There are stories of young people who, through education, are rewriting their destinies. The journeys of Lamin and Zeyad, two unaccompanied foreign minors, are a case in point.
Both arrived in Italy without their families, but thanks to the Italian National Committee for the United World Colleges (UWC Italy) and its scholarship programme for unaccompanied foreign minors, they found an opportunity to live and study at UWC Adriatic.
Their experience—from their arrival in Italy to their first year at the College—embodies how the freedom to learn can transform lives, opening doors to a future where dreams can be achieved by growing, learning, and facing new challenges.
Although Lamin and Zeyad arrived in Italy under very different circumstances, they shared the same hope: to find an opportunity that would enable them to build a better future.
Zeyad arrived in Italy from Egypt at the age of 15, without his family, after crossing the Mediterranean. He did not speak Italian at the time. After spending a year learning the language, he enrolled in a science-focused secondary school. While studying there, he discovered UWC and, with the help of an educator, learned about the possibility of securing a scholarship to attend UWC Adriatic.
Lamin arrived in Italy from Sierra Leone in 2023. His Italian father introduced him to the UWC Italy scholarship programme. When he met Zeyad in Rome, the two worked together on group activities during the selection process.
They both still remember those moments vividly—how the UWC Italy selection process was an intense yet incredible experience. Neither of them expected to be awarded the scholarship.
Today, at UWC Adriatic, they have found a welcoming and stimulating environment that has helped them grow, not only academically but also personally. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is challenging, but with the support of friends, educators, and staff, they are experiencing an extraordinary educational journey.
The Italian National Committee for United World Colleges (UWC Italy) has launched a call for applications for two scholarships dedicated to unaccompanied foreign minors aged 16 to 19.
With the support of Fondazione De Agostini and Generali, the selected students will have the opportunity to attend UWC Adriatic ONLUS in Duino (Province of Trieste) for two years, preparing for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The scholarships cover board, lodging, school materials, and equipment for co-curricular activities.
This unique opportunity for personal and international growth has been launched under the patronage of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in collaboration with UNICEF and UNICEF’s U-Report initiative.
The application deadline is 28 March, 2025!
For any questions or doubts do not hesitate to contact the National Committee of Italy for the United World Colleges – UWC Italia via email at selezioni@it.uwc.org
