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How can there be peace without people understanding each other, and how can this be if they don’t know each other?

Lester B.Pearson

Early supporter of Pearson College, former Prime Minister of Canada, and Nobel Peace Laureate

The striking feature of the UWC is that they embrace the entire world. They are unique and they are conscious of their responsibilities.

Nelson Mandela

Late Honorary President of UWC, Former President of South Africa

We have realized our dream to create a dream school for you. Please go out and realize your dream and other’s dreams.

Wesley Chiu,

Member of UWC National Committee of China, board member of UWC Changshu China

The sense of idealism and a purposeful life really makes the UWC experience unique and its impact life-long.

Wang Yi

Co-Founder, Vice Chairman of Board and Executive Director of Harvard Centre Shanghai. Pearson 89-91

UWC was one of the ten members of the international schools association that created the International Baccalaureate Organization in Geneva in 1963 … today, they are taken in over 4,000 schools worldwide and have become the gold standard for university entrance.

Sir John Daniel

Chair of UWC International Board and International Council 

I regard it as the foremost task of education to ensure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial and above all, compassion.

Kurt Hahn

German Educator, Founder of United World Colleges

Power of Bricks

Issue date:2016-10-31

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Bricks have always been very ordinary in my perspective

Bland rosewood tones which blanket the ever so passive surface of a rectangular prism, seeming to serve little purpose in my life as a student. The only bricks I have ever been able to vividly remember are the small spoked Lego bricks I would play with as a child, or the hollow clay bricks my father would leave in the oven as his pizza baked. As silly as it sounds, I’ve never partaken in any deep thinking on the merit of bricks until our excursion to the northeastern regions of Guangxi province in March of 2016. 

I have never been a true supporter of the recently developed idea of Voluntourism; the concept of spending absurd amounts of money to travel to different countries in hope to build homes which would bring change to peoples lives. My thinking behind opposing this idea was the impression that the majority of these voluntourists have little to no experience in building houses and their travel money could be instead donated to a local business who could more efficiently and accurately complete the house. In light of this, I was not thrilled when I had become informed that United World College Changshu China had partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build houses in rural Yangshuo. Despite my dislike for manual labour and my preconceived views on the Habitat for Humanity organization I decided to participate in this programme with an open mind and experience it for myself. 

Arriving in Guilin the sky was a melting pot of navy blue and jet black. The subtle humidity and light showers didn't lighten our moods as we made our way to the smaller city of Yangshuo. The next day we rose early to make our way to the outskirts of the city. As we progressed toward the building site we were surrounded by the majestic rice terraces and Guilin mountains who were banked beside the winding stretches of the Li River. Observing our beautiful surroundings on our way to the worksite began to slowly brighten my spirits. The current Habitat for Humanity project in Yangshuo was aimed towards helping disabled people with little money to build homes. Once we had arrived at the small village we were introduced to Zhang QiFen the man we were volunteering to build a house for. Zhang QiFen has suffered from a hearing disability for the duration of his life and this has restricted him from obtaining an education, working, and living like the majority of people in his village. This lack of income has been straining to the wellbeing of himself and his family, who currently live in a home who's stability fondly resembled a house of cards. The excessive roof leakage, porous walls created an unbearable living conditions. Witnessing the living conditions of this man firsthand and hearing his personal life story inspired me to seize this opportunity and apply myself so I could make as much of an impact on his life as possible.

From this moment I began to witness the difference between a situation which I have personally experienced to one I have experienced behind the screen of my computer, comfortable in the sheets of my heated dorm room. Viewing pictures of these living conditions online and attempting to comprehend the struggle of this man was unimaginable in contrast to the impact it had on me experiencing it firsthand. 

I spent the next 4 days with my group learning how to use tools to precisely lay bricks amongst each other. Learning how to use shovels to gruel through water and chemicals in order to create cement with the perfect consistency. As a group we devised the most efficient techniques to transport bricks inside the house, working in teams, cooperating to make this building process as efficient as possible. Spending hours in wet climate digging trenches and breaking walls to create the best environment for our soon-to-be homeowner. As I laid these bricks on the house I began to understand the power of a brick, the true capacity it possesses in bringing change to ones life. As I continued laying these rough rosewood blocks along lines of wet grey paste I began to ponder the impact I was personally making to someones life. This wall of bricks, layer upon layer is a part of someones home, a new beginning to the life of an individual. The basis for an environment where a family could live safely and comfortably, without the risk of rain bursting through the roof or the house collapsing. I had now understand that this was the experience I had come for. Among these spoked Lego bricks I used to play with as a child and the hollow clay bricks my father would leave in the oven now laid new bricks, layer upon layer in rural Yangshuo, home to a changed, happy family. The hard immobility of a brick has come to mirror our steely resolve. The power of a brick has become indelible in my memory.

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