Conflict Resolution through Education: Scholarship for Two Kosovar Youth
Project location: Italy, Duino
Project start date: August 2002 -
Project end date: May 2004
Project number: 2001-22
Beneficiary: Collegio del Mondo Unito dell'Adriatico
United World Colleges is a unique organization. It is the only global educational NGO that brings students together from all over the world, selected from within their own countries on merit and regardless of their ability to pay.
UWC of the Adriatic brings together 180 students for the final two years of their High School education. Established in 1982, the UWC of the Adriatic, with a special emphasis on environmental and humanitarian concerns, brings highly motivated young students from all parts of the world so they can live and learn together. The objective is to help students become active, involved and educated citizens whose attitudes towards understanding and community service will be a powerful catalyst for change. Through the students, as representatives of their countries, the aim is to influence their wider communities to become more understanding, compassionate and peaceful, to create a better and more tolerant world.
UWC Adriatic is located in the Italian/Slovene village of Duino/Devin, 16 km from the city of Trieste. Long a crossroad, the choice of location was deliberate as a meeting point of the Latin, Slavic and Germanic cultures. Life at this residential school can be demanding and transformational. Living in rooms of 2, 3 or 4 students in one of the 6 residences scattered throughout the village, co-curricular life is at the heart of the UWC Adriatic experience, with a particular emphasis on service to others.
All the students who attend the UWC Adriatic do it on full scholarship. Selections are carried out by national committees and selection partners throughout the world who look for applicants of promise and potential - those who are committed to making a difference in their communities and the world. The result is a truly diverse school population both culturally and socio-economically. The staff is committed to making every opportunity accessible to all students.
The values promoted by UWC are:
- International and intercultural understanding
- Celebration of difference
- Personal responsibility and integrity
- Mutual responsibility and respect
- Compassion and community service
- Respect the environment
- Obtain a sense of idealism
- Seek personal challenges
- Lead through action and personal examples.
For this project, the Nando Peretti Foundation financed two grants to attend the UWC of the Adriatic, for two selected Kosovar students: one of Serb and one of Albanian origin. The intention was to help them to become articulate spokespersons and instructors for a better understanding between their troubled communities.
In addition to learning from the multi-national and multi-ethnic residential community of the College itself, they had to complete the full two-year program of study:
- Preparation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which qualifies them for university entrance
- Analysis of peace and conflict issues through "World Focus"; peace and conflict resolution skills through Conflict Resolution activity
- Participation in a demanding program of community service such as the Refugee Camp Service in Kozina, Slovenia
- Multicultural presentations and activities in local schools addressing the issues of cultural diversity and prejudice
- Other optional activities such as Amnesty International, assisting recent immigrant youth with schooling, etc.
At the end of their period of study, the students were expected to apply the knowledge, sensitivity and skills acquired at the College in their home community, both through presentations in schools in Kosovo and in their place of further education, as well as through participation in the selection of future scholars.
