To celebrate the 60th anniversary, we have invited UWC alumni currently working in UWC Changshu China to share their UWC experiences and reflections on the UWC movement.

1900 stands on the gangplank, gazing at the bustling downtown engulfed by the dusk’s luster. At the same time, in Harlem, a dozen miles from Manhattan Island, the jazz pubs perhaps were not due to open yet. The musicians are taking their sheeny instruments out of its cases, African American girls in flamboyant skirts are ambling on the dimly lit sidewalk. This is the roaring twenties. This is New York. Everything is streaming, gleaming, recklessly jostling,

Hometown is a land of inspiration. When I returned to my hometown for vacation, I lay on the familiar hillside again. The white clouds are like marshmallows, but at the same time, they have the weight of ice cream, and the blue sky is still the same as when they left, very blue.

TEDxUWC Changshu was approved as a non-profit organisation by TED headquarters on June 12, 2017. It is run by students independently and produces TED-related live talks, and other activities to stimulate community thinking and to expand on chosen topics and themes in various fields.

CAS （Creativity, Activity and Service）is a core part of the IB Diploma Programme. At UWC Changshu China, CAS has been given an apt Chinese name -- “Zhi Xing” which means "learning by doing". It serves as an integral part of experiential learning in UWC education. Through Zhi Xing, students are provided with opportunities to put their knowledge, talents，skills and values into practice and make contributions to their community.

This is the story of Alicia, a girl from Bahamas who came to China to study at UWC Changshu China during 2017-2019.  She posted the following on her moment just before she left China on 30th May 2019.

During this year's Project Week from May 31 to June 5, DP1 students at UWC Changshu China went to different parts of Jiangsu Province to engage in various self-initiated projects including Chinese cultural exploration, arts, service, and outdoor activities. This forms an important part of their UWC education, which embodies the education philosophy of “Learning by doing”.

Upon Earth Day, Stanley Qiu, FP student of UWC Changshu China, a passionate bird lover, shared his photos and video of brids he observed during his 70 days of bird watching on campus since he entered the campus in August 2020. He has recorded 19 bird species with over 3,000 photos. He hoped his pictures would remind people the importance of protecting the nature so that we can live peacefully with an abundance of thriving creatures on our beautiful planet.

The proverb goes ‘A fish does not know what the sea is until it is out of the sea.’ Changing countries and cities has shown me that we are destined to harness the challenges in life as motives to survive and enrich ourselves.

Diversity of thought enriches and impacts not only our academics, but also our values that we carry forward with us.