UWC Day is the annual global celebration of the UWC mission and values, which takes place on 21 September every year, to coincide with the UN International Day of Peace. Each year, UWC Day is celebrated by thousands of people worldwide, including students and staff at UWC schools and colleges, national committees, UWC alumni and friends.

UWC Day is a moment to celebrate the strength and diversity of the UWC movement and our mission for a more peaceful and sustainable future through connecting and mobilising UWCers globally. It serves as a chance to spread the word about UWC, our work and values. But it is also an opportunity to reflect on what we do as a movement, to determine how to be more effective changemakers, and to continue to challenge ourselves.

Previous events and activities have included community service initiatives, film screenings, panel debates, TEDx events, fundraising events for the UWC Refugee Initiative or for UWC national committees, outreach events held in partnership with other initiatives and a range of volunteering opportunities. 

There are many ways to get involved in UWC Day. You can join an event or activity locally, or set one up yourself. You can also mark the day by taking action in support of the UWC values in whichever way feels right to you.

Each year, UWC Day has a different theme which helps to provide a central focus for the day’s actions and initiatives, for example: 'United We Can' in 2020, 'Climate of Change' in 2019, 'Inspire Change' in 2018, 'The Power of Diversity' in 2017, ‘Connect-Challenge-Celebrate’ in 2016 and ‘Live the Mission' in 2015.

The 2021 theme is: 

At a time when the impacts of COVID-19 are still very present in our lives, injustices and conflicts continue to cause pain for many, and the effects of the climate crisis are already being felt, particularly in the most vulnerable communities around the world - we hope that this theme will give us all an opportunity to take a step back and to dream up a better world.

Because in order to start building a more peaceful, sustainable and just future, we have to start by reminding ourselves that such a future is possible: we have to Reimagine Tomorrow.

To help you plan your activities for UWC Day 2021, check out the UWC Day 2021 Resource Platform, complete with ready-to-use visuals and Canva templates, event & activity ideas and guidelines, tips on hosting online events, merchandise templates and more:

By registering your UWC Day event, UWC International can help you promote your event so that it reaches as wide an audience as possible. It will also help the global map of UWC Day events grow!