UWCSEA’s Scholarship Programme New scholar reflections 2015/2016
“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 “I’m the first national scholar to come from Ukraine to UWCSEA. I come from an eastern part of Ukraine where the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine is going on. However, I still remain a dreamer who believes that such conflict could be handled with the help of a dialogue between nations. That’s why I feel that the UWC mission is really close to me as it is built on the basis of tolerance and multicultural respect. Thank you for giving me a chance to gain such experience, I promise to make this world better. Дякую! (Thank you in Ukrainian)” Anastasiia Kharitonova, Ukraine
UWCSEA: Honduras, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Fiji, Nigeria, El Salvador, India, Ghana, Niger, Marshall Islands, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Guyana, Germany and Estonia. To help add to the diversity, we also have scholars who joined us in Grade 8, Grade 9 and Grade 10FIB as well as Grade 11.
Supporting the UWCSEA Scholarship Programme allows us to offer transformational opportunities for young people like Anastasiia Kharitonova, who truly value the power of an education. Your generosity has helped contribute to the education and development of our scholars.
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 our day-today College life. Living and learning with scholarship students provides a deeper understanding of specific nations, cultures and global issues.
This year, thanks to our community support, there are 102 scholars receiving a UWC education. Here at UWCSEA we have 93 scholars representing 50 countries. At the start of 2015, we welcomed 45 new scholars to the UWCSEA community, which is our largest cohort to-date. In this year of increasing diversity within our college, we welcomed scholars from 15 new countries to
It is thanks to your commitment that we are able to maintain and develop a strong scholarship programme each year. Investing in an education that empowers students is an investment in future leaders.
Each scholar has a unique story to tell. The following accounts touch on their initial reflections during their first term at UWCSEA, as experienced by a cross section of our scholar community representing the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, North America and South America. Thank you.
“I would like to meet my donors and show them that I will make sure to work, serve and play hard and make the most of these two years of my life.”
JuanAntonio Nelson, (Jamaica) Our first scholar from Jamaica, Juan describes his home country as a “beautiful island located in the midst of the Caribbean; home of Reggae music, the fastest persons on Earth and supposedly the most creative set of persons! Jamaica is definitely an awesome place to be born. We face many problems such as corruption but I am proud to be a Jamaican and I will continue on the path of success so I can make a positive impact on the land of my birth.” He outlined some differences between the school he previously attended in Jamaica and UWCSEA.
previous school: modern buildings, air conditioning units, well organised transport system, sports and gym facilities, music, film, and drama departments. The teaching style here is more hands-on and interactive with way smaller class sizes. There are wellorganised Global Concerns, societies and services to choose from as well as the entire IB package including CAS. You have new opportunities to travel and experience new cultures even while learning. Our learning ability is enhanced by learning platforms and the use of internet and laptops, proper science lab equipment, textbooks, a clean environment with a supportive and open-minded atmosphere.
“I attended Wolmer’s Boys’ School before coming to UWCSEA. All of the following were not present at my
I had thoroughly researched UWCSEA and its environs before arriving, but seeing everything in person was
just amazing and I struggled hard to maintain composure. Upon arriving in the boarding house where I was warmly greeted, a genuine smile seemed to have been sewn into my face. Happiness struck and I could only smile and say “hi”. Sitting here writing this reflection lets me realise how much I am blessed … this is something that all hard working Jamaican students dream of. I would like to meet my donors and show them that I will make sure to work, serve and play hard and make the most of these two years of my life. This will help empower me to be a member of our global society who contributes positively. Thank you.”
Anastasiia Kharitonova, (Ukraine) Anastasiia is the first scholar at UWCSEA from Ukraine. Hers were the opening words of this Impact Report outlining a brief story of her background. “I have already started feeling that right now I am in the process of changing through the process of understanding. UWCSEA allows you to take something from different cultures and become more familiar with different mindsets. Being part of an international community, you learn how to deal with plenty of different human beings and as a result you become more tolerant. Speaking about learning experiences, I know that UWCSEA is a great start that allows getting excellent education and gaining knowledge that will be useful in life. Studying here is really challenging and it is definitely worth spending the time.”
“UWCSEA is a great start that allows getting excellent education and gaining knowledge that will be useful in life.”
Chingpheng Phoun, (Cambodia) Chingpheng is one of our younger Cambodian scholars who joined UWCSEA in Grade 8 on a five year scholarship. This provides him the support required to prepare for the demanding IB Diploma in later years at the College. Chingpheng comes from a province in Cambodia close to the border of Thailand and loves playing football. His favorite subject is Mathematics and he would like to be a computer programmer when he grows up. When asked about his first impressions, Chingpheng said: “I felt like excited, because I have never been abroad before and that was my first time of being abroad. I also felt a bit scared as I thought at first my English may not be really good as other students. Last but not least, I thought before coming I would be lonely, maybe the people in school and boarding house will not be friendly making me home sick … but actually when I arrived, everything was great. People in school and boarding house are really friendly and co-operative. I feel like UWCSEA scholarship is really valuable for me, because it’s going to help me to achieve my goals in the future.”
“Teachers encourage each of us to share experiences from our country relating to the topic that we do in every class. This broadens our knowledge and makes our learning more engaging.”
Saif Ryan Panday, (Guyana) Saif was born and grew up in Guyana, a relatively small country in terms of size and population with just under a million people. It is one of the most culturally diverse countries in South America and the Caribbean with seven different ethnicities occupying the land. Saif had never travelled outside Guyana before coming to Singapore and wrote this reflection about himself, how his ideas are being shaped and what it meant to be the first scholar from
Guyana. “I took an interest in public speaking and debating from a very early age. Having participated in many national and regional debates and public speaking competitions, I think my love for this solidified over the years. Doing service and working with children has also been one of my passions as I have volunteered at an organisation that works with disadvantaged children. I love playing badminton and occupy my time socialising, reading and writing poems and short stories and try to make my contribution to the world. I always dreamed of going abroad to an
international school and experiencing what a school with such a diverse community would be like. Being a part of UWCSEA and its impressive diverse community, really is shaping the way I see the world and the way I learn. Teachers encourage each of us to share experiences from our country relating to the topic that we do in every class. This broadens our knowledge and makes our learning more engaging. I am proud to be the first representative from Guyana here at UWCSEA.”
Blen Seyoum Mengesha, (Ethiopia)
“UWCSEA is an example of diversity. I feel so lucky by joining this school and being part of such a diverse community.”
Blen is a 17 year old scholar from Dessie in Ethiopia and is also away from her home for the very first time. She speaks of feeling ecstatic when she first heard she had been selected as the first Ethiopian scholar at UWCSEA. Having now spent a couple of months on campus, this is what she has to say, “UWCSEA is an example of diversity. I feel so lucky by joining this school and being part of such a diverse community. Since we are from so many different countries I get the chance to know more about other parts of the world and I hear of so many unbelievable ways of life. Living in the UWCSEA community is one big part of your life; you are not here from one country you are here from different parts of the world. As a result, you will have the chance to know more about those countries. This diversity affects your living because every country has its own culture and way of living so it gives you the chance to choose the best for your life.”
Beverly Johnson, (Marshall Islands) Beverly, who describes herself as organised and hardworking, was determined to get the UWC scholarship; but when she heard she was indeed selected, she had to ask the girl sitting next to pinch her for a reality check. Now a couple of months into her school year, Beverly feels “being a part of the UWCSEA movement and being the first ever scholar from the Marshall Islands is amazing. The UWCSEA
community, I believe, will help me in three ways. One, the experience of being able to work and learn from different people who have different cultures. Two, it will definitely help me academically. Three, I will be able to broaden my horizons.” Beverly comes from the Marshall Islands, a small nation with population of approximately 50,000, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When asked how being a part of the UWCSEA community will impact her living and
learning experience she said “UWCSEA will open my eyes to so much more than I thought possible. I was at the point where I thought where I was before UWCSEA was the end, like the people thought before Christopher Columbus went out on his expedition. But now, I get to travel and see the world. I am forever grateful and will do my best to succeed. I can’t recommend this experience more to anyone who wants to expand their horizons and learn new things.”
“I am forever grateful and will do my best to succeed. I can’t recommend this experience more to anyone who wants to expand their horizons and learn new things.”
UWCSEA Foundation Scholarship Programme 2015/2016
at a glance
102
scholars receiving UWC education thanks to support from the UWCSEA community
93
scholars at UWCSEA
50
3 1 2 39
45
countries represented this year
new scholars offered a 5-year scholarship in Grade 8 new scholar offered a 4-year scholarship in Grade 9 new scholars offered a 3-year scholarship in Grade 10/FIB new scholars offered a 2-year scholarship in Grade 11 new scholars were welcomed to UWCSEA in 2015 – the largest cohort ever
number of countries per region
11 Asia 12 Europe 11 Africa 7 South America 6 North and Central America 3 Oceania
63%
15
additional countries represented
• Honduras • Ethiopia • Ukraine • Fiji • Nigeria • El Salvador • India • Ghana • Niger • Marshall Islands • Costa Rica • Jamaica • Guyana • Germany • Estonia
of current scholars are female
Thank you. Your gift is making a difference. UWCSEA Foundation 1207 Dover Road Singapore 139654 T +65 64199353 F +65 67775396 foundation@uwcsea.edu.sg Company Registration Number 200404580M | Charity Registration Number 01797 | IPC Number 000626 | 012FOUND-1516