Ever thought of stepping out of your comfort zone and heading out into the world to study more about youth leadership, intercultural communication and volunteerism? Then you should have United World College (UWC) in mind. Founded in 1962 by Kurt Hahn under the ideals that university should involve students experiencing reality rather than reading about it, UWC has 17 schools and colleges around the world.
UWC is known for its diversity and inclusion of other cultures, which is crucial to every college. According to UWC’s website, they “help students discover the possibility of change. They learn that they can help to change the world through their courageous action, personal example and selfless leadership. We support young people to reach their intellectual, moral, aesthetic, emotional, social, spiritual and physical potential”.
The international baccalaureate (IB) is studied under UWC where you can obtain a diploma. Subjects include studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts. With these subjects, three are studied on a core level while the other three are on high level.
Additional subjects include extended essays where students research a topic and write about 4 000 words on it; theory of knowledge challenges students on what they know which involves an oral presentation and a 1 600-word essay; and lastly creativity, activity and service (CAS) teaches students about skills (from outdoor to voluntary) which are meant to help others.
There are plenty of benefits when it comes to studying at the college, but let’s start off with the requirements: You must be between 16 and 19 years old. The final two years of secondary school are completed through the international baccalaureate diploma programme. But what more can the school offer?
UWC is not your average college. Although a lot of focus is put on academics in typical Namibian schools, UWC believes that experience is key and “grades on a piece of paper do not define who you are and the impact that you will go on to have on the world”.
The college includes a lot of community engagement projects, trips and dialogues as a part of the UWC experience. You will be involved with a lot of people from various cultures every day, as well as live with them on campuses around the world. You will get to step out of your comfort zone and truly understand how the world works as the college experience is rooted in culture and creativity.
The Namibia United World College National Committee encourages Grade 11s and Grade 12s to apply for a scholarship. You simply have to write a statement (of no more than a page) outlining your community involvement, write a motivation letter (of no longer than a page) on why you want to study at UWC, add a copy of your latest academic results (including Grade 10 results) and a copy of your ID/passport. These can be emailed to uwc.namibia@gmail.com.
Nikhita Winkler, founder of Nikhita Winkler Dance Theatre, holds an honour’s degree in dance performance and neuroscience from the Red Cross Nordic United World College in Norway, and described the experience at the college as enlightening.
“I applied when I was in Grade 10,” she said. “One day, my mom just put a letter on the table and it said ‘congrats, you were accepted!’ My preference was actually the US but I was accepted to go to Norway.”
As someone who had an active social life, Winkler said she had mixed emotions about moving to Norway, however, what she took from the experience was life-changing.
“When I went to UWC, all my walls were broken down. I had to rebuild, but it gave me an incredible foundation. I was exposed to a wide network of incredible people. It became my world,” Winkler said.
Later on, she was able to study in the US and chose a school that included a dance programme, seeing as she had been dancing for all her life and it was a career choice she had to pursue. “I studied dance and neuroscience and I learnt a lot about my body. Neuroscience is only for the tough, it’s an extremely intense subject.”
It took a huge toll on Winkler’s personal life, but because of an exchange programme she took on in Miami, she was forced to drop out of UWC. “People were supportive of what I did, but sceptical. But there were a lot of hopes and prayers that it would work out.”
“UWC is a liberal arts college. There’s enough support and other students become an inspiration to you. The US was incredibly interesting because I got a lot of exposure and worked with some of the biggest dance companies in the world. The US had so many opportunities. In 2010, I was even recruited for ‘America’s Got Talent’.”
On why she opted to come back home, Winkler said it was time to give back to the Namibian community. “I recognise my privilege and the value of education I received,” she said.
“I’ve always been a dancer and I really want to raise the standards of dance by developing the industry.”
Winkler has had opportunities to teach dance to children with disabilities in India, inspiring her to open a school of dance here. “We teach girls from four years old to older women. We need more role models to inspire the children around us.”
