This summer, second-year UWC Adriatic student Madina, originally from Afghanistan, participated in two inspiring programmes, gaining invaluable insights into education, resilience, and ethical leadership.
Madina’s journey began in Rwanda at the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), where she spent a month volunteering. SOLA, initially based in Kabul, was Afghanistan’s only boarding school for girls until the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, when the school relocated to Rwanda to continue providing education to Afghan girls barred from attending school. During her time at SOLA, Madina assisted with English classes and engaged students in various activities, from art classes to cricket and outdoor trips. This experience offered Madina the chance to connect with young girls from her community, many of whom have left Afghanistan under difficult circumstances.
Following her time at SOLA, Madina participated in a month-long ethical leadership short course at UWC Thailand in partnership with Amala Foundation, which brought together students from multiple UWCs. The programme blended theoretical classes on leadership with practical team-building activities and community engagement.
The highlight of her time in Thailand was a week-long community service project at a remote school originally established for children affected by a devastating tsunami. Today, the school supports children facing severe financial hardship or family loss and relies heavily on external funding and volunteers. Madina and her fellow students assisted in teaching English and maths, providing fresh perspectives to students who have spent much of their lives in this isolated area. Despite their challenges, the children’s resilience and joy left a lasting impression on Madina. “Their first sentence in English was always, ‘We are happy.’ Their joy was genuine and contagious.”
Back in Duino for her second year at UWC Adriatic, Madina shared her reflections during a College Assembly:
«The resilience of Afghan girls at SOLA and of the Thai children — who despite having so little were so full of life and optimism — had a great impact on me. It made me realise just how much we often take for granted in our own lives.»
