A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER 2020 - Waterford Kamhlaba
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2020 A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
2020
A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
Welcome
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
Committees Dr Victoria Mora organisation like ours, built on uniting with their communities to build a future
to the Challenge President of UWC-USA
Dr Quique Bassat
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
Jens Waltermann
In this Annual Review you will learn of mutual understanding in Cyprus with
Permanent Proxy Chair of Executive Director, about how UWC rose to the challenges support from the European Commission,
COVID-19 12
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.
Gabriel Abad Fernandez the National Committees families, staff, volunteers and friends,
Support in 2020 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 Lin Kobayashi Board Representative on from the refugee crisis to the climate together with you.
Tez Steinberg
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
South Sudan
sought asylum in Uganda as a refugee at - and it has contributed further challenges have so far had here with my UWC East Africa
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
for peace and a sustainable future. A UWC education strives to empower students
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
the Challenge
up their 2020 with UWC. We received almost 200 responses from
UWC students, alumni, staff members and volunteers. Here is
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
implemented partial
school staff, national committee volunteers, parents, alumni and UWC MAY Large-scale discussions about how racism and
International to bring almost 5,000 IBDP students from 158 countries other inequities continue to manifest themselves,
or full campus closures, The murder of George also within UWC institutions, took place including
home, into host families or to fund their stays on campus between June
each lasting varying and August for those students who could not safely return home during Floyd sheds light onto via a three-part UWC Unlocked Talk special series
that aimed to offer a dialogue space and provide
lengths of time.
this period. 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
JANUARY-APRIL UWC educators worked together to find ways to move
Inclusion Steering Group was formed. This
the experiential, holistic and interactive UWC education
The UWC experience model online in a matter of days. A core focus of this
last step involved the most far-reaching call for
steering group membership in the history of UWC
moves online. journey was providing the increased level of support
governance, leading to over 160 applicants
and attention students needed in a time of global
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
students in more disadvantaged contexts with internet JUNE Six UWC short courses took the plunge to
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
Rising
sustainable future to discovering how a deeper
understanding of identity can help us to enact
cannot go ahead. the change that we envision - these online
To New
courses offer new opportunities for more young
people from more backgrounds and areas to
access a UWC education.
Challenges
The UWC transfer system was developed
AUGUST 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
and run professional development courses, as well
to return to or start By December 2020, all but one UWC campus
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 community members across continents together to keep the school community safe from harm. This support also
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
UWC-specific issues. 30 Talks have so Region.
serve in this conflict. So far, the UWC Dilijan community has donated
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
Rising
October 2020
two UWC Refugee was featured in the Times of
scholars: Summia Eswatini, spreading news of
(UWC-USA, 2014-2016) the highly esteemed talent
To New and Dechen (UWC
Atlantic, 2019-2021).
programme supporting refugee
education and scholarship
Prominence
opportunities, with a particular
We were delighted to welcome new partnerships focus on African youth through
that have helped expand UWC’s reach even further. 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 UWC DAY 2020
five students per year from refugee General’s Policy Brief on Education
EU-FUNDED CYPRUS All UWC schools completed the Davis-UWC IMPACT With the theme “United We Can”, events were hosted
backgrounds to attend UWC on full during COVID-19 and Beyond, UWC
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME Challenge. UWC Red Cross Nordic and UWC Mahindra by over 45 UWC entities. The strength and passion
scholarships. joined up with other leading voices
Following the success of a pilot scheme College join the other schools in raising USD 1 million of the UWC movement shone through, despite all
in the field of education to amplify
which supported six scholarship - thereby unlocking the matched funding of USD 1 challenges, and was spread across continents thanks to
the voices of the nearly 1.6 billion
students from the Turkish and Greek million from UWC patron, Shelby Davis. the online event format many had to opt for.
learners worldwide whose education
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 15
8
Our Students in 2020
In Numbers
Meet Dechen, A Third-Generation
STUDENTS
REACHED * More than 11,000
attended UWC schools
students Tibetan Refugee Turned UWC
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
158 countries Close to5,000 students studied
grandparents fled from Tibet as teenagers
and settled in the northeastern Himalayas
opportunity to grow as a whole person and
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
Nearly 3,000 students were as a result of illness which I believe could online learning this year due to COVID-19
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
partial or full financial
41% my school in India applying desperately
to UWC that I asked my school counsellor
varied environment and diverse cultures of
UWC Atlantic! I also thoroughly enjoyed
Male
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 the3,407 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 10THE 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 11Impacting 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 12Our 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 13ANTI-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 14THE REFUGEE CRISIS been an attempt to shift learning online, and then went on to set up his own Kiosk in REFUGEE SUPPORT
Filling the Urgent Gap in many refugees, especially in camp settings, the camp - telling us that he would never AT UWC
have huge challenges in accessing reliable have had that idea, had he not done the Since 2016, UWC has supported 171
Opportunities For Refugee Youth
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
UWC schools in the IBDP years.
in 2020: An interview with UWCx
structures for disadvantaged students. group for women - reporting that the
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
Initiative, Amala been forced into work as their parents face
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 15GRAPPLING 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 16You can also read
