UWC Impact: Students Pitch Projects for Real-World Change

From May 17 to 18, UWC Adriatic hosted the first edition of the Impact Weekend, the culmination of the College’s newly launched UWC Adriatic Impact Programme. The initiative, developed in close collaboration with a dedicated group of UWC alumni and professionals, was designed to empower students to turn their ideas into tangible, community-driven solutions.

Throughout the academic year, first-year students participated in weekly workshops and mentorship sessions that introduced them to the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship, innovation, and impact-driven leadership. The programme provided tools in areas such as project design, financial planning, healthcare innovation, AI for social good, and digital sustainability.

The Impact Weekend in Duino marked the conclusion of this journey. Students had the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of mentors, alumni, and members of the school community, receiving real-time feedback and support. Among the initiatives presented were:

Dandelion, a peer-led storytelling programme fostering belonging and self-expression among young refugees through picture books and workshops.
Connezione, a smart platform connecting people with physical disabilities to local volunteers for everyday assistance.
HostMyHoliday, an app matching boarding school students with vetted host families during school breaks.
Alla Moda, a sustainable fashion project upcycling clothing and raising awareness about textile waste.
ThinkTwice, a social media initiative helping young people develop critical thinking skills to counter propaganda and misinformation.
UWC Next Horizons, a digital platform linking current UWC students with alumni to support the university application journey.

A group of people sit facing a stage where three presenters stand in front of a screen displaying a slide with text and images in a bright, spacious room with wooden beams and ceiling lights.

The weekend featured high-level workshops led by alumni working in AI, sustainable finance, healthcare, and social enterprise. We are especially grateful to Elia Stupka, Maria Federica Leonarduzzi, Maria Gabriela Manrique, Maria Chiara Billi, and Dr Khalid El-Metaal for their leadership, and to the 11 alumni and professional mentors who gave their time, insight and guidance.

As one mentor put it:

The Impact Weekend showcased not only the creativity and commitment of our students, but also the power of alumni engagement to extend the UWC mission beyond the classroom — equipping the next generation of changemakers to act with purpose, courage and skill. As a pilot project, the UWC Impact Programme welcomed student input, and their feedback has been invaluable in shaping next year’s edition to better serve the College community.