uwcad

Every year students of the United World College of the Adriatic spend one week of their winter break going to a foreign country and showing their talents in street performances, as well as doing social services and working with disabled people. This year the Street Performance was held in Spain, Barcelona and more than 50 students showed interest in participating in this event. The preparations started in early November. Students were rehearsing dances and songs, planning workshops to be held at schools. The organizer of the event, Anna Orelanna from Barcelona, worked hard to make the schedule both interesting and meaningful in terms of gaining experience in social work and exploring an unknown city. Host families were found for each one of the students so that they could also experience an everyday life in Spain. The program of the Street Performance consisted of students’ performances, workshops at schools, social service and free time, which the students spent with their host families or sightseeing. The concerts were held in various places, mostly in disabled people’s centers. Students visited “Auxilia” centre and “Centre la Llar”, performing for disabled children, adults and children with social risks. Many workshops at schools were held and students were presenting their home countries or discussing problems that are important in their countries these days. Social service was a big part of the Street Performance. Students helped the staff in Foundation Cottolengo and Madre Teresa de Calcuta where they served meals for disabled people, washed the dishes and clothes, and played with the children. Though in United World College of the Adriatic a lot of students have social services where they work with disabled people, for some of the students it was a completely new experience.
Social service was not the only demanding and new experience. All the students had their schedules, but to find the places indicated and get there on time was up to them. Everybody was responsible for themselves and also for their friends not to get lost in such a big city as Barcelona. This taught students to be independent and at the end of the week everybody was already confident using the metro and finding meeting places. Barcelona is an exciting city with rich cultural life and students enjoyed sightseeing, visiting museums or just exploring the city on their own.
The Street Performance has already become a tradition in United World College of the Adriatic. Past Street Performances were held in Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic and other countries.