Our Global Concerns programme

STORIES UWCSEA

Our Global Concerns programme Students making a mark

The College’s Service programme beyond Singapore is called Global Concerns (GC). A unique student run and led programme, there are 57 GCs at the College, enacting a wide variety of activities and projects reflecting a range of global development challenges and associated environmental issues with a particular focus on the climate emergency. Projects address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, providing opportunity, empowering communities and addressing social, economic, gender, education and health disparities.

In 2018/2019 students took action to address both localised and systemic issues. Activities range from such immediate actions as providing diapers for a children’s home in China, to helping to secure Singapore’s long term climate security and bio-diversity by driving rainforest restoration projects.

In 2018/2019, the Dover Global Concerns programme:

Environmental Projects • Seeded up, nurtured and planted hundreds of indigenous rainforest trees in Singapore • Installed bio-digesters and solar ovens in Cambodia • Encouraged recycling, up-cycling and income generation • Advocated for animals; raised their voices against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade; built new humane enclosures for sunbears • Saved over five tonnes of meat through the vegetarian Wednesday initiative, equivalent to 135 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the same as us collectively not driving over 500,000 kilometres • Campaigned against ocean plastics • Supported turtle protection schemes in Tioman • Put solar lighting into a rural village in India

Empowerment • Rescued seven people from human traffickers in Vietnam • Sunk 100 wells in Cambodia • Built 95 houses in Cambodia and seven houses in Guatemala • Saw 2,500 new families join the Tabitha savings programme • Supported income generation projects, bought pigs and chickens • Added a sturdy construction to a community centre in Brazil

Education, Children and Health • Sponsored 100 children to attend school in Vietnam • Provided lunches for 1,500 children through Blue Dragon in Vietnam • Delivered nutritional and milk programmes in Vietnam • Sponsored a student in Tanzania • Supported quality education in the Kalahari • Developed literacy in native tongues; published books in Laotian language • Funded assessment and support for students facing learning challenges; funded much needed physio equipment to enable young people to reach their full growth and potential • Sponsored a Work for Cloth programme, bringing dignity to people’s lives • Sold handicrafts to enable people to earn a living wage • Supported the visually impaired to develop their independent living skills • Assisted communities infected and affected with HIV AIDS • Provided maternal health care in remote communities in Indonesia • Wrote letters advocating for political change

• Sponsored cancer treatment for those who would otherwise not be able to afford it in India • Helped children of migrant construction workers in Mumbai obtain an education • Provided scholarships for students in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Nepal, Ladakh, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Cambodia • Purchased diapers for a children’s home in China • Supported abandoned children in China • Gave children living and working on the streets safe home lives and an education