UWC Day, held annually on 21 September, celebrates the UWC mission and values and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace.

On UWC Day, UWCers around the world come together to celebrate the impact of UWC education, embrace diversity, and work toward our mission of a more peaceful and sustainable future. It is a time to share UWC’s values and stories, amplify our impact, and also to pause, reflect on our work, explore how we can become more effective change-makers, and keep challenging ourselves.

Highlights from UWC Day 2025

UWC Changshu China celebrated UWC Day 2025 with over 20 engaging events centered on the theme “Voices For Peace.” 

Students from 95 countries and regions, dressed in their traditional clothing, expressed their shared desire for peace through singing, dancing, speeches, and workshops. These activities reflected UWC’s mission and values, as the community came together to embrace the diversity of global cultures. 

At the opening ceremony, Principal Simon Head emphasized the essence of this year’s theme in his speech:  “Voices For Peace” is not just about speaking. It is a process that begins with humble listening, develops through empathy, and leads to action. “I hope that we are bold enough to use our voices not only to speak, but to listen. Not only to dream, but to act.” 

Dr. Mark Wang, founder and Chairman of UWC Changshu China, looked back on the school’s 10-year journey. Since welcoming its first cohort of students in 2015, the school has educated over 2,800 peacemakers from 130 countries. As the former Prime Minister of Canada—a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and early supporter of UWC Pearson College—Lester B. Pearson once said: “How can there be peace without people understanding each other, and how can this be if they don't know each other?” 

Dr. Mark Wang emphasized UWC’s mission: to create a “meeting place,” where young people from different backgrounds can interact and learn from each other—laying the foundation for peace. This purpose, he noted, is more important than ever amid ongoing global conflicts. 

Wesley Zhao, a Board Member of UWC Changshu China and an alum of UWC LiPoChun, shared his experiences with summer camps organized by UWC alumni. These included student-led programs at UWC Changshu China, such as Mini-UWC, the Floyd Philosophy Summer Camp, and the Drama Summer Camp, as well as other alumni-initiated activities—all of which show the “ripple effect” of UWC’s educational philosophy. 

Wesley also shared his own project: over the past 10 years, he has helped set up online teaching centers in more than 100 village schools, where over 400 volunteers now teach approximately 6,000 rural students every day. He encouraged everyone to find their passion at UWC and turn it into action, so that many small “ripples” can combine to contribute to a better world. 

Four current UWC Changshu China students—each with unique backgrounds—shared their thoughtful, personal views on “peace,” based on their own life experiences. 

The over 20 workshops held in the afternoon served as a platform for intellectual exchange and cultural sharing. 

A key event was the return of Global Café—organized by the school’s International Relations Zhi Xing—a well-anticipated UWC Day activity that attracted active participation from the community. Ronja, one of the organizers, said: “Global Café is an open discussion space with multiple tables, each hosted by one or two people. It gives everyone the chance to explore different cultures, share personal stories, and dive into deep discussions with friends by joining discussions at different tables. It’s all about dialogue, curiosity, and new ideas.”  

Meanwhile, workshops such as lacquered fan making, seal carving, ultimate frisbee, art mural, traditional Chinese painting, Arabic calligraphy, basketball, kayaking, and hiking showcased students’ skills and enthusiasm. Most of these activities were planned and organized by students themselves, helping to foster cross-cultural understanding and strengthen community ties. 

Most of these activities were planned and organized by students themselves, helping to foster cross-cultural understanding and strengthen community ties. 

Lacquered fan making

Kayak Polo

Arabic Calligraphy

Art Mural

As the student MCs said at the opening ceremony: “UWC gives us a global family for peace, in the empathy in our classrooms, the smiles in the canteen, and the late-night conversations that teach us more than any textbook.” 

UWC Day is more than a celebration—it is a vibrant expression of UWC’s mission. When students from 95 countries gather to communicate openly and understand each other, peace is no longer an abstract concept but a real part of daily life. This reminds us that even in a world with many conflicts, hope for peace exists—in the daily efforts of young people who come together through education. 

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