ONE NORTH, Vol 19, March 2022

ONE° NORTH Vol 19 March 2022

The Alumni Magazine of UWC South East Asia

Celebrating 50 Years United Alumni Values In Action Awards UWCSEA IfP Toolkit launches Introducing UWCSEA Connect

Our UWCSEA experiences showed us that with open eyes, open hearts, and open minds, we can continue to learn from others, care for others, and share with others."

Ju Shen Lee ’88 and Jeevan Sellappah ’76 Read more on page 4

Inside 02 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Carma Elliot, College President

08 2020–2021 YEAR IN REVIEW

19 UWCSEA ALUMNI IN HONG KONG

Alumni Foundation Council

Our first regional alumni chapter is launched

24 NOTES FROM THE ALUMNI OFFICE Alumni Services

25 INTRODUCING UWCSEA CONNECT

16 CREATING CONDITIONS FOR PEACEBUILDING Launching the UWCSEA IfP Toolkit

04 UWCSEA: HERE'S WHY AND SO WHAT? Ju Shen Lee ’88 and Jeevan Sellappah ’76

06 READY TO BREATHE: ALUMNUS COLLABORATES WITH CANTABILE Rahul Advani ’08

07 HUMANITARIAN & SPORTS LEADER Gavin Dinsdale, Head of High School Activities, UWCSEA East Featuring: Tahlia Nesfield ’18 and Lauren Pendleton-Nash ’19

10 BRINGING THE MISSION TO LIFE Launching our Values in Action Award

12 GRADUATION 2021 Welcome to our newest members of the alumni community!

14 50 YEARS IN SINGAPORE Milestone moments from our first five decades

Featuring Qamaruzzaman “Q” Amir, Kimheang Chham ’16, Geovania (Debby) Guterres Ornai ’15 and Felipe Andres Fontecilla Gutierrez ’14

18 PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP AT UWCSEA Alumni Support UWCSEA’s first Giving Day Featuring Class of 1997 Alumnae Mamiko Kutsukake, Mei (Michelle) Chan, Kate Christopherson, Ranmali Lintotawela, Selma Nadarajah, Ashima Thomas

20 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS UNITED The Story of UWCSEA in Singapore

21 CHANGEMAKER Musa Henry Kpaka ’04

COVER Bhutan—Real.Life.

Photos by Ju Shen Lee Ju Shen uses her camera to connect to her subjects. The camera does more than capture images of the subjects; it also projects the photographer’s good faith, good intent, and goodwill to the subjects.

22 REUNION 2021 A Reunion Like No Other!

Editors: Renée Gallant, Kate Woodford; Design: Selina Low; Photographs: where possible, attribution captioned Printed on recycled paper | MCI (P) 067/11/2021 | ALUMNI-2122

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One°North is published by UWC South East Asia annually for alumni, staff and friends of UWCSEA. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited without written consent.

We welcome your feedback; please send comments, suggestions for future issues and/or address updates to alumnimagazine@uwcsea.edu.sg

Message from the College President: 50 Years United

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This year we are celebrating our 50-year history in Singapore, and as I reflect on the collective activity that has already taken place alongside all of the ‘business as usual’—the learning, the teaching, the operations and the care—I am grateful to be a part of such a wholeheartedly committed community.

There have been so many opportunities for us to be ‘together in purpose’ this year. Our 50th celebrations kicked off in earnest with the Alumni Reunion in August bringing together, virtually, some 700 alumni and former staff from across the globe. While rekindling connections with former classmates and teachers, our alumni were also keen to explore what the College is today and understand how they can give back by continuing to live the mission in their lives beyond the College. The UWCSEA Alumni Values in Action Awards were launched that weekend, and the awardees announced during Founders Week in December at the book-end alumni event, our Holiday Reunion. It was humbling to see the ways in which our 19 awardees are making a difference in their communities, supporting inclusion, peace, sustainability and community wellbeing. You can read more about the inaugural recipients on page 10.

Activity around the theme of peace gathered pace in September, with the launch of our first White Paper

Educating for peace: UWCSEA Mission for Future Peacebuilders. UWC Day, on 21 September, was celebrated across both campuses by students and staff.

That evening, I was honoured to host series namesake, Kishore Mahbubani, on the East Campus for a conversation examining perspectives on peace in front of a small audience of students and staff, and a much wider online audience. The messages of peace and the importance of the role of youth in the process of peacebuilding are continuing to spread, as the video recording of that discussion has continued to gather audiences in the intervening months. While we will have more to share on this topic later this year, we were also pleased to announce UWCSEA’s partnership with the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Asian Peace Programme (APP) at the event.

Alumni were also central to the launch of the UWCSEA Initiative for Peace (IfP) Toolkit at the end of September, and we welcomed alumni, students and staff to an online event which served to highlight the importance of this programme, and the impact that initiatives such as IfP can have on the lives of young people and their communities. We have funded an experienced IfP facilitator to take care of the nascent programme, which we hope will grow to become a global network

of IfP events, each having profound and long-lasting personal impact on participants while extending the impact of our mission.

And then to the culminating event of Term 1, Founders Week. It began on Monday, 13 December with another inspiring Kishore Mahbubani Speaker Series event—a conversation with Faith Abiodun, the incoming Executive Director of UWC International. I was joined by two of our High School students, Ruth and Anthony, in an inspirational discussion with Faith on a wide range of topics that resonated with our community and really connected with our students. Faith shared his vision that “UWC is possibility—plus agency”—and that he hopes students will see what can happen, and know that they can make it happen. We were pleased to welcome so many in the UWC global community to the event, which was Faith’s first public appearance in his new role. It was an inspiring glimpse of the possibilities for the future of our global movement, signalling the depth and breadth of the discussions that will take place in the UWCSEA Forum Learning to Shape the Future, scheduled 22–23 April 2022.

On Tuesday, 14 December, we began our first ever Giving Day with a splash when 50 Dover staff jumped into the pool to kick off the 30 hours of giving!

I enjoyed baking 1,500 cookies with

A birthday message from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong Delivered 15 December 2021

parent volunteers on both campuses and had the joy of handing them out on our birthday, joined by scholars, students and members of the leadership team. The whole College community came together to support scholarships and there were multiple staff and student challenges across the College.

The generosity of our community was overwhelming with more than S$450,000 raised by 735 donors in support of UWC scholarships. Our sincerest thanks to everyone who was able to support this special day, which will fund a number of scholars to experience a UWC education, including a young woman from Afghanistan who will attend UWC Thailand.

When our College opened in 1971, we effectively turned one school in Wales into a global movement, now 18 schools strong, and began expanding a global community united by our common mission and a vision for inclusion and equity. How wonderful to celebrate together in such rich and meaningful ways.

Warm regards,

Carma Elliot CMG OBE College President

These last two years have been very difficult for everyone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it's been tough on the international community here. You have had to comply with strict travel restrictions.

Some families have endured long periods of separation from members abroad. The economic uncertainties have also heightened local-foreigner anxieties in our society which you may have personally encountered.

I would therefore like to thank the international community here for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Singaporeans through these difficult days.

Thank you for contributing to the economy and society and for being part of the extended Singapore family. We welcome you and value your contributions. We hope you will integrate well into our society and wish you and your family a productive and happy stay here. Singapore will always be an international hub, open and welcoming to ideas and talent and we thank UWC for helping to make Singapore a good place for expatriates to live and work.

I look forward to the College continuing to play a valuable role in Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond. Happy Golden Jubilee.

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Wednesday then marked 50 years to the day since former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opened the College on Dover Road. We were fortunate to receive a congratulatory video message from current Prime Minister Lee himself, which you can read alongside my own, or view the video on our 50th anniversary website. It is a remarkable honour to have a message acknowledging the special history UWCSEA has with Singapore, and of the value that is placed on our contribution, as a school and as a community. We hope to remain closely connected with Singapore; we know that we will continue to be inspired by our host country for the next 50 years.

And then we launched our highly anticipated 50th anniversary coffee table book, 50 Years United: The Story of UWCSEA in Singapore, with service and other Singapore partners and friends joining us in the Dover Campus Library.

The book is a wonderful collection of stories and memories in recognition of UWCSEA’s intimate connection to Singapore’s story. I am grateful for the care that went into creating such a thoughtful record of our story, our achievements and our inspiration—and for your contribution to that manyfaceted tale.

My warmest congratulations to UWC for 50 successful years in Singapore.

Fifty years ago UWC was set up as one of the first international schools in Singapore educating the children of expatriates posted here. Since then UWC in Singapore has grown into an established and trusted educator. It has 5,600 students from over 100 nationalities and successful alumni all over the world. UWC’s success is intertwined with Singapore’s development and progress.

Throughout this journey the College has made valuable contributions to the wider community especially through your vibrant service programmes.

UWCSEA–

Here’s Why and So What!

Ju Shen Lee ’88 and Jeevan Sellappah ’76

Ju Shen uses her camera to connect to her subjects. The camera does more than capture images of the

Here’s Why …

UWCSEA taught us to build bridges to different people from different cultures living in different worlds. Our UWCSEA experiences showed us that with open eyes, open hearts, and open minds, we would learn from others, care for others, and share with others. We have continued to gather immense benefit from our UWCSEA lessons and experiences.

Driven by Ju Shen’s passion for ‘Real.Life.Photos’, we have continued to leverage these invaluable lessons and experiences as we have travelled on our annual, month-long photoexpeditions: Bhutan (2013,2014), Cambodia (2015), Laos (2016, 2017, 2018), and Myanmar (2019). We have come to appreciate that we did not graduate from UWCSEA but, instead, we graduated with the spirit of UWCSEA as a part of us.

Here is one of our experiences that tells the story of this profound influence.

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Merak, Bhutan We were marooned in Merak (3,520m), a Brokpa village along the Himalayan range in a remote area in eastern Bhutan.During our trek through the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, we learnt that the Nakchungla pass (4,153m) and the Labtsekha pass (3,300m) were closed by heavy snowfall. Our guide, Kesang Tshering, decided that it would be dangerous to continue on to our destination, Sakteng (2,950m).

The Brokpas are a semi-nomadic yak-herding tribe, ethnically and culturally distinct from the Bhutanese. After spending

the summer in the high alpine pastures with their herds, they return to their homes in Merak and Sakteng for the winters.

Unlike the rest of Bhutan, which is Buddhist, the Brokpa are animists, and few speak Bhutan’s national language, Dzongkha.

With an overwhelming generosity of spirit, the village headman opened his home and his village to us for three remarkable days. We had arrived in the late afternoon and as dinner was being prepared, villagers started thronging the headman’s home to meet us. To dissolve the multiple language barriers, Ju Shen whipped out her mobile phone and showed them our family photos. This was not only an instant hit, but created a bond like no other because, no matter where you are, families are important. When Ju Shen showed them our baby photos, the mothers cooed adoringly whilst the children laughed hysterically!

During our stay, the villagers proudly showed us their village.

They gave us a special performance of their traditional summer yak dance and showed us the new village community centre they were building. Everywhere we went, we were offered endless cups of tea and a conveyor belt of snacks. The potent traditional fermented grain liquor, ara, was also offered but politely declined because it would have quickly debilitated ara novices like us!

Ju Shen ingeniously used her camera to connect to her subjects. The camera does more than capture images of the subjects; it also projects the photographer’s good faith, good intent, and goodwill. Everywhere we went, she would show the villagers, on her camera’s screen, all the photos she

subjects; it also projects the photographer’s good faith, good intent, and goodwill to the subjects.

had taken in their village. This brought much joy and quickly cemented the bonds built during our first dinner there. As we walked through the village, Jeevan would be comically bent over carrying the heavy camera pack, trudging several meters behind Ju Shen in abject servility. This made the women smile in solidarity with Ju Shen, whilst the men would nod in resignation with Jeevan!

As UWCSEA alumni, you already know that this is simply all about learning from others, caring for others, and sharing with others. So, please join us to celebrate where our adventures in life all started: UWCSEA! “Team JS” Jeevan Sellappah ’76 and Ju Shen Lee ’88

Following our recommendation, Kesang Tshering and his company, Bhutan Wilderness Travel, were appointed to provide the logistics and guiding services for UWCSEA’s Grade 9 Outdoor Education expeditions to Bhutan. We have also both returned to give some pro bono support for Bhutan: Ju Shen created a tourism promotion video titled ‘Flavours of Bhutan’ and Jeevan worked for a year with Druk Holding & Investments Bhutan’s sovereign wealth fund.

… So What?

Explore more of Ju Shen and Jeevan’s images and impressions from their travels to Phoumieng and Luang Prabang, Laos on the UWCSEA website.

For information on visiting these wonderful people, photographing these beautiful locations, excellent accommodation, and knowledgeable travel guides, please contact Ju Shen and Jeevan via UWCSEA Connect.

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Our UWCSEA lessons and experiences have provided us with solid and sustainable foundations that continue to add fresh colour and vitality to our adventures in life. From our serendipitous encounters with the humble, hardworking Brokpa yak herders in Merak, to the Hmong hill farmers in Phoumieng, the Intha fishermen and farmers in Nyaung Won, and the Lao monks in Luang Prabang, we learnt three important lessons.

First: Whilst not everyone can be a hero to the world, everyone can be a hero to their family and community. Second: Whilst not everyone can be the best, everyone can be their best.

Third: Whilst not everyone can donate money, everyone can donate their time to inspire and encourage others.

READY TO BREATHE: Alumnus collaborates with Cantabile Rahul Advani ’08 Music always provided an outlet for me. When I think about my time at UWCSEA, I fondly remember all the opportunities I got to grow as a performer, from singing in the musical revue “All That Jazz” and staging and directing an original Bollywood musical “Pyaar Ki Dhun'' in the Exam Hall (now the expanded Music Department!) to singing with Cantabile. During Middle School I would sit in assemblies watching in awe as my High School peers in Cantabile performed. Years later, it was through Cantabile that I had my first taste of singing different genres and styles and performing in professional venues around Singapore including the Esplanade.

“Cantabile was the choir where I first developed my confidence as a singer and performer. The recording session was an absolute blast, and it was so much fun getting to have current students be a part of this process. The facilities at UWCSEA are nothing short of astonishing, and it’s heartening to know that there’s still the same excitement and enthusiasm towards trying new things.”

Rahul (centre) with Cantabile members after recording “Ready to Breathe” in December 2019

About a decade later (and midway through my PhD), I began writing and recording songs that would form an EP. I knew that the EP’s first track “Ready To Breathe”—a song about breaking free from expectations and defining happiness on one’s own terms—needed to feel like a celebration. The arrangement leans heavily into the soul, rock and pop influences I grew up listening to, including Elton John, John Mayer and Sara Bareilles. Towards the end of the song, I had the idea of having all the instruments suddenly come to a stop, with a gospel choir clapping and singing the song’s refrain. Immediately, Cantabile sprang to mind.

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I connected with Michel Fox, my former teacher who first encouraged me to sing, and in December 2019 I found myself back at school to record “Ready To Breathe” with the current members of Cantabile—how surreal! In many ways it felt like my musical journey had come full circle. It was incredible to see the Music Department’s growth, including its state-of-theart recording studio. At the same time, the enthusiasm among the students remained just as strong as I remember during my years at UWCSEA. Just a few months after the recording, the world turned upside down as the pandemic swept across the globe. I continued to work on the EP music remotely, also shooting a music video over Zoom with filmmakers and actors in Singapore and India.

Two years later, with the EP now finished, I can’t quite believe that the Grade 11 and 12 students I recorded with that day are now alumni themselves, scattered all over the world. I hope that wherever their journeys take them, these songs will be something they carry with them.

Keep an eye on upcoming issues of Alumni eBrief to receive notification of the official release of “Ready To Breathe” or follow Rahul on Spotify:

Rahul (left) in a 2008 performance of “Pyaar Ki Dhun”

"I remember Rahul being so encouraging, patient and gentle in his rehearsal manner with the students. He was also very modest as he spoke to the students and answered their questions, particularly considering the quality of the material and instrumental arrangements he had just produced."

Michel Fox, Music teacher and Director of Cantabile

HUMANITARIAN AND SPORTS LEADER How the Activities programme prepared two alumnae for life after UWCSEA Gavin Dinsdale, Head of High School Activities, East Campus We often hear how Activities shape a student’s time at UWCSEA, but the preparation for life beyond the College is as impactful. We strive towards developing students as lifelong learners where they utilise and build upon their past experiences. Reflections captured from alumnae demonstrate how their participation in Activities helped them in unique ways as they began to forge their own paths.

The following shared by Tahlia Nesfield '18 and Lauren Pendleton-Nash '99 are powerful reminders of the learning that takes place across our learning programme.

Humanitarian “I was alone, in the country, I didn’t speak the language and was navigating a landscape that has been scarred by an earthquake”

Tahlia during her volunteer experience in Nepal.

She remains involved in humanitarian efforts alongside Geography and Development Studies at University.

Sports Leader

Lauren now works as an International Youth Football Coach and Referee while pursuing her BA in Sports Management and Coaching.

Lauren is a passionate and impressively qualified football coach who is currently overseeing training sessions at five locations in the UK involving over 500 students alongside studying for her undergraduate degree. Participating

Beyond the fun and enjoyment of auditorium filled dances, sports teams, clubs and leadership programmes UWCSEA’s Activities Programmes instil the cultural competencies and interpersonal skills essential to supporting not only our alumni but also the communities in which they live.

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Travelling to Nepal on an international humanitarian project to provide vital assistance in an earthquake zone requires someone who is compassionate, can deal with stress and translate understanding into action.

Tahlia attributes these characteristics and confidence to several aspects of her involvement in the UWCSEA Activities Programme. Being involved in Culturama dances with an audience of 400 will certainly make you perform under pressure but the learning is much deeper than the dance itself.

Connecting with unfamiliar people and cultures requires open-mindedness and an understanding that each person is unique and to respect the uniqueness of others. Working with 80 delegates in the Initiative for Peace ensured she was comfortable having difficult conversations, able to listen intently to other perspectives and fostered an ability to see the big picture. Being involved in sports teams required trust,

dedication and the ability to cope with stress. Sport also teaches about the importance of teamwork and this prepared Tahlia to deal with demanding and challenging situations especially when dealing with other volunteers in Nepal when tasks were physically and emotionally draining. Being involved in Activities brought happiness and fond memories whilst at East but the deeper learning which has been called on in many challenging situations since has proved the true value.

in team sports while at East Campus taught Lauren the need to develop interpersonal skills, to be inclusive and trust her peers, qualities that she has utilised in her fast track coaching career. Conversations with Lauren pinpoint her experience in the Chelsea FC Leadership Programme as pivotal to her success since leaving the College.

Student Leadership Programmes require students to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds including students and staff. Learning how to deal with different personalities, situations and challenges prepared Lauren for more demanding situations and gave her the edge over others when seeking out coaching and leadership opportunities.

Lauren has made it a point to build strong connections with people that she meets and has kept her network strong by helping others. She continues to build her network in her role as a Football League Secretary and Fixtures Manager involving hundreds of teams in the UK. The learning from participation in the Activities Programme has ensured that Lauren has cultivated a network within football in which she is significantly contributing and flourishing.

2020/2021 YE

Written by the Alumni Foundation Council; High School students who su

DOVER CAMPUS Rock Show

UN Night

by Anusha, Grade 10

by Anusha, Grade 10

Drama Production: Short Form 2020

by Meg, Grade 11

The annual Rock Show took place right before the school shifted into remote learning mode. Despite the planning team of students, teachers and facilities staff being unsure if it would occur, the Rock Show was a resounding success.

We witnessed spectacular individual and band performances, all thanks to the teachers, students, and technicians who worked tirelessly to make it happen.

The show went on in spite of the pandemic, shifting to virtual livestreams.

With performances from a vast array of countries and cultures, students stunned us spectacularly, with people of all nationalities and ages coming together to continue the UN Night tradition.

Rainforest Restoration

by Meg, Grade 11

TEDxDover

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by Amanda, Grade 11

The theme for TEDxUWCSEA Dover 2021 was "Empower". The conference, held on 14 April, included speakers who shared their interpretations of the word with the goal of collectively redefining the term. Student organisers Enos and Luis saw TEDx as the perfect way to promote important ideas and make a difference in their community.

Even though students weren’t able to go around the island to plant in nature, members of the Rainforest Restoration Project on both campuses supported the Million Trees Initiative by donating 20 saplings of rare plants like Hopea ferrea and Parkia specios, to be planted in tropical rainforests. Dover students were also put in charge of a section of Singapore’s new Green Rail Corridor thanks to the College’s long term partnership with NParks. Some of their duties included weeding invasive species and collecting data on the biodiversity and health of the plants.

Short Form is an annual celebration of student-written and directed work and has always been an exciting event due to the variety and creativity of the different pieces. This year’s productions were more diverse due to the participation of students from all grade levels. Due to COVID regulations, the process was especially challenging, but their passion and enthusiasm allowed them to overcome these obstacles.

The final performances of Short Form were recorded and available to internal community members online to watch at their leisure.

AR IN REVIEW

pport and inspire the work of the UWCSEA Alumni and Foundation teams.

EAST CAMPUS CultuRama 2020:

by Roberto, Grade 11

limited by restrictions, perseverance was at an all-time high as the campus continued to pursue the goal of uniting people, nations, and cultures through education.

Fridays for Future

by Roberto, Grade 11

The annual dance show has always been a highlight for the East Campus community. Showcasing 13 countries, CultuRama 2020 celebrated different cultures through motion, emphasising the rich diversity within our school.

This year, the theme was "Our Stories," highlighting historical and contemporary movements while adding a new Spoken Word segment for performers to narrate their own stories in the form of spoken poetry. To adjust to the pandemic, the performance was streamed live for all community members to enjoy, irrespective of their location.

UWC Day 2020:

by Roberto, Grade 11

Team Wall-East entered the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), participating in a global challenge which involves building industrial-size robots to compete in various games, designing a brand, fundraising and creating STEM awareness in their community.

Collaborating with UWC Changshu and teams in Turkey, United States, Taiwan, China and India, they won the “Rookie Game Changer Award” (for excellence in STEM awareness and robot build) and the Captain won the FIRST Dean’s List Finalist Award.

Grand Walk

by Aakash, Grade 12

Inspired by Greta Thunberg, Fridays for Future served to empower change within the school community. In this event, the Service department facilitated discussions about what students and staff felt needed to be changed in the school. They gave these opportunities to community members to uplift their voices as changemakers for sustainability and a better future on campus. Consisting of personal anecdotes, connections with the UN SDGs, and more, the event showcased the diversity on the campus. Afterward, to further align UWCSEA East with the United Nation's SDGs, a pledge was set up, committing the College and its members to bettering the campus.

FIRST Robotics Competition

The Grand Walk could not take place in 2020 due to the Circuit Breaker lockdown but was back in a revised format in 2021, as a result of careful planning and passionate community support. Our seniors and Samba Band split into smaller groups to walk around the school, as everyone cheered from their classrooms. Culminating with a walk down memory lane, it was a tradition we were glad to welcome back.

by Aakash, Grade 12

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On 21 September 2020, UWC Day was celebrated to honour the UWC mission and values. The theme United We Can empowered students and staff to recognise their power to cope with COVID-19 and stand together. While

Bringing the mission to life

Launching our Values in Action award As part of our ongoing work to identify how the College can measure the impact of our UWCSEA education, and therefore be accountable to delivering our commitment to the UWC mission, we have begun to expand our thinking on our guiding statements by describing the ‘mission competencies’ that we hope our alumni take with them as they leave us and will bring to their lives beyond the College. Beyond the ‘Essential Literacies’ which all schools aspire for their students to gain, we have identified four additional ‘mission competencies’ as key ways in which we aspire for our alumni to bring their learning from UWCSEA to life in the world: • Peace • Sustainability • Inclusion • Community wellbeing The UWCSEA Values In Action Award recognises significant and sustained impact made by our alumni community at the local, national, and international level and celebrates those who have gone on to bring UWCSEA’s mission and values to life through action which creates a lasting, positive impact.

Find out more and nominate yourself or another inspiring alumnus for the 2022 Alumni Values in Action Awards here:

We have done this by using the following criteria to guide our assessment of the award submissions: • evidence of impact e.g. scope of impact, resources saved, money raised or other financial contribution; elements of positive change • sustained and ongoing impact of the work or activity being undertaken • evidence of personal leadership • potential to engage with current UWCSEA learners By recognising alumni who are expressing these competencies through their actions and lives, we hope to inspire future generations of students to live a UWC-driven life beyond their time in Singapore at UWCSEA. In announcing the inaugural awardees, College President Carma Elliot said, “In effect, with the launch of these awards we wish to further create a cyclical economy of learning, encouraging our alumni community to continue to engage with us as they leave us to take action and then return with their time and their stories to further enrich the spirit of community and commitment to learning in which they flourished as students. While the truth may be that we have always done this, we would like to celebrate and find ways to inspire our community by expanding our notions of what living the mission in action might be.”

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Introducing our 2021 Awardees Aditi Varshneya ’14

Alanna Sethi ’01

Ben Howitt ’11

Mission Competencies: Sustainability, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Community Wellbeing

Mission Competency: Sustainability

Impact: Zero waste advocate and organiser of Uptown Fridge whose dual mission is to reduce food waste by rescuing excess food and to help those dealing with food insecurity

Impact: Mental health advocate and founder of HOPE, a non-profit initiative dedicated to improving communities’ mental wellbeing

Impact: Veterinarian and Founder/Managing Director of Pan Animalia Galápagos

Catherine McKinley ’89

Chihiro Isozaki ’11

Claudia Bennett ’12

Mission Competencies: Peace, Sustainability, Inclusion, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Peace, Sustainability, Inclusion, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Peace, Inclusion, Community Wellbeing

Impact: Founder and Director of the Green Shoots International School, Hoi An, Vietnam

Impact: International human rights lawyer, diversity-and-inclusion advocate and race activist, volunteer crisis hotline counsellor and community mutual aid organiser

Emmanuel Dean ’14 Miguel Angel Zambrano Boy ’14

Impact: International Humanitarian Law Fellow at the American Red Cross and former volunteer at refugee camps in Greece

Evelyn Mayo ’13

Havishyan Thakral ’16

Mission Competencies: Sustainability, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Sustainability, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competency: Inclusion

Impact: Co-founders of BOOMI, whose vision is to build an extensive and trustworthy eco-system for all things sustainability in mainland China

Impact: Community Educator working with low-income people on housing, environmental and community advocacy concerns with skills in Grassroots Organising, Facilitation, Environmental Justice, and Strategic Advocacy

Impact: Co-founder of Enklude, a Jakartabased social enterprise whose vision is to empower persons with disabilities to become financially independent, and future leaders of the 21st century, through education, employment, and entrepreneurship initiatives

Karla Huaman Ruiz ’13 Eyner Roman Lopez ’14

Kudakwashe Mushaike ’14

Lola Sweeney ’21

Mission Competency: Inclusion

Mission Competencies: Peace, Inclusion, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Peace, Community Wellbeing

Impact: Co-founders of Arriba, the first community of first generation college students and professionals in Peru whose goal is to catalyse systemic change

Impact: Founder of Below The Surface, a community organisation that celebrates vulnerability in men through real and open conversation and building communities of support

Impact: Humanitarian and activist for Afghani refugees

Rachel ChhoaHoward ’05

Renuka Ramanujam ’12

Mission Competencies: Inclusion, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Peace, Sustainability, Inclusion, Community Wellbeing

Mission Competency: Sustainability

Impact: Child protection specialist in conflict zones in Liberia, DRC among others; worked for War Child, Save the Children and more

Impact: Amnesty International researcher and human rights advocate specialising in South East Asia

Impact: Designer and founder of Mudra, a conceptual, art led design studio focusing on our relationship to the planet, as well as each other and turning the unexpected into beautiful conversation.

Patrick Rouxel ’84

Samay Bansal ’16

Sophie Barbier ’12

Mission Competency: Sustainability

Mission Competency: Community Wellbeing

Mission Competencies: Peace, Sustainability

Impact: Independent filmmaker dedicated to rainforest conservation, animal welfare and CEO and Founder of Sun Bear Outreach

Impact: Founder of Million Meals Mission who have provided over 306,000 meals to food-insecure communities in Cambodia, Yemen, Lebanon, USA and India over the past five years

Impact: Advocate of multidisciplinary impact and Sustainable Development Goals with extensive experience in non-profits, theories of change, and impact assessment

March 2022 OneºNorth 11

Nidhi Kapur ’01

GRADUAT

#UWCSEA

As graduation returned to campus for the first students wore their national dress to recei Graduation is always a cause for celebration, an community ensured the Class of 2021 had a ce tightening of safe-distancing measure

DOVER

321

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 and welc

students

25 scholars

52 countries

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that bonds of love and friendship don’t need physical proximity to remain strong.

So as we depart and join the vast alumni network, remember to look out for one another. Check in with people that you haven’t spoken to in a while. Say thank you and goodbye to those that have made a difference in your life. Be kind to yourself and others because you never know the impact it may have.

Elena Chesser ’21 and Erynn Lau ’21 Student speakers

Wherever you go next, I guarantee you that there is a Shingle Mountain. And in this day and age where the entire world can feel like a Shingle Mountain and so much is conspiring to make us feel alone it's never been easier to say screw it, kick back, watch the world burn.

But don't. You have too much to give and honestly there's too much at stake for you not to get out and join the fight. Your freedom is tied up in mine, is tied up in your neighbours, don't ever forget it. Change is very hard and democracy even more messy but there is so much beauty and meaning in the process.

Congratulations again Class of 2021 and sending so much love to you all.

Evelyn Mayo ’13

TION 2021

AFOREVER

time since 2011, many of our 583 graduating ive their UWCSEA High School Diploma. nd determination and tireless effort from our eremony to mark the moment—despite the es across Singapore just days before.

EAST

262

come to the UWCSEA Alumni Community!

students

27 This is the end of the end and the beginning of the beginning. We should remember the people that have made us stronger by making us more vulnerable. There’s just so many of you that have made this whole journey worth every bit of the ups and downs and that goes for all of us. It’s because of you that we have graduated despite the odds. There’s something uniquely vibrant about a moment of pure joy during a period of hardship. Look around you–this is that moment. I think it’s fair to say good times never felt so good.

Phunziro Phuza ’21 Student speaker

scholars

57 countries

Singapore International School is opened by Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew as an associate member of the UWC movement, with the support of UWC President, Lord Mountbatten and the International Secondary School Study Committee.

1971

The first student expedition travelled to the Lamdon School in Leh, Ladakh, another step in cementing a relationship that now spans more than 30 years and reaches across both campuses.

1991

UWCSEA East opens its doors to welcome 400 students in our temporary campus in Ang Mo Kio, as construction of a state-of-the-art second campus in Tampines begins.

2008

The first United Nations evening celebrates the College’s multicultural community with food, national dress, music and dance. UN Night on Dover and CultuRama on East continue to be annual highlights of student performance and celebration.

By 1974 Marathon Day, which had begun in 1972 as a series of madcap events to raise funds for a number of service initiatives, was raising over $10k through a week of activities including spaghetti-eating contests, a 48 hour game of bridge—and a student remaining up a tree for 36 hours.

Singapore International School is renamed UWC South East Asia, becoming a full member of the UWC movement and triggering a number of developments, including preparing to welcome our first UWC scholars.

1972

1974

1975

The iconic “Air Con Pool” is drained bringing an end to kayaking and student antics. A tent was raised over the space in 1997 and the space was filled to create today’s plaza in 2015. The Tent Plaza is a central gathering point on both campuses.

Middle School ‘EngHum’ (integrated English and Humanities) programme is launched in the College’s 25th anniversary year which was marked by a Global Concerns conference and UWC International meeting.

1992

1994

1996

Mr Heng Swee Keat, then Minister for Education, officially opens East Campus in Tampines.

The newly constructed campus is re-awarded the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum award.

Our 500th scholar graduates from UWCSEA. Thanks to the generous support of the UWCSEA Foundation an increasing number of scholars have been welcomed into our community. By 2024 over 1,000 scholars will have graduated from UWCSEA.

A five-year building and refurbishment programme on Dover Campus concludes with the opening of the new High School Block. Mirroring the transformation of Singapore, the campus has modernized while maintaining reminders of the past.

2011

2012

2016

Footprints replaces Mengembara as the student publication dedicated to College travel experiences.

Primarily focused on Project Week, these reflections provide a wonderful tribute to the power and potential of this unique UWCSEA experience.

Our partnership with MINDS—Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore is established.

Students make their first visit to Tampines Home, now mindsville@napiri.

In 1977 UWCSEA became the first school in Asia to offer the IB Diploma, introduced as part of becoming a full member of the UWC movement. A-Levels are discontinued in 1981.

A lavish production of The King and I delights audiences. UWCSEA’s strong tradition of performing and visual arts continues through our extensive arts programmes, which are delivered in our numerous performance and gallery spaces across both campuses.

1976

1977

1980

The decision to become a K–12 school results in a period of construction, including the Primary School block, a new boarding house and the Roy Bennett Theatre.

OPUS is held for the first time at the Victoria Concert Hall. It later moved to the Esplanade, where Dover students and staff still perform in this annual concert.

The first Initiative for Peace (IfP) conference, Youth Connecting Youth to Create Peace, is held.

Now a flagship programme at UWCSEA, IfP has inspired numerous alumni to pursue careers in peace and conflict resolution. The IfP Toolkit for youth groups and schools was launched in 2021.

1997

1998

2002

UWCSEA East achieves CIS/ WASC accreditation, following the successful accreditation of Dover Campus in 2012 and allowing both campuses to offer the UWCSEA High School Diploma in addition to the IB Diploma.

East Campus celebrates 10 years of educating for peace and a sustainable future.

Restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 transform life on campus. Social distancing, masks and several periods of home-based learning pose unprecedented challenges, particularly to our Boarding community.

2017

2018

2020

Perhaps a catalyst for the development of our bespoke Outdoor Education curriculum, Beluntu, our United World Centre in Johore, is closed after 10 years. In addition to expedition experiences, many academic departments used the site for study projects and field trips.

1984

Community support launched Project Aceh, a 10+ year commitment in the wake of the December 2004 tsunami which included the Tsunami Education Fund (TEF), a long-term financial support programme for tsunami yatim piatu (tsunami orphans) to encourage them to complete High School.

2005

UWCSEA celebrates 50 years of UWC in Singapore with a year-long programme of celebrations and impact events.

2021

Creating conditions for peacebuilding Launching the UWCSEA IfP Toolkit

16 OneºNorth March 2022

As one of the cornerstones of UWCSEA’s peacebuilding curriculum, the Initiative for Peace (IfP) has been a definitive experience for many UWCSEA students and staff since the first IfP was held in 2002. We know because many have gone on to use the skills and understandings they were introduced to through participation in this one-year programme to bear in their lives and their work beyond the College and across the world.

We also know because former Dover teacher Qamaruzzaman “Q” Amir (himself a UWC Pearson alumnus) was so inspired by his role as IfP Programme Leader that he left UWCSEA to pursue studies focusing on peacebuilding and Peace Education. He is currently completing his PhD dissertation on what makes the IfP so powerful and transformative, and his research, involving interviews with 48 former IfP facilitators and UWCSEA graduates from the period 2006–2018, has thrown into relief the powerful effect of IfP on our students.

“Every single person, regardless of their profession or vocation, everyone from bankers to UN Development Programme workers to those still in university, all are asking, ‘What is my impact? What am I doing with my life right now to create

impact?’ That’s a powerful testament—a sticky lesson. I look forward to sharing more when my dissertation is done.”

And so, as part of our mission-inspired commitment to using education as a force for peace, we were proud to launch ‘UWCSEA IfP Toolkit’ as part of our 50th anniversary impact programme. The launch on 30 September was the culmination of our September theme of Peace, which was celebrated on a UWC Day that was capped off with a special livestream event: Perspectives on Peace, a conversation between Kishore Mahbubani and Carma Elliot.

At the launch, alumni from around the world joined staff and students in a discussion which highlighted just how valuable access to peacebuilding education can be for young people.

Felipe Andres Fontecilla Gutierrez ’14, now President of Centre for Social Reality studies in Chile, explained, “Participating in IfP gave me a lot of theories to frame peace, peace building and conflict resolution, all of which were things I was interested in when I joined UWCSEA. It also gave me a lot of professional skills such as the facilitation training and curriculum development in building the programme for the conference that I continue to use in my work today.”

Debbie’s first exposure to IfP was as a conference delegate in East Timor in 2010.

She later joined UWCSEA as a scholar and became an Ifp facilitator.

Kimheang (Kim) went on to start IfP Cambodia after her experience as an IfP facilitator in Mae Sot, Thailand.

Qamaruzzaman “Q” Amir is now completing his PhD on Peace Education using IfP as his principle case study.

Kimheang (Kim) Chham ’16 is currently Sustainability Fellow at Luther College in the US, and described the power of her IfP experience: “What was so special about IfP for me was the sense of empowerment I felt both in training as a student facilitator and during the launch of IfP Cambodia. I remember feeling this fueI from facilitating the conference in Mae Sot. I wanted to do more. I wanted to do more with young people and specifically with people from my hometown who had never felt empowered like me, but who I knew had such potential to do so much for our country. IfP and UWC instilled in me that the people in areas experiencing conflict need to do it for themselves. And in order to do it for themselves they need both the tools and a sense of empowerment. I wanted to bring that home and that’s what I was trying to achieve with the launch of IfP Cambodia after graduation.”

much thought until 2006 when Timor Leste found itself in a political crisis. I’d never seen anything like it. To then be involved in something like IfP in my teenage years; to see with my own eyes the agency and empowerment as a young person in the IFP conference; I still remember it now. IfP gives you the power as an agent for peace.”

The toolkit gives educators, students, organisations and groups working to create peace, the resources required to create their own Initiatives for Peace programmes or conferences to meet the needs and circumstances of their own communities. UWCSEA IfP Toolkit Coordinator Louie Barnett is set to assist educators gain access the toolkit, and we hope to grow a global community of IfP programmes, crafted by young people who share the same aspirations for peace.

Download our White Paper to learn more about Peace Education at UWCSEA or explore the IfP multimedia story and apply for access to the UWCSEA IfP Toolkit:

March 2022 OneºNorth 17

That matching of personal connection and empowerment was echoed by Geovania (Debby) Guterres Ornai ’15, a former IfP delegate and facilitator who is currently working as an Evaluation and Reporting Officer with the UNDP in her home country of Timor Leste. It was the creation of a network of people all focused on creating peace that resonated most strongly, “I heard about peace a lot as a young person, but did not give it

Accessing the UWCSEA IfP Toolkit

“We were all together in Middle School Girls House, in an aircon-less, zero-privacy 8-person room, which I'm sure the boarders today cannot even imagine!!”

Mamiko Kutsukake ’ 97 Ka

i and Sel in 1997 te, Mam, Ran, Ash, Me

Alumni Pay Tribute to the Gift of Friendship at UWCSEA Moving into Middle School Girls House was a milestone moment for six members of the Class of 1997. Despite the tight quarters (or perhaps as a result of them!), these classmates formed an unbreakable bond that has stood the tests of time and distance and has found renewed strength and meaning during the pandemic.

Living together 24/7 in the hoarding house, Ash, Sel, Ran, Kate, Mei and Mam became like family. They supported each other through good times and bad, attending classes and activities by day, studying and conversing well into the evenings, and eating Indomie noodles on the weekend—a welcome change to regular canteen fare!

After graduation, the group dispersed around the world, relying on email and infrequent meet-ups at weddings (and occasionally by chance) to keep in touch. Four of the six friends also attended their 20th Reunion in 2017.

18 OneºNorth March 2022

In March 2020, when one of the early COVID outbreaks struck Italy, the friends established a WhatsApp group, initially out of concern for Ranmali, now living in Rome. This chat soon began to resemble the safe and comforting environment they had created in the Boarding House as they shared updates about each other and their families, engaged in lots of fun banter; and generally reinforced the support network that they had established almost 25 years earlier.

As they faced their own COVID woes, the group thought of UWCSEA’s current boarding students, and at the height of Singapore’s Circuit Breaker in the second quarter of 2020, they thoughtfully reached out to their Grade 6 Mentor, Steve Webster (who is now a House Parent in Dover boarding) and arranged to have some treats delivered to bolster the boarders’ spirits.

In December 2021, these classmates took the opportunity of

UWCSEA’s first-ever Giving Day to come together in support of scholarships to honour their own time in the boarding house and the bonds they created. “We are a very close group of friends with a special bond,” said Mamiko. “The pandemic has only reinforced our friendship as we continue to support one another despite the physical distance. We would like to dedicate our collective donation to the wonderful friendship that UWC has gifted us and hope that future scholars will benefit from the same kinds of friendships and experiences.”

Mamiko and her classmates were among the more than 750 UWCSEA supporters who made our first ever UWCSEA Giving Day a success. A key event in UWCSEA’s 50th anniversary Founders Week celebrations, Giving Day was held over 14 and 15 December. In 30 hours, alumni, parents, staff and friends of UWCSEA generously contributed over S$450,000 towards UWC Scholarships via the UWCSEA Foundation. This collective effort means that three scholars will receive the gift of a UWC education, including one female scholar from Afghanistan who will attend UWC Thailand.

Shout out to the Class of 1997 and all of the alumni who make our community so vibrant, and for emulating UWCSEA’s 50th Anniversary theme that “There is More in Us” to help create a better world.

We look forward to celebrating Ashima, Selma, Ranmali, Kate, Mei, Mamiko and the rest of the Class of 1997 along with the Classes of 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 2002 and 2012 at the annual UWCSEA Milestone Reunion taking place 26–27 August 2022.

"We hope to build a community of like-minded, enthusiastic people, and provide consistency to UWCSEA alumni in Hong Kong, typically a transient city."

Shivin Agarwal ’12 and Syrie Byfield ’14 UWCSEA Alumni in

HK Chapter Launch

, April 2021

Launch of the first UWCSEA Alumni Chapter: Hong Kong While COVID restrictions may have kept some of our community apart, it’s also brought others together in wonderful ways! A case in point are our UWCSEA alumni living in Hong Kong who found themselves unable to travel, yet without highly restrictive social distancing measures in place. Under the initial leadership of Shivin Agarwal ’12 and Syrie Byfield ’14 a number of HK-based alumni embraced this situation and the result is the establishment of the first UWCSEA Regional Alumni Chapter.

The UWCSEA Alumni in Hong Kong Alumni Chapter have their own group within UWCSEA Connect and their WhatsApp Group now boasts over 55 members and counting. Much of their early success can be attributed to a solid core of dedicated volunteers who have been sharing the responsibilities for planning and hosting their events including, Lodewijk Vriens ’11 and Natalie Ip ’13. We are grateful to this group for setting such a great example to expand and strengthen our UWCSEA alumni network across the globe.

In April 2021, Shivin and Syrie were joined by 15 other Hong Kong-based alumni along with members of the Alumni Relations Team for a virtual discussion about the establishment of the inaugural regional chapter. Shivin and Syrie shared their inspiration and ideas for the group. “UWCSEA was such a significant part of our childhoods,” said Syrie. “We wanted a way to stay engaged with the school and UWC values.”

Shivin added, “We hope to build a community of like-minded, enthusiastic people and provide consistency to UWCSEA alumni in Hong Kong, a typically transient city.”

In addition to Singapore, plans are underway to launch chapters in London and San Francisco this year. We are also actively recruiting volunteers for groups in Australia, New York, and anywhere with alumni interest. Let us know if you’d like to take part in this meaningful way!

The Hong Kong Regional Chapter will operate as a hybrid engagement model whereby alumni volunteers in Hong Kong will liaise closely with the UWCSEA Alumni Team to organise and execute a variety of events and initiatives.

Beach clean up, October 2021

March 2022 OneºNorth 19

Since April, the Hong Kong Chapter has hosted three events.

In June, a casual happy hour; in October, a beach clean up followed by lunch on Lantau Island; and in December, a festive social to coincide with the Annual Singapore Holiday Gathering. It was fun to do a simultaneous broadcast between the two parties and fitting to have our Hong Kong friends join as we announced the launch of our second regional chapter based in Singapore.

Chik Kalima and Susi Teo were among the special guests invited to attend the book launch in acknowledgement of their contributions to the College.

Celebrating 50 Years United: The Story of UWCSEA in Singapore When planning our 50th anniversary, we knew we wanted to write our story. The resulting book, 50 Years United: The Story of UWCSEA in Singapore, is reflective of the way in which we are celebrating our past while looking to the future. Launched on 16 December, the book describes the journey of the College as it has grown into a world renowned international school. It combines stories of truly seminal moments in the development of the College with an exploration of the themes that make us a UWC—service, sustainability, outdoor education, peace building, changemaking and the development of our holistic, mission-aligned curriculum.

Two themes, important in our 50th anniversary celebrations, emerged in the telling of our story.

20 OneºNorth March 2022

First, it is focused on our inextricable connection to Singapore, as the place which made us. Throughout our 50 years we have grown and learned alongside Singapore, and we are enormously grateful to have had Singapore as an inspiration.

We are immensely proud to be part of today’s global hub for educational excellence and innovation.

The second theme centres on our 50 years of unity, by highlighting the strength and depth of the partnerships and connections that have grown since our founding. We were honoured to welcome representatives from many of our Singapore partners at the book launch, those who have helped us to connect meaningfully to our local community through

our service programme or through their time at the College.

Through these partnerships, our students have built deep connections and our alumni bring those fond memories of Singapore across the world.

The book is full of familiar names and faces of community members reaching back across the decades, including a centre spread dedicated to the diversity and leadership of nearly 1,000 scholars who have enriched our campuses in immeasurable ways over the past 50 years. As no book could contain enough pages to capture the multitude of stories that exist about the College and its many community members, the stories of three alumni changemakers were chosen to represent all alumni changemakers, past and present. They are focused on the areas UWCSEA identifies as drivers from our mission—peace, a sustainable future and intercultural understanding. These three changemakers stand as a proxy for all our alumni, who have contributed in ways large and small, to shaping a better world.

In these pages we’ve included the story of Musa Henry Kpaka ’04 while the stories of Pascale Moreau ’79 and Shen Ming Lee ’16 can be found in the book. Copies are still available for delivery!

Order your copy of 50 Years United: The Story of UWCSEA in Singapore

Musa Henry Kpaka '04

Changemaker: Musa Henry Kpaka ’04 Graham Silverthorne, author 50 Years United—The Story of UWCSEA in Singapore When young Musa Henry Kpaka told his father that he wanted to take a Gap Year, the response was immediate: “What for?”

Musa had escaped from a war-torn Sierra Leone, surviving, in his own words, more by luck than anything else and continuing to learn when many boys like him had been forced into becoming child soldiers. When he secured his scholarship to UWCSEA, his parents thought he had been given a blessed escape and their encouragement to him was to leave and not return.

But in 2021, Musa is back in Sierra Leone, with a family of his own, working to boost shared prosperity, one of the goals of his country’s President, through education and agriculture. He is actively campaigning and influencing at the highest levels of government to shift economic policies and to engage agriculture with corporate investment. It’s a battle the country is starting to win. At the same time he is completing his PhD at the London School of Economics, looking at ways to increase the security of land tenure for the rural poor, including access to justice.

It was the time spent in Kenya, connecting to the service that he had done at UWCSEA, that started to bend Musa’s thoughts back towards returning to Sierra Leone and having the same impact on his own people. While at university he won the Davis Projects for Peace Award and used the grant to organise a three-day National Youth Empowerment workshop in Sierra Leone, focused on motivating young people to participate in nation-building through community service and volunteerism.

He had already set aside plans to be a doctor to apply himself to economics, seeing in that learning the chance to apply systemic change to his country’s agricultural economy. The journey back to Sierra Leone was not a straight line; he travelled via the Gates Foundation and projects in Tanzania and Uganda before eventually returning home. In Sierra Leone, he and his family face the sense-making that all third culture families face. Leaving and coming home is not without challenges for him or for his children. But in a country where between 50 to 60% of people are food insecure in 2021, and where agriculture is inextricably bound up with prosperity, he knows that he is where he should be and he believes that he is making a difference.

March 2022 OneºNorth 21

In describing the learning circle back to his beginnings, UWCSEA played a significant role for Musa. He remembers arriving in 2002 and being ‘into everything’, particularly football! On the Dover Campus, his eyes were opened by the huge diversity of his cohort. Although his best friend was Ugandan, he had friends from Wales, Canada, Mexico and other far-flung places. He learned that growing up for many students was not about survival, as it had been for him. At the same time, he was able to tell stories from Sierra Leone, of

growing up in a war, of hunger and of fear. The great initiative that Musa claims as being founded by him and six other friends was the concept of the Gap Year—now so familiar but not common for his peers. After persuading their teachers and gaining sponsorship, the pioneering Kenya Gap Year team travelled to the Rift Valley, launching community service projects that continued to flourish long after their departure.

ALUMNI REUNION 2021 A reunion like no other!

UWCSEA’s annual Milestone Reunions are traditionally a time for alumni to come together to reflect on their UWCSEA experience and celebrate the many memories and friendships made along the way. Like so many other special occasions in recent months, this event was also impacted by the challenges posed by a world grappling with COVID-19. With borders closed, travel restricted and so many social distancing measures in place how could our alumni community possibly gather to celebrate their connections to the College and one another?

this tremendous collective effort was that there was truly something for everyone! We stretched our minds and bodies; we heard from current campus leaders; got an exclusive preview of the 50th anniversary coffee table book and learned from the experts how to recreate old favourites such as Hainanese chicken rice and cinnamon buns.

22 OneºNorth March 2022

We heard from many alumni and staff during the amazing panel discussions on scholars, sustainability and innovation and enjoyed great workshops covering mental health, yoga, painting and writing. Best of all, it was a joy to see the many Cue creativity, connection and commitment and the result is a connections and reconnections taking place over memories reunion like no other! from the former teacher and staff drop-ins, Campus and Boarding House tours and the Service and Outdoor Education Alumni Reunion 2021 set new precedents for how UWCSEA reflections. Our heartfelt alumni connect, collaborate and commit to the College. To begin "Thanks for this forward looking reunion... appreciation to all who joined in to share their memories, their with, not only was this UWCSEA’s Happy to have been here, and loving the passion and their commitment first virtual alumni reunion, but it videos of the sessions I couldn't join in. See to UWCSEA! was also the best attended and the you at 60!"

The Committee also introduced most interactive. With over 200 the role of Class Giving alumni participating in a diverse Guillermo Aveledo ‘96 Representative who served to program of events and over 700 rally and encourage their fellow engaging on the dedicated virtual alumni to ‘donate as they celebrate’ in support of the UWCSEA event platform, the ability to foster connection was unlike Scholarship Programme. And ‘donate while you celebrate’ they anything that could have happened at an event on campus. did! Collectively Alumni Reunion celebrants contributed over Much of this high level of engagement can be attributed to S$77,000 towards the Alumni Reunion 2021 Scholarship, the the establishment of a Reunion Committee that recruited most funds raised through a reunion, ever! members from each class celebrating a reunion to create a core team of over 25 volunteers actively contributing to the While nothing truly replaces the joy of being physically planning and delivery of this event. together, Reunion 2021 allowed us to reach farther and involve more of our alumni in new and creative ways. We look forward The Alumni Team worked with the Reunion Committee to to combining the best of both in-person and virtual events create a Reunion Programme rich in quality content and and exploring what each has to offer to ensure that all future connection. Thank you to the alumni, former and current staff reunions are as engaging, inclusive and meaningful. who stepped forward as hosts, moderators and panellists, as well as the enthusiastic audience members! The result of

20–22 AUGUST 2021

"Well done to all involved. It was a well chosen itinerary and great platform for us to reconnect across the decades. Many thanks for all your work."

Bettina Wipf ’81

Reunion by the numbers

Reunion 2021 Highlights Best Attended Sessions

3

14

25

days

celebrating classes

Reunion Committee volunteers

47

50

200

events

years in Singapore celebrations

active participants

• Official Kick-Off and Welcome • Toast to the 50th • Former Teacher and Staff Drop-In Sessions

Most Watched Recordings • Scholars at UWCSEA and Beyond • Alumni Campus Tour • Cooking Demo: Singapore’s Famous Chicken Rice

Recordings from Reunion 2021 including the scholar panel, discussions on innovation and sustainability, as well as cooking demos and the campus tours can be found here:

700+ registrants

$77,000

raised towards the Alumni Reunion 2021 Scholarship, the most funds raised through a reunion, ever!

March 2022 OneºNorth 23

Alumni services Every student who leaves UWCSEA, regardless of how long they were enrolled, automatically becomes a member of our alumni community. Some of the services we offer include: One°North: The alumni magazine is published annually.

Please send contributions or suggestions to alumnimagazine@uwcsea.edu.sg.

Note from the Alumni office Thank you to everyone who has continued to reach out, engage and support the UWCSEA community. COVID-19 has not changed us; it has simply changed how we operate and indeed how we connect.

In many ways connection has never been easier. Despite travel restrictions and limitations to campus visitors, alumni engagement with each other and within the school community has in fact increased! Last year over 70 alumni volunteered as classroom speakers or panellists through virtual participation and Reunion 2021 saw a level of connection that was unprecedented. The November launch of UWCSEA Connect, our new alumni engagement platform, will help tailor connectivity in ways that are most meaningful to individual alumni, for example, based on your career, where you are living, your hobbies or other interests. My focus for the coming year will be to onboard as many alumni as possible and leverage the many fun and interactive features UWCSEA Connect offers in order to strengthen the networking within our community and in support our current students (a complete listing can be found on the next page).

24 OneºNorth March 2022

As the pages of this issue of One°North can attest to, alumni have been central to many of the special events and initiatives celebrating UWCSEA’s 50 years in Singapore. And the celebrations continue! I look forward to working with the inaugural recipients of our Alumni Values In Action Award to explore how their work can be integrated into classrooms and other campus activities. Following on the success of the IfP webinar, we are also developing a webinar series to correspond with the publication of specially commissioned whitepapers around mission-critical subjects such as sustainability, outdoor education, service and more.

Finally, I’d like to share that last year I graduated into the esteemed ranks of “Parent of Alumni” at UWCSEA. So while the Class of 2021 will hold a special place in my heart, I promise never to play favourites. I love connecting with all of you!

Warm regards, Renée Gallant Senior Manager, Alumni Relations reneeuwc@uwcsea.edu.sg

Alumni website: Register on our UWCSEA Connect to search for and contact other registered members, stay informed about news and events and more.

Reunions and get-togethers: Reunions for the 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20 and 10-year anniversary classes are traditionally held each August in Singapore. Additional class reunions and alumni gatherings are held in various locations throughout the year, planned by both UWCSEA and our alumni. Watch UWCSEA Connect for updates and details.

Alumni and Parents of Alumni eBriefs: These are emailed to alumni and parents of alumni throughout the year, containing news and information to keep you updated and informed.

Career Services and Mentorship: Alumni can select how they are "Willing to Help" when creating their profile in UWCSEA Connect. Meanwhile the "Find a Mentor" feature enables alumni and students to filter profiles based on professional and educational data to easily identify those who are "Willing to Help". Built-in messaging and video chat functions facilitate connection.

UWC Hub: Using the same web-based platform and offering similar features as UWCSEA Connect, the UWC Hub allows you to tap into the global UWC community.

Yearbooks: Soft copies of Interscol (Dover) and Epoch (East) can be found in the Resources section of UWCSEA Connect or by emailing the Alumni Team.

Visits, tours and other requests: We are happy to help in any way we can. Please reach out if you are in need of transcripts or would like to connect with former classmates and teachers. While visitors to campus are currently restricted due to COVID-19, please keep in touch to receive the most up-to-date information on campus access.

Scan to contact us at alumni@uwcsea.edu.sg.

Introducing UWCSEA CONNECT, our new alumni networking platform designed to bring our community of alumni, staff and select students together to increase engagement and connection through features such as: • A Newsfeed of alumni updates, campus news, thought leadership, photos, videos and conversations.

You can sign up in less than two minutes by registering with your Linkedin or Facebook profile. Here’s how:

• An Interactive Directory of alumni, current and former staff, allowing you to search for and connect with your UWCSEA community around the world.

1.

• A Mentorship feature, giving you the opportunity to offer or seek informal professional connections with fellow alumni as well as support current students in their career and university planning.

Register on our UWCSEA CONNECT platform.

Scan the QR code to register

2.

• • • •

• A Job Board to facilitate recruitment and job-seeking activities within our networks.

Create your profile complete with Photo Professional work experience Other education (post-secondary) Interests at UWCSEA and now

• Interest Groups based on UWCSEA mission and values, hobbies, professions and locations.

3.

Identify if and how you’d like to mentor/be mentored

• Events such as reunions and regional gatherings hosted virtually and in person around the world.

4.

Post in the Newsfeed

5.

Join an Interest Group

6.

Register to participate in or attend an event

7.

Locate lost classmates in “Who’s Missing” feature

8.

Message or video chat with classmates

• A Business Directory that will allow our community members to easily and effectively showcase their businesses.

March 2022 OneºNorth 25

Stay connected www.uwcsea.edu.sg alumni.uwcsea.edu.sg alumni@uwcsea.edu.sg Official UWCSEA alumni page: UWCSEA Alumni location-specific groups: UWCSEA [location] Regional Alumni Group LinkedIn group: UWCSEA Alumni Community UWC South East Asia Twitter: @UWCSEA_Alumni UWC Hub: uwchub.org

UWCSEA Dover 1207 Dover Road Singapore 139654

UWCSEA East 1 Tampines Street 73 Singapore 528704