Fifty-eight applications were submitted, offering innovative ideas from students across the UWC network as to how they hope to make a difference.

More students than ever submitted videos with their application which really helped to bring the ideas to life. The panel assessing the applications use the pre-determined criteria, which covers how much personal challenge, the level of impact and sustainability the project is likely to have and how much the project allows students to live the UWC mission and values.

This year will see interesting projects being delivered in Africa (Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Niger, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe) in the Americas (Peru, USA), in Asia (Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Thailand,) in Europe (The Netherlands, The Faroe Islands and Wales) and in the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iraq).

Over the twenty two years of providing the awards, there have been some fantastic projects delivered and this year was no exception. The team were once again pleased to see the variety across the diverse projects with some using a high level of technology as part of the project delivery.

One successful project aimed at promoting human rights to the Faroese youth

As Jill Longson (AC’81) and co-founder commented, “We have been delighted with the response we have received this year. The number of different, innovative ideas we received leaves me in no doubt the values of Kurt Hahn and UWC are alive and well across our network. We loved seeing the videos from students accompanying many of the applications, which really brought the ideas to life. As always, students gave the team a hard task in assessing the applications. So many projects had some fantastic ideas as to how students hoped to make a difference and were submitted with well-thought through plans.”

Students from fifteen Schools/Colleges are receiving grants and once again we are pleased to see some projects have students working together from different UWC’s. Special congratulations this year to UWC Atlantic, who have gained five successful awards which is a fantastic achievement.

The GoMakeADifference team, would like to thank and acknowledge the help we receive from the UWC Schools and Colleges in helping us to promote the awards, motivate and guide students into submitting their project plans.

2023 Successful Projects

Projects were successful where students submitted innovative, well-thought through plans, which provided a level of personal challenge and sustainability and a likelihood to succeed. Thank you to everyone who applied. Successful projects covered issues around healthcare, agriculture, water and waste, education and the environment.

Some key highlights of projects awarded this year includes:

This project aims to develop artificial intelligence to monitor and analyse food waste being thrown away

• Developing an app which through music aims to facilitate communication for the less able in the community;
• Delivering a mental health awareness camp;
• Providing a micro-farming project with a sustainable approach;
• Supporting the human rights and education of indigenous people;
• Raising awareness of health and environment issues through education programmes;
• Installing clean cooking stoves;
• Reducing waste including developing an artificial intelligence programme to monitor and analyse food waste to better inform suppliers;
• Constructing a study hall and sustainable water systems;
• Conserving and protecting the Sumatran Tiger;
• Producing sustainable fashion;
• Developing an artificial intelligence programme to help address the challenges faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals;
• Helping to tackle the technological constraints in education of young students.

Colin Habgood (co-founder) assessing the GoMakeADifference 2023 project applications commented,

“We review every application carefully and consider each project against our criteria. It is a time-consuming task to review each application especially with so many and such diverse projects.

“We always enjoy reading the applications and this year have been really inspired by the innovative ideas and the use of technology to help UWC students make a difference. Unfortunately, not every project can be successful, but we thank all students for applying and hope that somehow by developing their idea into a project plan, students can use this to provide a catalyst which may allow them to somehow still deliver their plan”.

Take a look

For full details about the projects projects awarded and those which have been delivered in previous years, please visit https://www.gomakeadifference.global/projects-awarded/2023-awards/.

Here are the students from UWC Li Po Chun College in Hong Kong being presented with their certificates for their 2022 awards for two very different projects. Ivy Shi and Hannah Bailey Cheery aim to develop a Mobile Library to bring books to underprivileged communities. Cecily Houghton and Joey Wat who aim to bridge the technology divide, by providing technology to support refugee students including computers, internet access and mentorship.

Also in the photo are Arnett Edwards, Head of UWC LPC and Fiona Ng, Teacher of Mathematics and the LPC GoMake a Difference UWC co-ordinator.

We wish all successful UWC students well with their project delivery this year and look forward to hearing how their projects really made a difference.

Good luck, guys.
Best wishes from the GoMakeADifference team.

The GoMakeADifference team were delighted to receive a total of fifty project applications from nearly all UWC Schools and Colleges, for students to deliver community projects around the world in 2022. This was despite the obvious challenges and restrictions that COVID inevitably brings.

As co-founder, Jill Longson (AC’81) commented, “We were thrilled with the response we had. We know how difficult it has been for students over the last two years, but they have shown great creativity and passion in their project proposals. The increase in climate and sustainability related projects was particularly evident this year, as was the number of projects supporting refugees”.

Students from 12 Schools/Colleges are receiving grants. Some projects have students working together from different UWC’s, which will no doubt be a particularly special experience. Particular congratulations this year go to UWC Waterford Kamhlaba and UWC Atlantic, with 5 successful awards each.

Helping students make a difference The GoMakeADifference team, would like to thank and acknowledge the help we receive from the UWC Schools and Colleges in helping us to promote the awards, motivate and guide students into submitting their project plans.

Projects were successful where students submitted innovative, well-thought through project proposals that meet a real need; with comprehensive timelines, budgets and operational plans; that provided a level of personal challenge and commitment; and with a strong likelihood to succeed. Many applications had accompanying videos where it was evident to see the enthusiasm students had for their projects.

There were seven successful projects around climate issues covering sustainable agriculture, waste and water. Other projects focused on youth rights and leadership, education and women’s rights. Refugee projects were aimed either at offering support in camps, or in local communities - with one designing and building a multiple local language translation App.

Key highlights of projects awarded this year include:

The Mobile Library will feature a “jeepney” which will be stocked with books and travel around a rural community in Cavite, Philippines. One of the many projects planned to make a difference in 2022.

• Providing language education tailored for refugees and asylum seekers.
• Providing a marketing resource to promote rurally-produced indigenous products in the toiletries market in India.
• Creating a core group of young change makers, working for human rights, respect and peace in Haiti.
• Starting a library and motivating children to return to school after a 2 year lockdown in Uganda.
• Igniting an innovative spirit to young Tanzanians through information technology education.
• Constructing wetlands for the reuse of water resources using grey water in Argentina.
• Raising awareness about the severity of gender violence in Mexico.
• Planting seeds of education in impoverished and Roma communities through children’s summer camps across Romania.
• Reducing plastic waste in a community in Zimbabwe.
• Bringing books to underprivileged communities through mobile libraries in the Philippines.
• Creating a technology drive to support refugee students including computers, internet access and mentorship in Hong Kong.
• Reforesting and teaching environmental sustainability in Portugal.
• Promoting and facilitating sustainable practices in Phuket to reduce the impact of plastic.

On assessing the GoMakeADifference 2022 project applications, Colin Habgood (co-founder), commented, “We review every application carefully and consider each project against our criteria around personal development, project sustainability and success. It is a long but rewarding task, especially with so many and such diverse projects”.

Colin went on: “We all enjoy reading the applications and were inspired by the innovative ideas UWC students have in making a difference. It is a shame that not every project can be successful in receiving a grant from us. But we hope that by developing a project plan, every student can use this experience as a catalyst, to allow them to somehow still deliver their plan”.

Take a look

You can view full details about the projects awarded this year, or take a look at those which have been delivered in previous years.

Colin Habgood, Jill Longson and Ann Goodwin.