Founded: 1963 (UWC since 1981)  Student Profile: 490 students aged 11–20
Location: Mbabane, Swaziland

 

Waterford School was established in 1963 as a secondary school of high aims and quality for boys and later for girls of all races, classes, nationalities, denominations and faiths. It was founded as an alternative to and protest against the apartheid system of education then being practised in South Africa.

 

 

The additional name 'kaMhlaba' was given by His Majesty King Sobhuza II of Swaziland on his visit to the school in 1967. By this siSwati word he meant both “of the world” (a world in miniature) and “of the earth” – therefore without distinctions of race or religion. In 1978, Waterford KaMhlaba became an associate member of the United World Colleges and a full member in 1981.

 

The College is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Mbabane, the capital of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Given its location and the purpose of its founding, Waterford KaMhlaba retains a high level of focus on democracy and development, especially in Southern Africa.

 

 

The majority of students come from Southern and Eastern Africa, and the College has a proud and enviable reputation for educating young men and women who have subsequently grown into positions of leadership and influence in government, commerce, industry, education, and in civil society.

 

Community service plays a significant role in highlighting to the students their moral, social, political and environmental responsibilities, and includes voluntary assistance at the local government hospital, special school teaching, recycling schemes and a host of other projects, many of which involve using the school premises and resources. This is of particular importance in a region of stark contrasts and often minimal and inadequate state support for the poor and disadvantaged.

 

Of growing concern in the region is the HIV/AIDS pandemic which is having a disastrous effect on human lives and development. Waterford KaMhlaba’s response is multi-faceted: from an enlightened school community policy to the provision of AIDS education in surrounding schools, and from the provision of scholarships and family support for AIDS orphans, particularly those with responsibilities for younger siblings, to close co-operation with SOS Children’s Villages.

 

Much work is also being done to gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for African philosophy. This finds particular expression in the development of an ‘African Spine’ in the Theory of Knowledge course.

School fees for regional students are considerably less than those of other international schools. In addition, 30 per cent of students receive financial aid, with this percentage increasing for the two-year IB diploma.