30 UWC student projects were awarded USD $30, 0000 by the Go Make A Difference, a UWCx initiative, to deliver projects Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. Go Make a Difference is a grant scheme that allows current students across all UWC schools and colleges to run projects that put the UWC ideals into practice. Among the 2017 grantees were 4 Kenyan UWC students. Each project is awarded USD $1000.

 The Kenyan Youth for Peace Project in Nairobi, Kenya aims to help youth overcome violence in relation to elections and will be delivered by Nawal Abdulrahman Ali, (Kenya, UWC South East Asia, Singapore, 2015-2017)  and Shamim Mohamed, (Kenya, Pearson College UWC, Canada, 2015-2017) . The other project that was  granted was Vijana Imara (Resilient Teenagers),in Mukangu, Kenya by Shamim Mohamed Ibrahim, Hannah Brendell, (Namibia, Pearson College UWC, 2015-2017).  Also awarded a USD $ 1000 grant was Adriatic Aid – Reaching out to Kibera project, Nairobi, Kenya, by Ahmed Faiz Hassan Hussein, (Kenya, UWC Adriatic College, 2015-2017) and Anguyo Augustine Michael Modi both of UWC Adriatic College, (Italy)

GoMakeADifference is a grant scheme that allows current students across all UWC schools and colleges to run projects that put the UWC ideals into practice. The scheme was founded in 2001 by Jill Longson (UWC Atlantic College, 1979-1981 and Vice-Chair of UWC International) and her husband Colin Habgood.

The founders, Colin Habgood and Jill Longson, were impressed, as Colin said, “Jill and I were moved by the diversity and quality of projects and the obvious commitment from students. We looked at all the applications in great detail before deciding which projects should be awarded. It is really humbling to see the ideas students have and their desire to go and make a difference. Whilst it is not possible for every application to be awarded a grant, we hope somehow that everyone who applied can use this process as a catalyst to deliver their projects in some way”.

Initially the scheme was open to UWC Atlantic College students. The students were invited to submit innovative and concrete project proposals addressing a global issue and they would award the best ones with £1,000 to support the realisation of the project.

In 2016, for the first time, the award has been rolled out to all UWC schools and colleges – making every current UWC student eligible to apply – with 20 grants of £1,000 each made available to help these young changemakers go make a difference. In 2016 Trisha Kibugi (Kenya, Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong) and Nalani Ivelic Astorga (Chile, Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong), were awarded a GoMakeaDifference grant of £1000 towards their GoCUP Project in Kenya. The GoCup project was aimed at reducing the number of school absences, by providing menstrual cups to teenage girls in low-income areas of Kenya, educate them on sanitation and hygiene and prevent cases of prostitution as well as promote the use of sustainable products. “Reports show that as much as 1 in 10 adolescent girls in remote African areas miss school during their menstruation and eventually drop out because of menstruation related issues, with many cases of young girls resorting to prostitution in order to earn enough money to buy sanitary pads.

Find out more about Go Make a Difference grants