On Thursday, 8 May 2025, friends and supporters of the UWC movement came together for the UWC International Gala 2025 at International House in New York. We were thrilled to celebrate not only the UN Year of Peace and Trust but also the special milestone of the 25th anniversary of the Davis UWC Scholarship Program.

 

Throughout the evening, guests were inspired by prominent figures from the UWC movement, including Faith Abiodun, Executive Director of UWC International and Mark Wang, Founder and Chair of UWC Changshu China (UWC Red Cross Nordic, 1998-2000). Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, Chair of the UWC International Board, completed the lineup with a heartfelt call to unite around our shared vision for peace and international understanding.

Thank you to our donors and supporters

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to our mission so far. Your donation can help fund life-changing scholarships—and thanks to our two matching programmes, every gift goes even further: 

• The UWC Endowment Fund – Scholarships in perpetuity, ensuring long-term access to UWC.
• Dare to Dream – UWC’s Scholarship Fund – Scholarships today, transforming lives now.

Every gift you give helps shape the leaders of tomorrow. You can allocate your gift to a UWC school, national committee, or to UWC International.

Event highlights

As in previous galas, the talented actor and award-winning filmmaker Juan Pablo di Pace (UWC Adriatic, 1997-1999) served as our Master of Ceremonies. His charm and energy kept everyone entertained throughout the night.

One of the highlights was a captivating discussion featuring Emma Tucker, Editor in Chief of the Wall Street Journal (UWC-USA, 1983-1985) and Yewong Dongchung, Postdoctoral Fellow at Brown University (UWC Atlantic, 2007-2009). Their conversation showed how, despite their very different backgrounds and upbringings, their experiences at UWC profoundly influenced their careers and life missions. This insight emphasised how their UWC journey equipped them with the skills and an understanding of the importance of finding common ground and fostering collaboration in their professional lives. 

UWC award for peace education and sustainability in education 2025 

Presented by Rev Nontombi Naomi Tutu, we were delighted to announce that the recipient of this year's award was the Horizon Foundation.  

They support disadvantaged young people from refugee communities and conflict zones, particularly Palestine, Syria, Tibet and Afghanistan, by offering educational scholarships for their final two years of secondary school. Committed to nurturing a globally conscious generation, the Horizon Foundation emphasises the importance of education, with many students progressing to universities in the U.S. through the Davis UWC Scholars Program.

Collecting the award on behalf of the Horizon Foundation were Horizon Scholars Donia, Dima, Yewong and Tsethar. 

To wrap up the formal part of the evening in the dining room, guests were treated to a performance inspired by one of the Gala's key themes - peace. Dancer and choreographer Salomé Egas (Pearson College UWC, 2008-2010) teamed up with Juan Pablo di Pace and pianist-composer Dorian Dionisi for a beautifully moving piece.

Stay connected!

We’d love for you to stay connected with the UWC movement. You can follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with the amazing things that our students, alumni and volunteers are achieving. Please also consider connecting us with a potential supporter in your network who believes in the power of education to change lives.

Thanks and acknowledgements

We want to thank all our attendees, sponsors and contributors for their incredible support in making this event a success. A big shoutout to our amazing volunteers and the UWC-NYC Board, who dedicated their time and effort. We couldn't have done it without you! Finally, we’re grateful to our speakers for their inspiring words, which left a lasting impression on everyone. Thank you all for being a part of this memorable evening!