Impact report new scholar reflection 2014/2015

UWCSEA’s Scholarship Programme New scholar reflections 2014/2015

“I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self denial and above all, compassion.”

Kurt Hahn 1886–1974

Your gift is

changing lives “My goal begins based on my life story.

I was born to the Shan people in the Eastern Shan State of Myanmar. My life starts after my parents separated because of poverty and my father took me on an adventurous journey to the border town of Tachileik to find a better job. I remember from my childhood that sewing is my grandmother’s job and she sewed from very early morning to evening every day. However, she didn’t show any signs of sadness. That experience taught me what poverty really is. I do not want to let my grandmother struggle her life in that way.

I want her to be comfortable and live in her own house. My dream is to be an architect so I am the one that builds the house for her.”

Sai Oo Hseng Ngin, Myanmar Supporting the UWCSEA Scholarship Programme allows us to offer transformational opportunities for young people like Sai Oo Hseng who truly value the power of an education.

Your generosity has helped contribute to the education and development of our scholars. At the start of 2014, we welcomed 41 new scholars to our community. In total, our new and

existing scholars represent 45 countries around the world. This year, we will see 42 scholars graduate, which will be our largest cohort to date. It is thanks to your commitment that we are able to maintain and develop our scholarship programme each year.

Investing in an education that empowers students is an investment in future leaders.

Receiving an education at UWCSEA benefits the whole community and not just the individuals who receive the scholarships. Scholars bring great diversity and play an integral part in the day-to-day College life. Living and learning with scholarship students provides a deeper understanding of specific nations, cultures and global issues.

Each scholar has a unique story. The following accounts touch on their initial reflections during their first term at UWCSEA, as a representative cross section of our scholar community from the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.

Thank you.

Sai Oo Hseng Ngin (Myanmar) Sai Oo Hseng is one of three scholars from Myanmar. His were the first words of this Impact Report outlining a brief story of his background.

“I am very happy to have the chance to participate in Initiative for Peace (IfP) as my group focuses on ‘Ethnic Discrimination’. This is a great chance for me to share my experiences because there is discrimination based on ethnicity in my country which has more than 135 ethnic groups.”

“By taking the chance that UWCSEA has given me, I believe that I will not only improve my skills but also my community and make my family proud.”

Sewen Thy (Cambodia) Sewen is one of two Cambodians who have joined UWCSEA in Grade 8 on a five year scholarship and he lives close to the border of Thailand. When asked about his first impressions, Sewen said: “The moment I arrived at UWCSEA, I felt like walking into a new world. Every single person is friendly. Everything is amazing and I’ve never seen anything

like it before in my life. I feel like I’m going to have a fantastic time here.”

“I really like the variety of Services and Global Concerns which help people in College, in local areas and also in other countries. We have the chance to learn new things outside of academic life, which we can use the experience to improve our lives as a student and as a member of society.”

“The moment I arrived at UWCSEA, I felt like walking into a new world. Every single person is friendly. Everything is amazing and I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life. I feel like I’m going to have a fantastic time here.”

Roberth Anthony Rojas Chavez (Peru) Anthony was born in Peru and has lived in Cajamarca (highlands), OxapampaPasco (jungle) and now Lima (coast). As he explained: “Living in different areas of Peru gave me the opportunity to get to know more about my country and have different perspectives of the life there.”

“Being here at UWCSEA, we are students of different pasts, history, language and nationalities. Now I know that the world is not only my country, there exist others that need help as well.”

One of Anthony’s favourite activities is participating in the Global Concern (GC) that supports his home country: “I especially like Villa Martha GC as this gives me the opportunity to feel

“Being part of a big family called UWC is a real privilege.

If you have the opportunity to join us, do it! Opportunities like this are few. Now is the moment to be an agent of change and open your mind to new possibilities … welcome to UWCSEA!”

that I am really doing something for my home country. We help the children in an orphanage there and raise money to buy much needed items.”

“Being part of a big family called UWC is a real privilege. If you have the opportunity to join us, do it!

Opportunities like this are few. Now is the moment to be an agent of change and open your mind to new possibilities … welcome to UWCSEA!”

“I knew that UWCSEA would be the start of a new path and that I should make it come true ... we share with others so we can get a better understanding of the world.”

Ani Muradyin (Armenia) Ani lives in Yerevan which is the capital of Armenia and one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.

“When I first heard I had been awarded the scholarship to UWCSEA, I was the happiest person in the world. My motto has always been ‘Aut inveniam viam aut faciam’ which means I shall either find a way or make one! I knew that UWCSEA would be the start of a new path and that I should make it come true.”

“I now realize that I am in such a place where the atmosphere is conducive to the circulation of ideas and the exchange of experiences. People here are vigorous of mind and come from different countries with different backgrounds ... I love this place ... we share with others so we can get a better understanding of the world.”

Maria Carla Condori Bazan (Argentina) Carla is the first UWCSEA scholar to come from Argentina. She lives in San Luis, a province in the centre of Argentina.

Carla explained how she felt when she first arrived at UWCSEA: “I was surprised how friendly everyone is. Even though we are all from different places, customs and realities we can perfectly understand each other. I could not believe the amount of things you can do here, from singing in a choir to participating in international conferences. Here at UWCSEA, you have all the opportunities that a child should have in their education, so we must seize that.”

“At UWCSEA you have diversity. You have classes with students of the entire world. In my English class every student is from a different country and there are 14 of us in the class! This is the most amazing thing, to understand each other beyond all the differences that exist.”

“At UWCSEA you have diversity. You have classes with students of the entire world. In my English class every student is from a different country and there are 14 of us in the class! This is the most amazing thing, to understand each other beyond all the differences that exist.”

Melisa Peresian Letaian (Kenya) Pere comes from Ngong, a suburban town close to Nairobi where she lives with her extended family.

When asked how she felt when she heard she was coming to UWCSEA, Pere replied: “I was overwhelmed. Amazed. I had been hoping so much for the scholarship. When it came it seemed like a dream. I feel so humbled and honoured to have received such a gift that I do not take it at all for granted.”

Pere’s final comments to those who have supported her scholarship are: “I thank you for being such a great force in the direction of my dreams. The right words fail me…I feel so honoured to have been awarded this scholarship and to have an experience that would otherwise have remained a dream or perhaps something that happened in my ‘other life’. I am so excited by the next two years….oh what the future holds for me!”

“I thank you for being such a great force in the direction of my dreams. The right words fail me … I feel so honoured to have been awarded this scholarship and to have an experience that would otherwise have remained a dream or perhaps something that happened in my ‘other life’. I am so excited by the next two years … oh what the future holds for me!”

UWCSEA Foundation Scholarship Programme 2014/2015

at a glance

95 scholars

Percentage of scholars by continent

40% Asia 24% Europe 19% Africa 12% South America 5% North and Central America

45

41

joined Grade 11 joined Grade 10 Foundation IB joined Grade 8

new scholars

43

countries represented this year

9

37 2 2

additional countries represented

scholars are in Grade 11 – the largest cohort in one grade

Philippines • Italy • Pakistan • Argentina Falkland Islands • Belarus • New Zealand Madagascar • Turkey

42

scholars will be graduating in the Class of 2015 – the largest cohort ever

57% of current scholars are female

Thank you. Your gift is making a difference.

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