UWC invites high school students from Qatar, KSA, Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait

to apply by 15th February 2014

In light of the strong belief of UWC's Honorary President Mr. Nelson Mandela, whose children and grandchildren are also part of the network, UWC is now inviting high school students from KSA, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait to apply by 15th February 2014.

In June 2011, H.H. The Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani donated three million Euros to UWC International.

February 4, 2014, Dubai, UAE: Newly established UWC's national committee in the UAE (UWC UAE), which is the regional affiliate of UWC International, a London-based organization that offers transformational education in its 14 schools and colleges around the world, invites high school students, who are residents in the GCC region and who are committed to UWC ideals, to apply for UWC for the academic year 2013/2014.

Students from the region can submit an expression of interest in applying to UWC on or before 15th February 2014. If found eligible to continue with the application process, they will be requested to submit their formal application till 15th March 2014.

“UWC is greatly saddened by the loss of our Honorary President Nelson Mandela, whose life was an inspiration for our movement and its values of peace and sustainability. We are proud that Mr. Mandela's children and grandchildren were educated at UWC Waterford Kamhlaba, showing his belief in and commitment to the work we do,” said Batool Suleimanji, Alumni Relations Officer, UWC UAE, while speaking about the UWC's alumni network around the world.

'I would like to invite all UWC alumni from the region to visit our website or our Facebook page, and join us in promoting UWC values in this region. Also, I urge them to share their UWC experience with young people in their respective countries who are potentially thinking of applying to UWC this year.

'UWC education is transformational and the start of a lifelong journey and commitment. Annually 7,500 students graduate from UWC schools and colleges with both the knowledge and the enthusiasm to go out into the world and make a positive impact. Almost 50,000 students have graduated from UWC since the first college, UWC Atlantic College, was founded in 1962,' added Batool.

The committee is also organising monthly meetings for UAE-based alumni in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, about which interested students and professionals can get to know more through www.uae.uwc.org

The remarkable impact that UWC achieves across its school and colleges is testimony to the method of student selection and the commitment to selecting as much on promise and potential as on proven merit, the intense multicultural environment in the colleges, the rich programme of cultural activities, the huge opportunities for student initiative, and the strong emphasis on social projects.

UWC's successes in innovative international education have enabled its alumni to attend the world's most prestigious universities around the world – Harvard, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, MIT, LSE. A remarkable scholarship programme funded by a single donor makes some of the USA's top universities an accessible option for these students who need financial support to continue into higher education.

She also pointed out, 'Unsurprisingly, most UWC alumni seek to apply their commitment to positive social change throughout their lives. UWC alumni form a world-wide network of leaders who are equipped to effect change personally, locally, nationally or internationally. We are proud that a UWC education often benefits whole communities, not just the individual who received it. Among our alumni, we count presidents, teachers, aid workers and lawyers, amongst many other professions.'

Providing examples of their successful alumni from the region, Batool stated, 'I'm delighted to talk about our students from this region. For example, Bassem El-Remesh, who grew up as the youngest of six children in a poor family in Lebanon. He was determined to find a way to pay for his schooling and started working in a shop at age 13, When he was 15, he was working six hours or more each day, which enabled him to help his family while attending high school in a neighboring town. Later on, Bassem went to UWC Red Cross Nordic, which he describes as 'a dream come true.' Following his graduation from UWC Red Cross Nordic, Bassem El-Remesh was offered a Davis scholarship to study at Macalester College in the USA.”

When speaking about UWC's main supporters in the region, Batool said, ““I would like to point out and thank some of our supporters. First of all, I would like to mention that H.H. The Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani donated three million Euros in June 2011. The funds are shared equally between the UWC International Office for general operating support and to UWC Maastricht in the Netherlands to develop a department for peace and conflict. I would also like to mention a recent grant of Dubai-based Aman Foundation to UWC Pakistan to support ten full scholarships for students of disadvantaged backgrounds over the next five years,” concluded Batool.

For more information, please visit UWC UAE's website at http://uae.uwc.org/

About UWC: UWC is a unique organization that offers transformational education and has proven an unparalleled commitment to scholarship provision. It was founded in 1962 with the vision 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.

Inspired by the pioneering German educationalist Kurt Hahn, the UWC movement has flourished since the 1960s under the successive presidencies of Lord Mountbatten, HRH the Prince of Wales, Nelson Mandela and HM Queen Noor.

UWC has 14 schools and colleges educating students aged between 16 and 19:

• UWC Adriatic (Italy)
• UWC Atlantic College (UK)
• UWC Costa Rica
• Li Po Chun UWC (Hongkong)
• UWC Mahindra College (India)
• UWC Maastricht (Netherlands)
• UWC Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Pearson UWC (Canada)
• Red Cross Nordic UWC (Norway)
• UWC South East Asia (Singapore)
• UWC Waterford (Swaziland)
• UWC USA
• UWC Dilijan (Armenia)
• UWC Robert Bosch (Germany)

Annually 7,500 students graduate from UWC schools and colleges with both the knowledge and the enthusiasm to go out into the world and make a positive impact. Almost 50,000 students have graduated from UWC since the first college, UWC Atlantic College was founded in 1962.

UWC International is governed by the International Board and UWC Council. The executive arm of the International Board is the International Office (UWCIO) based in London. For more information, please visit: http://www.uwc.org/