopefully build a sustainable force for sure that we will come out of the current across divides. This is exactly what UWC you have to show young people that good on the island which will also help to crisis more resilient as individuals and as Mostar - and UWC schools more broadly - peaceful coexistence and unity is a very encourage more stakeholders to take these societies, and with the right instruments is and are about. So the school’s core aim real possibility. To achieve this, they need steps even further. Perhaps one day we to build a better, more inclusive and immediately piqued my interest. In Mostar concrete experiences rather than abstract might even build up enough buy-in from sustainable future for our youth.
36 2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 SUPPORT IN 2020 19 What were the main challenges you There are many important causes to encountered on the row? And what kept fundraise for, why UWC? you going? The world needs UWC more than ever Where do I even begin? Solo rowing before - not just the alumni change- to Hawaii has a success rate of under makers, but the schools themselves as 50%, and I was only the 8th person examples to show that peace is possible. ever to succeed. The experience is full of That’s why I’m dedicating the row to challenges, and the fact that I only got 3 raising scholarships for new UWC students. days of training in my boat before leaving I hope to raise at least one full scholarship made them even greater. to the United World College, UWC Adriatic, where I was inspired as a student. A few of the biggest challenges included rowing across a counter-current that took Where do you hope the United World me all of week two to cross and pushed Challenge will go next? me back east when I rested. Then there was my very improvised attempt to fix My greatest hope for the United World my broken rowing seat in week three with Challenge is to encourage other UWC scrap wood and homemade bearings, and alumni to give back. In fact, that’s why I worrying the seat might not last the rest of founded the Challenge brand and received FUNDRAISING SPOTLIGHT the way, as I made more repairs week after UWCx status, to build a structure and week. Developing tendonitis in my hands vehicle that others could use after me. To and arms is also up there, alongside rowing any alum reading this, if you want to do the Tez Steinberg in temperatures over 49 degrees C, and of next United World Challenge, get in touch: course, the isolation of not seeing another the world - and UWC - needs you. The alum who rowed solo and person for over two months. How’d I keep going? Gratitude and self-supported 2,700 miles across presence. When things were tough, I looked for the beauty. And I reminded the Pacific for UWC scholarships myself why I was doing this: to inspire others and to raise money for more scholarships. I just took things one day at a time, and told myself that I could choose On 3 July 2020, Tez (UWC Adriatic, Tez completed the challenge on 11 to quit, but not today. 2004-2006) set out on his United World September 2020 and has so far raised Challenge, a self-supported rowing USD 76,000 in scholarship funds. What drives you to take on these expedition that would take 71 days. Tez challenges? was only the 8th person ever to complete What made you decide to row miles this journey. He carried all of his equipment across the Pacific Ocean for UWC? My main motivation is curiosity. I want and food with him to survive up to 90 days to know - and actively explore - the alone - and didn’t see another person for I’ve wanted to repay my experience at difference between my perceived and Tez Steinberg USA the duration of the row. The end goal of UWC Adriatic ever since graduating in real limits. Endurance racing helps me UWC Adriatic, 2004-2006 the trip was to inspire others to take on 2006. When I discovered ocean rowing surface my own assumptions about what similar perspective-altering challenges and ten years later, it seemed like the perfect I can do by developing a more honest to raise money for UWC scholarships - so way to do it. They’re quite similar, after understanding of my limits, or perceived that more people from all backgrounds all: being alone in the great big ocean and limits. What this means practically is that can access a UWC experience, just like Tez attending UWC both show how small the I pick races and challenges that seem did when he left the USA for the first time world really is, and what we can achieve nearly impossible. And I try to surprise back in 2004 to travel to Duino, Italy on a with the right attitude and preparation. myself by doing them anyway. So far, it’s full scholarship. The UWCx status that the That’s why I founded the United World worked. I hope by sharing stories from United World Challenge received earlier Challenge, to use this journey to raise these experiences, I can inspire others to this year will make it easier for others to funds for UWC and inspire others to question their own limits too, and then try take on similarly oriented challenges. believe in themselves. something new.
38 2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 SUPPORT IN 2020 20 Thank you For rising to the challenge of 2020 with us.
Here’s to new horizons in 2021.
2020: A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 21 www.uwc.org [email protected]
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