Before entering his National Service (NS) in Basic Military Training, Teddy Lee ‘20 never imagined he’d find himself on a 24-hr training exercise, leading a platoon of cadets digging trenches in the middle of the night. Pulling up the earth in the darkness, he shouting encouragement to the soldiers around him. Despite the sleep deprivation, and the extreme physical and mental exertion, Teddy pushed on.

No school focused on sustainability would confine their lessons to the classroom, but at UWCSEA our entire campuses have been co-opted into providing students of all ages real-life learning opportunities linked to the UWC mission.

Broader than a single subject, peace education at UWCSEA aims to instil a deep understanding of what peace is, the different ways peace can be achieved, and to embed peace throughout a wide range of learning opportunities.

“Peace education is what we do and how we do it, not just what children learn,“ explains Ellie Alchin, Director of Teaching
and Learning at UWCSEA Dover. “Peacebuilding is not a standalone curriculum because it fits into so many different areas
of the school. There are elements of peace education in the personal and social education curriculum, there are conceptual understandings relating to peace in the humanities curriculum. It’s explicitly taught in global citizenship and global politics, and in IB and (i)GCSE history. It’s also built into the service curriculum, and anywhere that students learn about sustainability.”

At UWCSEA, peacebuilding is something that is explicitly taught and considered to be critical to the foundations of a healthy community and society. It is an act of service, but it is also considered to be a core understanding and disposition that helps people achieve peace personally and in complex, real-world situations.

Nick Alchin took up the role as Head of UWCSEA East in January 2021. One year into his appointment, the East Campus community will be familiar with his name—hundreds of emails have been sent in his name as we navigate the pandemic—but many will not yet have had a chance to meet the passionate educator.

From qualifying for the Swedish National Team to competing at the European and Nordic Championships, Grade 9 student Viggo has had an exciting year in gymnastics. He is currently a member of the UWCSEA Dragons gymnastics team, a Swedish club called Motus Salto and the Swedish National team. In this interview, we talk to Viggo about his experience with gymnastics, his goals and dreams, as well as how he balances his rigorous academic programme with his demanding training schedule.

As an Infant School teacher and avid DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice) children’s book collector, the idea of Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors within children’s literature is at the heart of my work as an educator.

Let’s meet Wangdrak ‘20, a Bhutanese scholar from Thimphu. In our Gift of Stories piece this week, he shares the core values and lessons he’s applied in his journey from his time at #UWCSEA to the present.

Peace begins with us” was the theme of this year’s UWC Day, celebrating the strength and diversity of the UWC movement and our mission for a more peaceful and sustainable future. Read more to find out how UWCSEA celebrated the annual global celebration of the UWC mission and values, which takes place on 21 September every year, to coincide with the UN International Day of Peace.