From 2 to 6 March, all 184 students of UWC Adriatic took part in this year’s Project Week, engaging in 22 student-led initiatives across Italy and beyond. After months of planning, ideas turned into action as students stepped out of the classroom to explore, serve and learn through direct experience – a cornerstone of the UWC educational approach.
Nineteen groups travelled across Italy, while others ventured further afield to Vienna, Paris and Slovakia, each project reflecting the diverse interests, passions and values of the students involved (artistic expression with people with disabilities, sustainable fashion, and combating prejudice against Roma people respectively).
For some, the week meant reconnecting with nature and physical challenge. One group went climbing near Lake Garda, while others spent time on the ski slopes supporting an organisation that enables people with disabilities to experience skiing. In the mountains near Cercivento (Udine), students worked alongside local scout groups to maintain trails and support the community – combining environmental stewardship with service.
For others, Project Week was an opportunity to engage deeply with social issues and community service – an experience that left them inspired by the commitment of those working daily for social change. Students volunteered in shelters for homeless people, supported refugees, and worked with organisations assisting vulnerable individuals and animals in several cities, including Rome, Turin, Milan, Monfalcone and Trieste. In Slovakia, one group met with Roma communities and later led workshops in local schools to promote inclusion and challenge prejudice.
Several projects also focused on building practical skills with a direct impact on others. In Trieste, one group completed an intensive first aid course led by the Atlantic Pacific Rescue Team, combining theory and hands-on training. By the end of the week, students not only earned certification in life-saving techniques, but also shared their knowledge with residents at the Campo Sacro refugee centre, teaching essential skills such as CPR and the recovery position.
Creativity and knowledge-sharing were at the heart of other projects. A group of students brought music to retirement homes in Padua, discovering how artistic expression can foster connection and joy. Others explored academic and professional pathways, such as the group that visited the Collegio Carlo Alberto in Turin to understand how research in economics and finance can contribute to society. Meanwhile, students passionate about science learned astronomical photography at the Trieste Observatory, before sharing their knowledge with younger students through workshops in local schools.
Project Week also strengthened the bonds of the UWC Adriatic alumni network, with several initiatives – particularly in Rome and Milan – creating opportunities for students and alumni to meet, collaborate and share experiences. A heartfelt thank you goes to all alumni who supported these projects, including those who hosted students during the week.
All 22 projects contributed to raising awareness about UWC and its mission. Notably, the group that travelled to Palermo, accompanied by the Rettore, Dr Khalid El-Meetal, focused on promoting UWC and the Italian selection process, reaching potential applicants through schools, institutional visits as well as local television and radio.
At its core, Project Week embodies the UWC belief that education is most powerful when it connects knowledge with action. By stepping into new environments, engaging with real-world challenges and working alongside diverse communities, students develop not only practical skills, but also empathy, resilience and a deeper understanding of their role in the world.
Our sincere thanks go to all the organisations and partners who welcomed our students and made this year’s Project Week such a meaningful and transformative experience, among which: Ich Bin OK in Vienna, Collegio Carlo Alberto, Progetto Abito and SERMIG Arsenale della pace in Turin, Comunità di Sant’Egidio and kindergarten Celio Azzurro in Rome, SportAbili in Predazzo, Disabilandia in Milan, Caritas in Trieste, Voi Come Noi in Monfalcone, Fondazione Golinelli in Bologna and the Atlantic Pacific rescue team.
