Table of Contents
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Message from President of UWC Society for Bangladesh A.B.A. Siraj Uddowlah
Founding members of UWC Society for Bangladesh Yasmeen Murshed Noorul Quader
Message from President of UWC Alumni Association of Bangladesh Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul, UWCSEA (1988-92)
UWC Alumni Association of Bangladesh Executive Committee
About UWC United World Colleges K.Z. Islam
Turning over to a new page in life Sakib Jamal, LPC UWC (2013-15)
How UWC shaped my career Najmus Sakib Ahmed, MUWCI (2003-05)
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A journey of learning and self-discovery Myeesha Ahmed, LPC UWC (2011-2013)
Dos aĂąos en un castillo Eshtiaque Khan, UWC AC (2008-2010)
Alumni Profile Najmus Sakib Ahmed, MUWCI (2003-2005)
My little memoir of UWC Atlantic College Farisha Khan, UWC AC (2011-2013)
There is more in you than you think Ramisa Rob, UWC Adriatic (2013-2015)
UWC Education – A catalyst for social change
Trimita Chakma, UWC AC (2000 - 2002)
Prospective students Application Process and FAQs Photo album
UWC and UWC at-large Syed Mafiz Kamal, LPC UWC (2005-2007)
My time at Waterford Kamhlaba (WK)
Itmum Momin, WK UWC (2012-2013)
United World College marking 50 years of diversity Chowdhury K Farabee, Pearson College UWC (2010-2012)
One World is an initiative by the UWC Alumni Association of Bangladesh. Views expressed in One World are not necessarily the views of the Alumni Association or UWC Society for Bangladesh.
Design: Md. Tafsirul Alam Tusar
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Message
from President UWC Society for Bangladesh
A Memoir of forming UWC Society for Bangladesh A.B.A. Siraj Uddowlah
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It was probably in 1987, I received a call from my former Boss, who used to be a Regional Head for Shell Oil Company in London. At that time I was working as Managing Director of Shell in Bangladesh. My former Boss told me that on retirement from Shell, he has volunteered to work as Head of UWC International Office in London. He told me that he was coming to Dhaka to establish a UWC National Committee in Bangladesh. I went to Airport to receive him & found Mr. Noorul Quader, also waiting to receive him. Mr. Noorul Quader was the President of UWC Bangladesh Committee at that time, but no formal committee existed. From that day, I started to give a helping hand to Mr. Noorul Quader in the selection of students. The selection was mainly through interview and students’ past school records. Applicants were mainly from Scholastica, Sunbeams and BIT.
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Unfortunately, Mr. Noorul Quader died on 13th September 1998 & the responsibility of UWC National Committee for Bangladesh came on my shoulder. As far as I know Mrs. Yasmeen Murshed started to send students from Bangladesh informally after her children
graduated from UWC Southeast Asia, Singapore. Due to personal problem Mrs. Yasmeen Murshed handed over the responsibility to Mr. Noorul Quader whose son Mr. Omar Quader also graduated from UWC Southeast Asia Singapore. After taking responsibility in September 1998, I formed an informal National Committee, inviting a few educationists such as Mr. K.Z. Islam, Mrs. Khadija Afzal, Mrs. Khaleda Mariam Sajjad Dr. Hafiz G.A. Siddiqi-Professor Emeritus & Dr. Syed Shalehin Quadri. It was still an informal personal effort to select students from a limited number of candidates, who volunteered their applications through their schools, mainly Scholastica, Sunbeams & BIT. Every year selections were made on the basis of the past school records, Principal’s recommendations & interviews by the members of the national Committee on a certain day. All members of National Committee used to participate in the interview, scoring individually. The highest scoring student would be selected for nomination of UWC, mostly on full or partial scholarship. I started framing the Memorandum & Articles of Association of the Bangladesh National Committee in
Since registration in 2007 we implemented written examination, prescribed Application Form, Medical Report, Principal’s confidential report etc. before calling the students for interview. All members of the National Committee used to remain present during interview. The national Committee had 18 embers & almost all of them used to participate in the interview. Ultimately, we realized that it becomes very embarrassing for
a student to face 12 to 15 members of National Committee. Even the parents used to feel nervous to face such a large number of personalities. We, therefore, decided in later years to form a selection committee consisting of a maximum of 3 members who would be responsible for selection of students. This practice is continuing now. In the year 2010 members of the local UWC Alumni joined the National Committee. Mr. Raquib M. Fakhrul & Mrs. Ayesha Dada, Ms Trimita Chakma joined the National Committee and participated actively in the selection process of the students. Thus the selection processes become more lively and elaborate. Now it has become a 2 - day affair, instead of a one day selection process.. From the last few years, the selection process has improved which included students’ workshop & individual interview. Every year the parents were also invited to remain present at the time of interview, to
make the selection process very transparent to all. During all these years we have selected at least 115 students. The numbers and other details of selected students before 1999, unfortunately, are not available in our office. On the many events during all these years, I remember a few which touch my heart, even today. I remember a brilliant Bangla-medium student from Mymensingh whose father was a day laborer. They were very poor, but he scored very high marks in the S.S.C. exam. He was selected with 100% scholarship for UWC Norway. The boy’s parents could not afford to purchase his clothing. All members of the National Committee contributed to purchase his shoes, clothing & other necessities. On graduation he returned to Bangladesh & Dr. Hafiz G.A. Siddiqi, Vice Chancellor of North South University offered him a full scholarship for his Bachelor Degree. On completion, he was sponsored by a Japanese NGO to study in Japan. He is now in Japan, working as a teacher in one of the Japanese Universities. Unfortunately, we do not know his present whereabouts. Another student, a girl, sent to UWC Hong Kong started missing her parents within 4 days of her reaching the Campus. The Principal called me & said that she will commit suicide if not returned immediately. Finally he parents brought her back. It was a 50% scholarship lost. Another student went to UWC Hong Kong with 80% scholarship. Once reached in the campus he told his house tutor that he would like to live outside the campus & work part time to earn for his family. When he was told that it was not possible, he asked the Principle to arrange his US Visa so that he could leave. Ultimately the boy returned within a month. The funniest of all is the story of a girl student sent to UWC Atlantic with 100% scholarship. She passed her ‘O’ level from Manarat School. The girl returned from Atlantic within 1 week, because she found that the girls’ dormitory, where she was taking shower, didn’t have individual shower curtains. She wanted total privacy, even from girls of her dormitory. We lost a 100% scholarship. There are many such stories, which could be touching your heart as well as make you laugh. However, I enjoyed the activities of UWC Society for Bangladesh as it provided me an opportunity to meet some of the brightest boys & girls of this country who, I am sure, will make this country better in future.
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consultation with the UWC International Office. After legal consultation with our Lawyer it was decided to apply for registration under the Societies Registration Act. It took nearly 7 years and intensive persuasion to finally get the Certificate of Registration of UWC Society for Bangladesh on 28th January, 2007. It is only after this formal registration of the Society, I started to induct members, suitable for our purposes with nominal fees as per the Articles of Association. Until such time no donation were asked or accepted. All expenses were born through personal contribution, mainly from my own fund.
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To the
UWC
Family Yasmeen Murshed
This Yearbook has come at an opportune time because it will contribute to better communication and exchange of information between UWC graduates and their families. The UWC movement has at its core the belief that differences and conflicts can best be resolved through the understanding and appreciation of the values and culture of other peoples through personal interaction between individuals of all races and religions. Given the present state of conflict in the world and the gulf in understanding between cultures which has ensued this holds true as never before. Therefore I wish all success to this initiative.
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My best wishes to the President and office bearers of the UWC National Committee and the Alumni Association.
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Founding
BIO
Noorul Quader Date of Death:
13/9/1998 Noorul Quader, former civil servant, industrialist and a visionary, he has been described as the “father of the Bangladesh garment industry.�
memberS
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The Chairman and CEO of the Group, Mr. M. Noorul Quader, by education an economist, with honors from the University of Dhaka and higher education from Cambridge university, England, was until 1974, a career civil servant. As Secretary to the Government of Bangladesh, he headed several ministries like the Establishment Division of Cabinet Affairs, Communication, Railways, Shippings, Water Ways, Airways etc. He was also the founder Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the Tourism Corporation.
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Message
from President UWC Alumni Association of Bangladesh
Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul
United World College of South East Asia (1988-1992)
United World Colleges (UWC) is an example of solidarity and development. Since its foundation in 1962, UWC was able to touch and transform lives around the globe. It is an initiative that started with UWC Atlantic College in South Wales which has expanded to 12 schools and colleges with 2 more to be added by the end of 2014. At present, about 1,500 students from over 120 countries graduate from one of the twelve UWC institutes each year. Almost 40,000 students have graduated from UWC to date in various fields. I have been a part of UWC long before I became the President of the Alumni Association in Bangladesh. I am an alumnus of 1988 having graduated from United World College of South East Asia. I have not only gained knowledge but also the foundation on which I have built my career. ‘Appreciation, Care and Share’, the mantra I learned and live by. I have moved on from UWC but have sustained the values which, I am certain, will continue to be a part of me forever. I am utterly impressed by the extraordinary commitment of all those who work within the organization. Their allegiance to the cause is the reason UWC is where it is today. The operations of UWC are run by a network of dedicated and professional volunteers and employees. The teachers are splendid educators and passionate mentors. The committees worldwide work indefatigably to select and support students.
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It is my utmost privilege to be a member of the UWC National Committee and President of the UWC Alumni Association in Bangladesh. It gives me immense pleasure to know that I can contribute to the national development of our country. I am grateful to Omar Quader Khan (Jeetu), Founding President of UWC Bangladesh, whose vision has changed the lives of many. I cannot but mention the contributions of Ayesha Dada, Immediate Past President of UWC Alumni Association of Bangladesh, whose position I have succeeded in 2013. I praise all the alumni of UWC for their efforts and experience. I wish the endeavors of UWC to achieve greater success. I thank each and every volunteer, staff and faculty member for their dedication and will to fulfill the vision of UWC. At last, I wish the future students of UWC all the best and hope they prosper like many have before them.
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President Mr. Raquib M. Fakhrul
UWC South East Asia (1988-1992)
Raquib is a class of 1994 from UWCSEA Singapore. He completed BBA with concentration in Finance. He is an entrepreneur and established businessman with his operations ranging from FM Radio, Facility Management, Vocational Training and Manpower. He is also involved in Chambers and Associations based in Bangladesh. He is married to an UWCSEA Alumnus and blessed with a son.
ExecutiveUWCCommittee Alumni Association of Members B a n g l a d e s h
Treasurer Mr. Tamzeed Ahmed
UWC Atlantic College (2000-2002)
Tamzeed went on to Macalester College as a Kofi Annan scholar for undergrad in Economics and Mathematics. He completed Masters from Manchester Business School after a 1 year stint at IPDC in Dhaka. He has been working for Unilever since 2009 in Dhaka and now moved to a Global role in Singapore.
Member Mr. Najmus Sakib Ahmed
UWC Mahindra College (2003-2005)
Sakib is a filmmaker. He is producing two feature films now: KORA ROWD and HAYAT are in post-production. Sakib has just finished writing PRIYANKA for his feature film directorial debut.
Secretary General Ms. Trimita Chakma
UWC Atlantic College (2000-2002)
Trimita completed her M.Sc. in IT Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She currently works as the Alumni/MIS Manager at Australian Government’s Australia Awards program in South Asia. Trimita is an active campaigner for the rights of women and indigenous peoples and expects to join Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) in Thailand in October.
Member Ms. Ayesha Dada
UWC South East Asia (1989-95)
Ayesha holds a M.Sc. in Development Management from the London School of Economics. She is currently the Managing Director of HAB Securities Ltd one of the leading stock brokers in the Dhaka Stock Exchange. This year she was selected to be part of the Fortune/ U.S. State Department Global Women’s Mentoring Program which draws on the expertise of America’s most accomplished leaders to empower aspiring women professionals from across the globe.
Member Ms. Syeda Samira Sadeque UWC Mahindra College (2006-2008)
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ExecutiveUWCCommittee Alumni Association of Members B a n g l a d e s h
Syeda Samira Sadeque is a writer and journalist currently based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She gradua ted from UWC Mahindra College in 2008, and went on to university at Grinnell College in USA.
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About UWC stands for United World Colleges which represents a group of 14 international schools and colleges, over 140 national committees and a series of short educational programmes. United World Colleges all consist of students from various countries, race, background, ethnicity and cultural dynamics coming together to one place to partake in a variety of academic, educational and extracurricular activities. The end goal of such a unique educational institution is to inspire its students to create a more peaceful and sustainable future. The origins of the UWCs go back to 1962 with the aim of bringing together young people whose experience was of the political conflict of the cold war era, offering an educational experience based on shared learning, collaboration and understanding so that the students would act as champions of peace. The initiative was undertaken by Kurt Hahn at the very first UWC called Atlantic College located in Wales. The colleges still share this goal but have extended this approach and applied it to tensions and conflicts that exist within as well as between societies today.
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UWC is proud of their comprehensive scholarship programme that offers over 60% of the national committee selected students to receive full or partial aid towards their UWC experience. Due to a deliberately diverse student intake, varying financial assistance like bursaries, scholarships (full and/or partial tuition, room/board), and fee structure are formulated to ensure a wide-ranging socio-economic mix in the student body. At UWC the main goal is to ensure the students take back more than just what is offered to them in the classrooms and during their time spent there. It is to learn and develop and acquire an insight that will impact upon their adult lives in a positive manner and help bring about a change in the world for the better.
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There are currently 12 UWC schools and colleges and 2 more are opening at the end of this year comprising of students aged between 2 and 19 across Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Armenia, Costa Rica, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands. The alumni network spans over 50,000 from more than 180 nations. The main UWC international office is located in London. Out of the present institutions, nine currently teach the IB (International Baccalaureate) with the schools in the Netherlands, Singapore and Swaziland teaching pre-16 syllabus to younger students. On average, each of these institutions consists 200 to 300 students from around 85 countries. The National Committees scattered across 140 countries source the students and help them to apply and go through the formalities of coming to a UWC. Their selection of students is purposefully diverse from various backgrounds and experiences in order to ensure a mix of all kinds of students being present in one environment. Students can be on full and partial scholarships based on their needs and merits, while there are some who are full fee paying.
Africa:
-Waterford Kamhlaba UWC, Mbabane, Swaziland
Asia:
-Li Po Chun UWC, Hong Kong SAR, China -UWC Mahindra College, Pune, India -UWC South East Asia, Singapore
Europe:
-UWC Adriatic, Duino, Italy -UWC Atlantic College, Llantwit Major, UK -UWC Dilijan, Dilijan, Armenia -UWC Maastricht, Maastricht, the Netherlands -UWC in Mostar, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina -UWC Red Cross Nordic, Flekke, Norway -UWC Robert Bosch College, Freiburg, Germany
North America:
-Pearson College UWC, Victoria, Canada -UWC-USA Montezuma, New Mexico, USA
Central/South America: -UWC Costa Rica, Santa Ana, Costa Rica
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Worldwide
UWC colleges and schools
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United World Colleges K. Z. Islam
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Executive Member of UWC Society for Bangladesh
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Although a German citizen, Hahn decided to settle down in Britain in 1933. Once a man of means, he had overnight become a penniless refugee. His days at Christ Church, Oxford University, from 1910 to 1914 had left him a wide circle of influential friends in Britain. Discouraged and emotionally exhausted he decided to go to north of Scotland, where he had convalesced in the summer after illness in his Oxford years. His fortitude began to return. With a friend, Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton, he inspected the partially empty castle at Gordonstoun, which was badly in need of repair. Less than a year later, in April 1934, Gordonstoun opened as a school for boys; by September there were 21 students. Among them was a Greek prince of Danish blood, Philip, who would in 1947 marry Elizabeth, later to become a queen of England. Now, coming to our topic of the day, another tribute to Hahn’s educational theories is the United World Colleges (UWC). In 1962 Hahn pioneered, with the help of Sir Lawrence Darball and many others, the opening of the first United World College, The College of The Atlantic at St. Donat’s Castle in Wales. As an Air Marshall in the Royal Air Force, Sir Lawrence Darball had been Commandant of the Nato Staff Training College, where he had experienced, at first hand, the benefits of training people of many nationalities together. It had always been Hahn’s view that education was a means of reducing national barriers and fostering international cooperation. This is the basic concept of the United World Colleges. Outstanding students at an impressionable age of between of 15 to 18 being brought close together are bound to make lifelong friendships. When they return home undoubtedly they will rise to influential posts in their country and will promote better international understanding and relations. Throughout the history of the United World Colleges, notable world leaders have been instrumental in furthering Kurt Hahn’s goal of producing goodwill and world peace among youngsters of an impressionable age. Lord Mountbatten became the first president of the International Council of the United World Colleges in 1965. He was succeeded by his grand nephew H.R.H.
the Prince of Wales in 1978. In 1995, Prince Charles passed the title to Nelson Mandela and was succeeded by H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan. I have had the privilege of being a member of the Selection Committee of the United World College Society for Bangladesh for nearly 25 years now under the chairmanship of A.B.A. Siraj Uddowlah. Each year we select 6 to 10 students for scholarships to the 13 United World Colleges spread worldwide across 5 continents. The scholarships are intended for the most outstandingly brilliant students aged around 15-17. For me, the interviews are an extraordinary experience as the boys and girls have incredible educational achievements, are most articulate, and also proficient in extra curricular activities. The scholarships are advertised in the newspapers and presentations are also given to the prominent schools of the country. The entry requirement is a minimum of 6 As in the GCE O level or GPA 5 in the SSC examination. The applicants have to sit for the written test and those who qualify are required to go through an oral test. In practice, we have found that for the boys and girls getting 9 As or 10 As or GPA 5 is more the rule than the exception. Our better schools where the entry requirements are quite severe have extremely good results. One phenomenon is that our girls do far better than our boys in the tests. Most of the successful applicants end up in 5 or 6 of the 13 UWCs worldwide. In almost all the UWCs the boys and girls are required to complete the International Baccalaureate, which is presently universally accepted as the entry qualification to all the universities of the world. Since the intake of UWCs is of such a high standard, the results are also comparable. The UWCs are the springboard for full scholarship to the top universities of the world including, the IVY League of the US and Oxford and Cambridge of England. Our alumni, particularly the girls, have done so well in the universities that they invariably end up with top jobs in the US, UK and international organisations like World Bank, IMF, UN etc. If you have a meritorious student in your family there can be no better route to the best education other than the United World College. There are UWC committees in over 130 countries which select candidates for the 13 UWCs spread over 5 continents. For recent regional meetings of the UWC Country Committees held in Hanoi in 2008 and Singapore in 2011, I did some research about how well our alumni were doing in life. Almost without exception the majority of them end up in either IVY League Universities of US or Oxford and Cambridge in UK. A few examples -- Syed Tanveer Hussain’s daughter got first class first in English at Oxford and first class first in MA in Chinese, and ended up with a job in an international organisation with a salary of over £100,000 per year. Former managing editor of The Daily Star Fahim Munaim’s son got 100% scholarship to Harvard and is presently Vice President of Deutsche Bank in New York. More than 90% of the UWCs students go on to graduate from university, many from the top universities of the world, and more than 50% have post graduate qualifications. Many universities have scholarship schemes intended specially for UWC graduates. So far, over thirty thousand students have graduated from the UWCs. They can be found in all walks of life -- in medicine, business, politics, education, international relations, NGOs, arts and media -- and they all share a determination to make a difference. This article was originally published at "The Daily Star" on 13 March 2012
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Kurt Hahn was a genius of experiential education in the 20th century, whose legacy shines forth through four institutions of renown -- the Gordonstoun School in Scotland, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, the United World Colleges in thirteen nations, and Outward Bound, found in thirty five nations on all five of the major continents.
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I heard about United World Colleges (UWCs) for the first time back in 2006. I remember I was in grade four when I was attending a get-together organized by the Bangladeshi embassy in Myanmar and happened to meet the then Ambassador’s son, Redwan bhaiya. He was a student of Mahindra United World College, India (MWUCI) and had come to Yangon visit his family. Even after coming back to Bangladesh in 2010, I kept in touch with him through Facebook and was regularly asking him how I could go to this fantastic place he kept talking about, a place where I would get to meet and study with people from more than 80 different nationalities, a place where different people with different backgrounds, ethnicities and religions lived together. By the time I was preparing for IGCSE O level exams, I was determined to find myself a spot at the UWC. I was extremely lucky to go to a school in Dhaka which had students going to UWCs every year for the past few years, and had my seniors to look up to and be inspired by. ‘If they can do it, if they can get into a UWC, so can I’ was the mantra I kept repeating to myself.
SAKIB JAMAL
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Li Po Chun UWC (2013-2015)
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By the end of May 2013, after some nervous times and uncertainty about costs and scholarships, I got accepted to the Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong. Even though my first choice was MUWCI, I was happy the national committee had selected me to go somewhere that would offer me an experience that was totally new to me. I had never heard of LPC before and did not know anyone who came here before I was selected. I landed in Hong Kong on the 30th of September after a very emotional goodbye to my friends and family. I was very excited to embark on this new journey in life, but at the same time my heart ached all throughout the flight for my family. Did I make the right decision? Will I be able to find my own place amongst so many other people from so many different countries? How well will I be able to represent my country? Am I imposing too big a financial burden on my parents? Will I be able to cope with the academic pressure, the responsibilities of living alone? A thousand different questions hovered in my mind, but I knew I had to be strong in order to face these new challenges life had to offer.
It has already been two months since that day on the airplane, and I have settled in well here. I call LPC my home now, and even with the busy life filled with tests, projects, lab reports, Oral assessments, Quan Cais(the name given to the IB Extracurricular activities at LPC), community service etc., I feel comfortable here. LPCUWC is not just a school, but a community by itself, where teachers, students and staff from 82 different nationalities live together and do so in a very cohesive manner.
Overall, my initial experience in LPCUWC has been very rewarding and I cannot be more grateful to the Almighty for giving me the chance to be a part of the UWC movement and to be a part of this amazing school. I am sure there are many more exciting events coming my way and I really hope I can make the most out of my opportunities here. Time really does fly at LPC and sometimes it does become overwhelming, but I always try to pause and reflect on my life here, as it really is worth taking the time to cherish every moment.
Us first years also had the privilege to go to China and engage in community service over China Week. I went with Project 1, which was in rural Guangdong province where we painted walls in a primary schools and taught kids English. We lived in rural conditions which was a very unique experience on its own. On the last day of the project, we went on a sightseeing trip to the capital of Guangdong province, Guangzhou and had a great time exploring Chinese museums, food and the city itself. As a student of the challenging Mandarin AB initio course, I found the trip to Mainland China a very good opportunity to improve my language skills in Mandarin.
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Our campus is quite large, with impressive facilities such as the Assembly Hall, Basketball courts(indoor and outdoor), tennis courts, swimming pools etc. The residences are made up of four different blocks, with around 60 students in each one. Hong Kong itself is a very developed, dazzling city. Even though our campus is located on the outskirts of the city, the public transportation in the city is one of the best in the world and with student concessions, we do not have much of a problem in moving around.
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How UWC shaped my As a child, I loved drawing cartoons. My art teacher commented on the freedom of my pencil strokes. My sister would take my sketch book to school to proudly share my drawings with her mates. I was fascinated by the master Joynal Abedin. “This guy does not use color. One can do that? How convenient!” Shishir Bhattacharya was more than a human being! Soon, I lost track of my sketch books. I convinced myself, cartoonists cannot make a grand living and I need to live grandly. So I will study economics, go to my dream school Dartmouth College, become an economist, join a big firm, drive a Porsche, start a company, make big bucks. Keep things simple. While I was laying the roadmap from my glorious future, my English teacher at school started discussing UWC. I was sold. Everything about this Hogwarts appealed to me. I had to go there. As it is I was convinced if I stayed in Bangladesh I would die an early death. That was the era of “back-up” and I was in the habit of saying whatever I wanted and getting knocked around.
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So I went to Mahindra UWC of India. As the bus rolled into the compound, a featherweight Indian student with bed hair sipped a hot drink. I could see the steam rising from her drink from many metres away and the air was different. It was lighter. We were on a hill but I was breathing more easily than I ever breathed before. Everything was better. Everything seemed to have more purpose.
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I liked the place. Every moment was a discovery. The bloke from Bermuda was constantly cracking “yo momma jokes”
I am making my first feature film ‘Kora Rowd,’ and if I can exhibit the film next year, I will probably be the youngest producer in Bangladesh.
and I was supposed to be okay with it. The boy from Norway put some herbs in his water bottle because it would help with the heat. The guy from Swaziland was called Innocent! What fun. I had ticked Film as one of my International Baccalaureate courses. So I went to my film class. No pressure. The course instructor asked the students to introduce ourselves and tell him what our favorite films were. The list went on as: “Godfather.” “Trainspotting.” “Y tu mama tambien.” Oh dear, I thought.
These names sound so serious. What gravitas. So culturally significant they sound. What should I say? Terminator Part II? Gladiator? I was so embarrassed by my inferiority I mumbled something. I probably said Braveheart but, to be honest, I cannot remember. All I remember was that my ears were hot and everything was hazy. In the coming weeks, we went to the Film and Television Institute of India to see films at the National Film Archives.
Najmus Sakib Ahmed UWC Mahindra College (2003-2005) the story was breezy. The characters were charming and their situation and needs seemed so relevant. The ending of the film was a masterstroke. I was spellbound. More importantly, the moment Breathless ended, I said to myself, I can do this too. I can make films one day. Today, as I write this article, I am making my first feature film “Kora Rowd.� Records need to be checked, but if I can exhibit the film next year, I will probably
We did so regularly. It was a part of the curriculum. The seats were big, plush red things that invited sleep. The films were difficult to follow with subtitles and all and they explored subjects that I had a hard time finding interest in. I saw Citizen Kane and concluded that filmmaking was some kind of exercise in physics and perfection that was way beyond me. Then came the day when we watched Breathless by Jean-Luc Godard. It was a revelation. The editing was erratic but
be the youngest producer in Bangladesh ever. In the lull periods of production, I am writing the script for my directorial debut. I am also preparing myself to lead in a feature film. All these possibilities did not present themselves to me overnight. There has been years of struggle, failure, frustration, confusion and doubt but I have the courage to carry on. And I owe a large portion of this courage to my UWC background. At UWC, I totally and wholeheartedly immersed myself in a sea of knowledge, learning and observation; in world literature, photography, printing, visual arts, installation arts, lighting, cartooning, quantum physics, graffiti, philosophy you
name it! I continued with my stage acting which I had started at a very early age. This exposure forms the bedrock of my crafts. There is more to the influence. My days at UWC made me form opinions and questions about who I was as a human being and what the purpose of my existence was. It made me realise I had to pursue my dreams. I learned to think freely. I learned to question things that did not seem right to me. I got the power
to get in touch with a deeper part of my consciousness.
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career
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LPC UWC A journey, an experience, a subtle idealism
Syed Mafiz Kamal I had the opportunity to attend the UWC in Hong Kong “Li Po Chun United World College (LPC UWC)” between 2005 and 2007. In late 2004, I applied to UWC via “UWC Bangladesh National Committee” from India. After a grilling and eventful interview, I was selected to go to UWC campus in Hong Kong (out of 10 global campuses during the time).
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Soon after the news of admission, me and my family were excited but simultaneously concerned because none of us knew where I will be going and what I will be learning. We knew very little about international schools or about International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum (the curriculum at UWC). I dipped into a sea of online research, which only provided infomercial knowledge about UWC or IB. Illprepared, I went to LPC UWC in fall of 2005. I was warmly welcomed. It was overwhelming but I made quick friends. Well everyone was super-friendly!
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I realise I put myself into a pool of diversity that I couldn’t have imagined back then. I was among some amazingly smart people, different in so many ways: nationality, race, culture, language, political views and sexual orientation. For me it was a little shocking. I met
and made friends which people from countries like Israel (about which I had only heard negatively in the local media) and Lesotho (a country I never heard about), and of course many from Hong Kong and PRC, our hosts. I met gay, straight, conservative, gothic, feminist, rastafari, and a whole range of people from 90+ countries who put on different hats at different times. In some ways I also added to the diversity of this 250 member community. In LPCUWC, I was trying everything new. During my academic time there, I took Chinese, French, English literature, Visual Arts, Economics, Geography, Chemistry and Biology. I learnt about interdisciplinary epistemology course called Theory of Knowledge.
I conducted a ground research on Street Children of Bangladesh. I was involved in various co-curricular and voluntary activities known as “Quan Chai,” among which I taught Sex and HIV/AIDS education at local schools.
As part of my experience in LPCUWC, I visited China to teach She Tribe kids in northern Fujian and to Vietnam to volunteer with Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in HCM City. On campus, I became politically vocal especially in forums we called “Global Issues Forum.”
My interest in international affairs, which I have taken up as my academic and professional aspiration, derives its origins in UWC. Today, both I and my family understand that UWC movement is larger than personal aspirations, a notion we were indifferent to before 2005.
My friends did other activities, some went surfing in Bali, others went on exchange in North Korea, some organised conflict resolution student forums called “Initiative for Peace” (between Indian & Pakistani students but the future programme when ahead to focus on other global conflicts) and some volunteered in orphanage in remote China.
I am part of the UWC movement wherever I go Dhaka, New York or Spain. Today when I hear about news from different corners of the world, I don’t think of them as distant people, rather as events affecting my friends: Yahia in Egypt, Pelin in Turkey or Chishio in Japan, and so on. Living in New York, I am actively involved with the UWC movement here (alumni, students, well-wishers, etc). I will be actively celebrating UWC Day here with my peers from different UWCs. In the same spirit, I wish everyone: Happy UWC Day. Go, get some idealism and change the world!
Today, I look back at my UWC experience and there is much to reflect on, and even more to learn from. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity and also responsible to make the best of this opportunity. UWC has instilled a sense of universalism, idealism and leadership in me that I daily strive to live upto.
This article was originally published in Dhaka Tribune on 21 September 2014
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UWC at-large 19
Itmum Momin One World
Waterford Kamhlaba UWC (2012-2013)
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Over the last two years, several people have asked me the same question - what does UWC and more specifically Waterford mean to you? Though every student has a unique ‘UWC experience,’ at its very core, I think schooling at Waterford or any other UWC is an opportunity like no other. The brilliant academics are a given. And even when you combine that with the unwavering commitment to community service as well as the multicultural student body, you only scratch the surface as to what the UWC logo stands for. My time at Waterford Kamhlaba (WK) has taught me a great many things. It taught me that when you learn a new language, it’s much easier to figure out what the teacher’s saying when scolding a fellow student in that language. Studying with people from over 52 countries has given me a broader understanding of various cultures and taught me to tolerate and respect how different people have different perspectives. But perhaps the most important thing WK has taught me is that no matter how different two individuals may be. No matter how different the worlds we come from are, two people can easily become the best of friends. This was highlighted when an Iranian and an Israeli became the best of friends at Waterford. They saw each other as individuals and the conflicts between Israel and the Muslim world weren’t as important. Very quickly I saw how many stereotypes were completely false (Not all Scandinavians were party animals)! But some stereotypes were completely true (There were quite a few Chinese kids in HL Math and Physics). I soon realized some of us had perhaps become too comfortable and issues that plagued the outside world didn’t seem to matter to us anymore. Words like ‘nigger’ lost their stigma almost completely. We were living in a bubble. So, yes, indeed UWC has given me a flavor of the world and what people from different countries and different cultures are like. Even more importantly, it has taught me to be tolerant and understanding of other cultures while holding on to my own. However, that bubble, in my opinion is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it shows you that people from all over the world can converge, work together and even become awesome friends. Perhaps this even makes the idea of world peace not only plausible, but quite possible. However, if this bubble is used as a generalization for everyone else on the planet it could perhaps lead to ignorance on our parts.
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Having said that, everything has its positives and negatives, and for me the pros far outweigh the cons. Whether it was walking with the Bangladesh flag on UWC Day, giving a speech during graduation, starting my own community service project or going off with all my friends to Mozambique to celebrate the end of IB; the experiences I’ve had over the past two years have been some of the best of my life so far and I believe they will easily rival the best of tomorrow as well. A wise philosopher once said that in the end we’re all just stories. Well, I’m extremely grateful and mighty proud that I had Waterford, and by extension UWC in my story. It truly did make it one I’d like to re-tell over and over again.
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Chowdhury K Farabee 22
Pearson College UWC (2010-2012)
In 2010, I was granted a full scholarship to attend Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific, thousands of miles away from home on the west coast of Canada. I was heading towards spending the last two years of my school life, living, eating, studying and learning to change the world, with 199 other passionate individuals from all corners of the globe. I was about to begin the two best years of my life. Pearson College was a life changing
experience. It was a place where everyone had a voice that mattered. The aim was to make education a force to unite people, cultures and nations for peace and a sustainable future and the whole concept fascinated me. By the end of my two years, I’d had roommates from Greece, Nigeria, Palestine, Bulgaria and Canada. The classes felt like global conferences and each new day was a new adventure. While my roommate was learning to scuba dive after classes, I learned to sail on the Pacific Ocean as my afternoon activity. Twice a week I’d go up to the college’s Observatory and learn about astronomy. During meals, the whole world would be present under one roof, and the conversations we had knew no boundaries. I got to travel, explore my creative capacities, serve the community and become a true global citizen. I made some of the best friends of my life in those two years, and today there are hardly any countries in the world where I don’t have a second home to lodge in.
The two brief years went by like a short but pleasant dream. It changed me completely as a person and drastically altered my perspectives about the world. The same world that seemed so big and mysterious just two years prior to my graduation had become my new comfort zone. My journey ended as I ceremonially ran down the Pearson College docks and jumped into the ice cold water of the Pacific Ocean (Pearson’s equivalent of the more traditional high school graduation). And then, it was time to say good bye. The UWC chapter of my life may have ended, but the impact it left is interminable. I am now a member of a global family and I thank the United World College movement for that.
This is a modified version of the originally published article in Dhaka Tribune on 21 September 2014
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The UWC experience was a journey, one that I came across possibly at the most crucial point of my life. At 16, my entire perspective of the rest of the world came merely from the television and computer screens. I wanted to know more, constantly craving to go out there and actually experience what the vast world out there was really like. I was a little too used to my good old comfort zone, and the mere idea of stepping out of it to experience something new and exciting simply intrigued me.
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I have heard a lot about UWC while I was in school, so when it was our turn to apply, I was very excited. When I heard that I was accepted, I felt extremely happy about my achievement because the competition was tough and I really wanted to go. It was not until the last minute that I realized that it was the Frist time I would ever leave home – my family, friends and everything I was familiar with – to live in a completely new environment with new people and that idea terrified me. But looking back, I am really glad that I took the challenge and went, because it has given me the opportunity to have some unique experiences and meet some truly great people.
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Always pampered by my family, I never quite needed to face reality alone but moving into a new place all by myself, I had to learn how to take responsibility of myself: handling official documents, spending money responsibly and hardest of all, cooking! Living in an international community, I learnt how to interact with different kinds of people, to tactfully deal with new and difficult situations and to appreciate the celebration of difference.
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During China Week, I went to Fuzhou, China where I served an orphanage
for mentally-challenged children by doing what I love doing most- painting! We painted the walls and doors of the orphanage, bringing more color into the lives of its inhabitants. For Project Week in my first year, I taught English, math, art, music and P.E in a middle-school in Beijing. These two trips have allowed me a rare glimpse into the heart of China, letting me see beyond what a regular tourist’s eyes see. I got to experience China’s rich culture, try out its interesting cuisine and, most importantly, learn how to overcome language barriers and reach out to people. My days in UWC have not only exposed me to a wide range of cultures, but also made me feel closer to my own. After coming here, I realized the importance of preserving and promoting my culture and I learnt to embrace and appreciate more aspects of it. I enjoy exchanging stories about culture with my friends who all come from very different parts of the world and by doing so I have learnt so much about the world and realized the beauty of diversity. MESA- Middle East and South Asian Cultural Evening was one of the highlights of my time in LPC. This event was promoted by preevents such as Holi and Henna nights
Myeesha Ahmed
Li Po Chun, UWC (2011-2013) which were huge hits! All the girls were awestruck by the gorgeous saris we wore and many of them got their own saris and it was fun to watch them trying to put them on. But they managed to pull it of really well. My UWC experience has been a journey of learning about the world around me and of self-discovery. In a place where everyone has different values, different principles and different viewpoints, I realized the importance of learning about them with an open mind (even if I do not agree with them) while still sticking to my personal principles. This experience has not always been easy but it has helped me break out of my personal bubble and challenge myself, to learn to be more responsible, mature and independent. Studying at a UWC has given me the opportunity to engage in various creativity, action and service activities that have allowed me to express myself. Such opportunities are scarce in Bangladesh, so I would like to encourage more students to apply so that they too can have their own unique UWC experience.
Dos años en un castillo Eshtiaque Khan UWC Atlantic (2008-2010)
I came from far away, very far away. You might not be acquainted with where I came from, but I’ll now tell you about it. This is my journey, my treasured memories, my scars, my experience...
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A drive through a metropolitan city, a drive through a bustling highway, a drive over a sea, a drive through narrow, winding country roads and here I am standing in the main drive of a college on an especially overcast day. Many would say, what a bad day to start a new life, but all I have to say is ‘Welcome to Wales’. Tugging my luggage across a barricade of obstacles, I finally reach a building constructed almost entirely of bricks, rather ugly bricks, but I have finally reached the place that I will call home for the next two years. Most of its inhabitants were away for long weekend, and the only noise that penetrated my ears was the sound of silence.
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It has been a long journey to get here, to pursue my dreams. When I first proposed the idea of it to my father, his immediate reaction to it was negative. Will he be able to cope with the work without any form of external help which is so accessible back at home? Is he mature enough to go? Is he going to be able to take care of himself, you know all the luxury that was endowed upon him back home? Will he be able to compete with people of such high caliber? So many other ‘will he’s’… People would say it’s a bad idea to send your son abroad so early, ‘he’s only sixteen!’ All the cultural stereotypes blooming in the minds of the closest I had. Only one person stood up and was willing to go against the norms of society, banishing those stereotypical, conventional and
definitely absurd ideas and told me to go ahead. Ammu (mother), I am forever grateful to you for showing me a path which you, only you, realized would be the path that I would cherish and benefit from the most. The love you showed when you threw me to the cruel, outside world is the purest form of love I have experienced. This is the most unique place on earth; its existence can be compared only to that of the United Nations, only an organization where the ambassadors do not dispute each other, but one where they strive in almost perfect harmony. Where can you find a place where a Palestinian and an Israeli live under the same roof, a Tibetan and a Chinese who consider themselves as best friends, Indians and Pakistanis who congregate together and eat a meal and discuss about ending all existing disputes between themselves. Growing up in country whose history and freedom consisted of genocide, bloodshed and torture by the Pakistanis, the final catalyst was sharing a room with a Pakistani. When this came to the knowledge of my mother and my grandmother, their immediate reaction was to tell me to be very careful about him. Keeping my guard up the first few days and viewing my dorm mate in a rather conventional way, it struck my mind that I am not here to be conventional, stereotypical and close minded; I am here to be the opposite. I should have left all my disputes the minute I boarded the plane. A small chat paved the road to not only a friendship, but a feeling of brotherly love, a sense of unity and an indestructible trust. He turned out to be the driving force in my life; he showed me life in a way which I could never have
How can you describe life in Atlantic College – vibrant, colorful, culturally rich, an assembly of great minds… days would be spent by the cliffs overlooking the vastness of the sea, discussing about current world affairs, political crisis and viewpoints, different countries or simply the spiced up AC rumors about who is dating who, or some radical change being implemented by the management. Different voices were expressed and the idyllic evening transformed into a buzz and humming of criticisms and agreements, each of the characters evolving into what John Stuart Mill would refer to as developed individuals. As the night progresses a gradual relaxation approaches the cliffs, the melancholy of songs and guitar fills up the night air with a sense of bliss which seems so unearthly, ‘magical realism’. The weather once again acts as a deterrent and the capitalists, the communists, the socialists, the anarchists, the nihilists, the fascists and the pagans rise up and walk back with their arms around each other to a room with pulsating lights of blue, red, green and of course the yellow and an astonishing level of flexibility is endowed upon them as they swirl and twirl their bodies in perfect rhythm. As the last reserve of energy is approached, they all walk down to an opening and promises to meet up later are made. The silence of the night is only interrupted by rapid footsteps as flashes of dark hoodies can be seen darting all over campus and the tranquil buzz of whispers and low commotions fill up the night air. How do you react when one of your friends comes and tells you that he has been held at gunpoint and even shot during a peaceful demonstration? It makes almost ordinary individuals like me gape in utter disbelief. How emotionally stretched should one feel when
someone comes and tells you that her sister died only just because her parents couldn’t afford a hundred pounds to take her to a hospital? How do you feel when your friend tells you that he turned down an offer from a top flight football club just to come and study here? How about your best friend’s father is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate? These are such strong emotions that most of them can’t be expressed. Its better wordless. Just feel it inside and then only you will get the true answer. Coming back to sleep after a long night of working towards deadlines, a turn of the head leaves me facing a picture which particularly gathers the dust of the day. A swift sweep of the hand removes the foreign particles that have settled so harmoniously on the picture, but well I am a capitalist, I look for my personal gain. Sneeze. The Marxists have retaliated once again, but had minimalistic gain. The photo reveals a cluster of boys and girls, sitting round a small fire in a wooden hut. I look at myself in one corner; I have changed quite a lot over the year, mentally and physically, so has everyone else. I had my entire life in Atlantic College planned out. I made up my mind about my academics, my social group, what I want to do later in life before coming here. I had answers, when I arrived, to all these questions; I had none when I left for Christmas. The people and the place made me reconsider all my thoughts, they are different now, everyone’s here for a reason, they all bear the burden of possessing varying individualities. Subjects such as Politics and Environmental Systems and Societies implemented a new dimension to me that I had never before possessed. From chasing Banksy to wave riding, I have done it all during my short time in the castle by the sea. I have had the honor to serve with the bravest of hearts, when we braved those towering waves in our boats to serve those in need. Oh what a thrill it was piercing through the waves in a jet ski. Our adrenaline would set new records as each wave had to be compromised with individually. Helping those who require our assistance is what we lived for in service. It was not only a service, it somewhat evolved into a lifestyle. As you walk down to the academics, you glance at the sea, feel the wind and you think what is likely to affect us today. We were all team players; each of us watched one another’s back while out at sea, an unfathomable trust existed between us. I would walk down the football pitch looking at two long metal bars, my abode in the pitch, my only responsibility being not to let anything go past those bars. The players would say the name in front of the shirt is more important than the name at the back. This is how we played, this is how I played; we played only for what we belong to. It’s been a long drive; through narrow, winding country roads, a drive over a sea, a drive through a bustling highway, a drive through a metropolitan city and here I am standing where my journey first began. VENI. VIDI. VICI.
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perceived myself. He made me aware of my roots and made me realize how valuable I am as an individual and that I can make a difference in the world.
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Pushing boundaries in the Bangladeshi film industry Najmus Sakib Ahmed, MUWCI (2003-2005) At 27, Najmus Sakib Ahmed is set to become one of the youngest ever film producers in Bangladesh when his film ‘Kora Rowd’ hits the big screen early next year. Kora Rowd roughly translates as ‘unbearable heat’, and the film – which was written and developed by Sakib – explores taboos that women face in Bangladeshi society, exploring contentious topics such as sexual assault and living with HIV. Sakib discovered a passion for film whilst studying at Mahindra College, though it was rather unexpected. In his first film lesson at Mahindra he remembers feeling rather intimidated by the knowledgeable way his classmates spoke about movies. However, as they began to explore film history, theory and criticism from enthusiastic teachers he found himself becoming more and more interested. After a particularly interesting class one day he remembers thinking to himself ‘I can do this…I can make films one day.’ In 2011, he met director Oniket Alam who invited Sakib to work with him. Sakib accompanied Oniket to the north of Bangladesh to help him finish a documentary. The experience proved invaluable to Sakib as he learned and developed his skills. It was at 25 that he decided to take the step to produce his own feature length film.
After a particularly interesting class one day he remembers thinking to himself ‘I can do this…I can make films one day.’
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Developing a career in film in Bangladesh hasn’t been a straightforward path for Sakib, not least because the country has a small economy with the major industries including garment manufacturing, IT and pharmaceuticals. He often finds himself in periods of quiet where there is no shooting, no pay-days and nothing planned for the immediate future. But with his first feature about to be released Sakib is already working on a new and ambitious project that will once again push the boundaries in Bangladeshi film. He will be collaborating with his close friend and fellow Mahindra alumnus, Guido Arditi to develop a film in which they consider a world where zombies live side-by-side with humans as a discriminated minority.
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My little memoir of
UWC Atlantic College Farisha Khan UWC Atlantic College (2011-2013)
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Writing about my UWC experience seems daunting, exhaustivealmost unthinkable that it can be summarised in mere words. Having freshly graduated UWC Atlantic College, and living in London currently- my AC days seem long gone yet so close to my heart. But this small piece of my memory has not got much to do with UWC. Rather it is about the beauty of life when you are 16 surrounded by wonderful people all over the world, ready to take on whatever life gives you.
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For the two years of my time at AC, I was lucky enough to be in Whitaker house. There were 48 of us in Whitaker from all over the world. I was terribly lucky to be in a dorm with 3 of the greatest people I have come across in life yet-
Sofie from Norway, Audrey from Austria and Sina from Cambodia. From having been taught the most basic of skills in life (such as making your own bed- thank you Sofie!), to learning to appreciate life in all its small glories such as home made tea and pickles (thank you Audrey), my roommates were there for me no matter what crazy, obnoxious days I would be have. Aside from the 4 corners of my dorm, I spent much of my second year at AC in either the dayroom or the quiet room (in other words, study room). From pasta disasters to post checkin chilling- everything happened in the Whitaker dayroom. It didn’t matter whether you were happy, tired, or sad- someone would always be there to share your feelings in the dayroom. Being a largely girl dominated house, naturally the girls in Whitaker were very tightly knit. Coastal path picnics, running to catch the bus to Llantwit to sea front bonding- we girls were always around for each other. I am obliged to tell you about Rai, Bernie and Lea’s dorm: the dorm where something was always happening. Eurotrip planning, dinner dates at Il Vesuvio, complaining about unfinished IAs are still very fresh in my ears. Breaking the duvet rule with Charlotte, eating homemade burgers with Alyssa, sipping Turkish tea with Meltem and highly inappropriate comments aimed at Savannah - you girls I miss you always!
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My little memoir was as haphazardly thought out, as was it impromptu. Therefore my apologies if my thoughts are scattered and my writing missing the rhythm- all I wanted was to freeze my Whitaker memories in a few words. Whitikatsyou will always be missed dearly.
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Ramisa Rob UWC Adriatic (2013-2015)
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Ever since seventh grade in my previous school Sunbeams, I have been hearing about the United World Colleges. I remember going online and looking up UWCs and telling my mother I would want to study in one. But till the day I actually got the acceptance email, it was just a dream. After reading about UWC, I discovered it was an amazing way to become independent, also to improve my self-confidence and represent my country and most importantly get to know more about different cultures through meeting different people. These were just words used during interview, and it is a completely different feeling when these words are transformed into a moment in reality and you can hardly believe that it’s happening. That is what I felt when I first arrived here.
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My first impression after coming here was that life here is much easier than I thought it would be. I realised that it didn’t matter that I was here alone. It has only been two months, and I feel like I have known these people for a lifetime. I thought if I since I had not contacted my co-years through Facebook before I would feel like an outcast. And after coming here I learnt that there is no such thing as being alienated in UWC. Some people had said you will feel you are at home the moment you enter. For me, I was a little nervous and shy and I took my time to start showing my personality and making new friends, but once I got settled, now every day, I feel blessed for having this opportunity.
In UWC Adriatic, every day is day I feel like I have been waiting for. Every day, there is an exciting event going on. From academics to social service to physical activities to creative activities to organising shows and events to socialising with each other, living here is a roller-coaster ride. And after growing up in a very academic based environment, the activities here seem really appealing to me. Being a shy person, I would not take the initiative to take part in an activity which I have never done before because I would be too afraid to make a fool out of myself. But after coming here, I found out people from different parts of the world, trying out activities they didn’t even hear about with those who have done been doing it for years. The best part of this experience is that no one judges you, and no one looks down upon you. And that had helped me take my self-confidence to a different level in just two months. I started to discover strength in myself which I was not aware of and I discovered areas of growth in my well-being. Living in UWC Adriatic, in a different continent from my friends, family and everything I knew, I have learnt to become independent. Coming from a place like Bangladesh, where we have cars to drive us around from one lane to the next, when I came to study in an open campus UWC in Italy, I had an enormous shock. Every time, I travelled alone by bus to go to another town nearby to do grocery, I could hear my heart beating loud against my chest. However, as time passes, I find myself adjusting better and better to life here, and as days go by, I start to view life more positively and it does not seem like a burden to do my own laundry or sweep my own floor. It has become a part of life, and I start to realise the things I did wrong before. The whole concept of UWC appears in even more beautiful to me now.
Sometimes when I am sitting by the sea, observing the beauty of the nature with a person from a very different part of the world, the amazing feeling of being in UWC sinks in. Being in a place where prejudice is non-existent and tolerance is strengthening each day, you start to view life from a more open-minded angle. And the quote ‘there is more in you than you think’ starts to become a message being in a UWC is starting to infuse in me.
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One thing which I had never expected, is that after coming to UWC, I have started appreciating my country and my country’s culture and traditions even more and it is a great feeling when someone from for example a country like Brazil asks you more about Bangladesh and wants to know more about your country. People’s interests in my own country started to delight me, and I have started organising cultural acts from my Indian sub-continents for the shows that take place here, and everybody supports you through any initiative you plan on undertaking. Now, after seeing people’s interests in my country, it encourages me to learn more about my own country, and contribute here by organising projects in Bangladesh.
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ge
a
akm h C ita
Trim
olle ntic C a l t A UWC 2002) (2000
I come from the ‘Rangei hoza’ (Rangei clan) and ‘bhuter gusthi’ (ghost group) of Chakmas, which means my paternal side of the family is a descendant of a ghost. This must sound quite exotic to people who do not belong to the Chakma community. Chakmas comprise of less than 0.3% of Bangladeshi population and mostly live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). My identity struggle as an ethnic minority began at an early age. Unlike many other indigenous kids of CHT, I went to schools in different parts of the country due to the nature of my father’s job. I ended up being the only Chakma kid in my class in every school I went to. I figured I was somewhat different from other children. Usually it was not my behaviour, rather my flat nose and slanted eyes that gave it away. It was easy to stereotype me. Kids would often chant “Chakma! Chakma!” if they saw me pass by. Sometimes I would be asked whether my people (Chakmas) ate frogs and snakes, lived naked in the jungle and spoke Chinese language. These things upset me back then. It felt awful to be different and I did not exactly embrace my Chakma identity with a sense of pride or happiness. Fed up by having to change my school frequently, my parents decided to send me to a boarding school when I was twelve. I ended up going to a girls’ military school. Every year the administration of Mymensingh Girls’ Cadet College selected approximately 50 girls from all over the country based on merit. Traditionally every batch usually had one or two indigenous students and hence I was easily accepted by my schoolmates. I became friends with a bunch of gifted girls from all over Bangladesh, with whom I grew up to discover myself. I soon discovered life was also not easy as a woman in Bangladesh. By the time my friends and I had reached the age of 16, even earlier, most of us experienced sexual harassment either by complete strangers or by men we already knew very well. Our parents and teachers became more protective and told us about all the things we should no do as women. But time told us we did not do anything to cause these, rather it was the patriarchal social system that enabled it and at the end blamed us for it.
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I encountered the United World Colleges (UWCs) randomly when one day my father gave me a newspaper-cutting with an advertisement for a high school scholarship in the UK. I had just passed my Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and I was
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eligible to apply. Soon after I applied I was called for an interview by the Bangladesh National Committee consisting of eminent teachers and business leaders. A few days after my interview I received an offer for a full scholarship to study at United World College of the Atlantic (aka Atlantic College) to pursue my International Baccalaureate Diploma. My family had to bear the costs for air-fare and an annual allowance of 700 pounds. It was a rare case to be selected from a Bengali medium school to study at a UWC on a scholarship. In summer 2000, at the age of sixteen, I flew to South Wales to begin a new chapter in my life at Atlantic College. The campus was breathtakingly beautiful. The main building was a 12th century castle overlooking the Bristol Channel. The presidents of Atlantic College were Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan and Queen Elizabeth II of the UK. There were students from over 90 countries residing on campus. My roommates were from England, Namibia and Germany. There was no school uniform, no punishment system and we were allowed to colour our hair pink, blue or green if we wanted to. I became best friends with a girl from Montenegro and had a crush on a boy from Lithuania, even though I had never heard of their countries before. For the first time in my life, I felt proud to be different. Besides the usual academic classes at Atlantic College, I made water rockets out of soda bottles for my science project that flew 30 meters high with a bike pump. I joined the Lifeguard Service for eight hours a week even though I did not know how to swim. I broke three of my front teeth in a cave while training for kayaking. The very next year I became a swimming and kayak instructor and went for a rock-hopping adventure in the sea. In the summer, we wore red shorts like the TV show ‘Baywatch’ and patrolled the beaches in South Wales. In winter, we went to old people’s homes and sang songs for the residents. In my free time, I took black and white photographs with a manual SLR camera and learnt to develop them with chemicals in a dark room underneath the castle. We had esteemed accomplished persons, including Nobel Laureates visiting the campus as speakers every week. I visited Budapest in a student exchange program and stayed there with a Hungarian family to learn about their culture. All these things would be unimaginable in my wildest dreams had I not been given the opportunity for an education at UWC Atlantic College. The first UWC was founded in 1962 by the German educationalist Kurt Hahn, who envisioned engaging young people from all nations in finding peaceful means to bring together a world divided by political, racial and socio-economic barriers by learning from one another. My education at a UWC not only opened doors to the world’s top universities but also taught me to free myself from prejudices, to respect other cultures, and appreciate diversity – qualities which are essential for creating a more peaceful and sustainable future in today’s globalised world. I was finally able to embrace my multiple identities – as a Chakma, as a woman, as a Bangladeshi and as a global citizen. I believe volunteering is not a favour but rather a job, and that marginalization and oppression can also make us tougher. My global experience at Atlantic college showed me that diversity is beautiful and we can be united in our differences. After completing my IB Diploma I went to Jacobs University Bremen in Germany to complete my B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and came back home to work for UNDP. In 2008, I was awarded a full scholarship by AusAID to study at the Australian campus of Carnegie Mellon University for pursuing my M.Sc in Information Technology Management. Besides having a successful career in information technology and development today, I have been involved in various community services that impact the wider communities I belong to. It is the UWC spirit and active idealism that motivated me to get involved in advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples and women of Bangladesh through campaigns, fundraising activities and research. Due to my commitment to positive social changes, I received the Australian Alumni Excellence Award for Young Alumni and was nominated as an Asia 21 Young Leader in 2012. Most recently I was selected as one of the top 100 youth participants from over 140,000 applicants for a week-long summer school in New York organised by United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and Education First. This gave me the opportunity to network with 99 other motivated youths from all around the world and to discuss pressing global challenges for peace building. We visited the United Nations Head Quarters in New York and were given the opportunity to interact with the Deputy Secretary General, Jan Eliasson as well as other UN officials at a question answer session. Needless to say such experiences are priceless and life-changing.
Originally published in The Daily Star, "Star Magazine" on 20 September 2013
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If the only aim in your life is to become a successful doctor or an engineer you can go to any good school, but if you want to think outside the box, drive a positive social change and touch the lives of others, UWC is the right place for you. As Mahatma Gandhi once said “be the change you wish to see in the world”. A UWC education is the catalyst for becoming that change.
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Application process: Start this October! *OCTOBER
Around this time of 10th grade, you start preparing yourself to apply to the UWC Programme. The National Committee shortlists candidates for interview based on his/her grades and extra-curricular activities. So, around October, start polishing both your grades and extra-curricular activities such as sports, crafts, community service etc.
Prospective Students
JANUARY Around January of your 10th grade, you should start your application process. You can find the form online and apply accordingly.
MARCH Around March, NC will get back to you to let you know whether or not you have been shortlisted for the next stage of the process: an interview. At the interview, you can share with NC your campus preference but there is no guarantee that it will be able to place you in your preferred campus. If you are selected, NC will try its best to accommodate your preference.
APRIL
Around April, NC informs you of its decision.
AUGUST
If you are selected, this is when you start your journey into a UWCexperience! Keep an eye out for meetings and/or get-togethers with alumni and/or co-years that may be taking place before you go - to know about what to pack, and any other information you may want to learn!
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NOTE: Find out if you school counsellor has any information about UWC. Some schools such as Schoalstica and Sunbeams hold information sessions about UWC for Grade 10 students that would be very helpful to attend. During those sessions you should also be handed the application that you need to fill out. If your school is not involved in student selection then you should contact the UWC Bangladesh National Committee directly. Please visit the “contact us� page of our website (http://www.uwcbd.org) and call us to know about the important upcoming dates. You should also download the application form from the website and submit it to our office before the set deadline. We are working towards making it an online application for your convenience!
FAQ 1. What diploma will I receive at the end my UWC years?
You will receive a diploma in International Baccalaureate.
2. How many years is the UWC experience? UWC comprises of 2 years equivalent to A levels/HSC.
3. Who can apply to UWC? Any student of grade 10 who will be sitting for the O level or SSC public exam in June and is planning to go to a UWC in the upcoming August, is eligible to apply.
4. What subjects can I take in UWC? You have to take a first language, a second language, a math at Standard/higher/studies level, a science subject, a humanities and a subject of your choice of field, which can either be arts or any of the fields mentioned above. Subjects will vary from campus to campus. Once selected you can visit the campus website of the respective school for more information.
5. Can I take Math HL (Higher Level) if I have done GCE O Level Pure/Advanced Math in Bangladesh?
Prospective Students
7. What is CAS? CAS stands for Creativity, Action and Service. While at a UWC you must take at least 3 different types of extra-curricular activities that fall under either Creativity, Action or Service. For example, a sport like basketball can be considered Action, Latin American Dance can be considered Creativity, and teaching English at a primary school can be considered Service.
8. Does every selected student get a scholarship? No, every student is not given a scholarship. Since there are limited spaces for scholarship , when there are numerous students with good academic and standing, some of the students lower on the list are selected but they have to cover the whole cost.
9. What kind of food is provided at a UWC? UWC schools always provide with vegetarian and nonvegetarian foods, with supplement like drinks, bread, fruits etc. The foods vary great from campus to campus depending on their location. You can talk to your second year or any alumna/ alumnus for further specific information.
10. How many nationalities are usually represented in a You definitely can. However Math HL is very challenging so UWC? it is suggested that you initially take 4 HL subjects (including Math HL) so that you can drop to SL (Standard Level) any time Almost about 70 – 90 depending on the campus you find it necessary. Otherwise after a month of a semester when you are comfortable with Math HL, you can drop another subject to SL You are required to take at least 3 HL subjects and 3 standard level subjects.
Studies at the UWC will include things like individual/group presentations, short papers to write, oral exams, interactive activities/simulations, detailed lab reports all of which you will be given instructions about before assigned.
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6. How different are the studies in UWC from the studies in Bangladesh?
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Album
UWC SEA Alumni Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul and Ayesha Dada with A.B.A. Siraj Uddowlah, President of UWC Society for Bangladesh
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UWC Alumnus Raquibul meets Polly Akhurst, Alumni Relations Officer, UWC International Office in London
Students Farewell Dinner 2014 with UWC Bangladesh National Committee
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UWC Bangladesh Alumni Group Photo at Students' Farewell Dinner 2013
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UWC SEA Alumnus Ayesha Dada presents a crest to the President of UWC Society at the occasion of UWC Day 2013
UWC Alumni from Bangladesh at Students' Farewell Event in 2013
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UWC Society Members at Students' Farewell Dinner 2013
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