• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • 5 Reasons to Use a VPN in HK
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Money - for article on financial habits and wealth management5 Steps for setting realistic financial goals
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Filling the learning gap in the COVID recovery
        • Cambridge education at CDNIS - Students on the summer learning programmeGet a Taste of a Cambridge Education in HK!
        • Bottle-feeding a baby - when is the right time to introduce a bottle?“When can I give a bottle to my baby?”
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Children's books author Bhakti Mathur in hr home on the Peak Hong KongA writer’s retreat on The Peak
        • Asian furniture and home décor - Altfield swirl vases7 must-have Asian classic pieces
        • Causeway Bay apartment home makeover - Christina Standaloft and partnerSpace-savvy Causeway Bay home makeover
        • Home furniture and décor in Hong Kong - Altfield InteriorsHome news: décor, furniture & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop beaches in Hong Kong
        • Considering moving to Singapore for your next expat post?
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Harbourside Grill5 Dining discoveries in Hong Kong
        • Salted Vanilla Caramel Ice Cream Balls Recipe
        • Baan Thai restaurant in Hong Kong, Thai foodTaste Test: Thai food in Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong People: Meet Amy Elkhoury
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Best foundationsFab foundations for hot climates
        • Tried and Tested: Lip glosses and lip liners
        • Teenager having a facialWhen is it time for your first facial?
        • Stretch mark treatmentHow to get rid of stretch marks
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • Menstrual cupsHave you considered a menstrual cup?
        • 6 stages of life where family medicine matters
        • pregnancy - for web article on common problems in pregnancy and how to relieve symptoms10 common problems in pregnancy & how to help
        • Cup of tea - Tips for taking care of yourself from MindnLifeAre you taking care of yourself?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • March-May2022
        • March-May2022
        • March-May 2022 Issue – $36 (Free Shipping)
        • SALE! ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION PRINT & DIGITAL BUNDLE – $128 (USUAL $192.00)
      • View all
    Close

World-class education in a cosmopolitan city

11 April, 2018 by Brooke Chenoweth 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/uwc-sea-singapore-boarding-school/

Much like in Hong Kong, international schools in Singapore are melting pots of different cultures, where students from all four corners of the globe receive an education. UWC South East Asia (UWCSEA) has two campuses in Singapore, offering boarding for ages 13 to 18 years, and is home to over 300 students from nearly 60 different countries. We spoke to 19-year-old Kenyan scholar Nawal Abdulrahman Ali about how she came to be studying at UWCSEA and what she loves about it.

I started at UWCSEA in August 2015. On completing my secondary education at an all-girl public boarding school in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, I was unsure about what career path I would follow. So, I figured that UWCSEA, with its vast choice of subjects, expertise and facilities, would help me work out what to pursue.

Singapore Boarding school student at UWC SEA
Nawal Abdulrahman Ali

Additionally, the prospect of studying with people from vastly different backgrounds and cultures was very appealing. My previous school was a small bubble; everyone had almost the same perspective. I wanted a challenge, and knew this would be possible with the exposure to world issues that UWCSEA continually tackles.

Settling in to the boarding lifestyle was bittersweet. It was my first experience of living in a different country, without my family, and the culture shock was evident. However, the boarding house staff and community were warm and welcoming. They helped me settle down and were always there in case I had any problems.

The boarders are from diverse backgrounds and cultures, so the discussions over dinner are interesting! We argue, discuss, defend the stances of our countries, and even correct misguided assumptions. For example, at one of the regular International Evenings, we simulated a Kenyan wedding for the boarding house community, and other boarders presented songs, dances and interesting facts. This was an effective way to come together and tap into the rich culture embodied by the school. A favourite memory is when my Honduran friend excitedly surprised me with the lyrics of a Kenyan-Swahili song.

Image of student at Singapore Boarding school UWC SEA

UWCSEA’s wide variety of activities has helped me to become more confident, vocal and passionate about world issues. I’ve participated in The Hague Model United Nations in Netherlands, acted as a Chinese imperial administrator in a school play, helped raise funds to aid reforestation efforts, and learnt self-defence skills in martial arts. I will be eternally grateful for these experiences.

When I complete my studies, I intend to major in international relations with a minor in environmental policy and I hope to return to Kenya and make a difference within my field of expertise. Being a UWCSEA scholar is a life-long commitment to taking decisive steps to be a change in society. I hope that in learning from others I’ll take home the values needed to make the future safer, sustainable and more peaceful.

Boarding school- UWC 2

UWCSEA is two of 17 UWC schools and colleges worldwide. Boarders live in the boarding houses at the Dover and East campuses in Singapore. The school offers a genuine pre-university residential experience in a safe and cosmopolitan city with familiar Asian values. Students get a world-class education in an environment that encourages them to develop self-management skills and independence.

To find out more, visit uwcsea.edu.sg/admissions.

See more in our Schools section!

Bumper guide to international schools in Hong Kong

How to avoid the classic international school ‘traps’

This article first appeared in the February/March 2018 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.

Categories: Schools

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

The benefits of being a school leader

Stamford international school in Singapore

An introduction to international schools in Singapore

Malvern to become an all-through school

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.