The ability to understand others is like a muscle: it needs constant training and dedication, but it requires a context that makes such efforts possible. The United World Colleges (UWC), are undoubtedly the right context, thanks to the significant diversity of cultures and backgrounds of the students selected each year by UWC National committees. Among the students, the presence of male and female refugees is frequent. In fact, within UWC, there is a programme that ensures the presence of at least one refugee student in each of the eighteen schools or colleges every year.
All of this and more was discussed on November 23 at the University of Cassino during the conference titled Transitanti? Storie di vita. UWC Adriatic participated in the event, represented by our Project Manager for EU projects, Maria Chiara Billi, and former refugee student Bashir Elyas (UWCAD 2016-18).
This doesn’t happen by magic but thanks to an educational experience that has been in place for over four decades to teach young people from all backgrounds that diversity is something to be celebrated, not rejected – an organisation that strives to bring down the barriers to a quality education for promising youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. A perfect example is Bashir, a former student and a member of the Italian UWC National Committee. He arrived in Italy in 2010 at the age of 11 as an unaccompanied minor and was able to live in a foster home until he came of age while still attending high school.
A student at UWC Adriatic from 2016 to 2018, Bashir describes his experience at the College as the best one in his life.
In the video below you can hear Chiara’s and Bashir’s speeches (in Italian) at the conference.
