This is a non-profit charitable trust formed
to establish in New Zealand a United World College (UWC),
of which Tony is the chairperson. A short summary of the project
is set out below. For more information, visit our web site
at www.uwc.org.nz
There are 12 existing
UWC's around the world. The UWC
movement is highly regarded, and has enjoyed strong
support from a range of prominent international figures,
including Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and former
Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace laureate, Lester
Pearson.
Key Features
Features of a UWC include:
Bringing together around 200 outstanding
students from around the world to live and work together
for the last two years of their secondary education
A rigorous two-year academic programme,
concluding with the International Baccalaureate exam, which
is recognised by the world's most prestigious universities
A commitment to humanitarian and environmental
values, with students undertaking significant community
and environmental service projects as part of their UWC
programme, and
Student selection based on merit, with
full scholarship funding for each student provided by the
host college.
Location for New Zealand UWC
The NZ UWC is to be
established at Paradise, a magnificent 128 hectare property
near Glenorchy. We have memorandum of understanding with Paradise
Trust, which owns the property, to make 35 hectares available
for the NZ UWC.
Paradise Trust is the custodian of this stunningly
beautiful property, located one hour from Queenstown on the
edge of Te Waahi Pounamu World Heritage Park. Paradises Trust’s
aims are to protect and conserve this precious environment,
while encouraging sustainable educational and recreational
use.
View north from United
World College site at Paradise
Key People
Our Founder Patron is the Rt Hon Jim Bolger,
ONZ. Mr Bolger was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990
until 1997, and New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States
1998-2002. He is now chairman of Kiwibank and NZ Post. Mr
Bolger is also currently chairman of the NZ-US Business Council,
and chairman of the World Agricultural Forum
"This is an outstanding opportunity
for New Zealand to play an important role on the world
stage where it really counts - with our next generation
of international leaders."
Rt Hon Jim Bolger,
ONZ, Founder Patron NZ UWC
NZ UWC is led by a strong Board
of Directors. Tony is Chairperson. John Hilhorst is Executive
Director.
Outward Bound is New Zealand’s
best known provider of experiential education and one
of its most respected brands. Outward Bound has partnered
with us to help develop our adventure and leadership programmes,
and to coordinate delivery of Outward Bound programmes
from our campus.
Benefits to New
Zealand
A United World College offers a range of
significant strategic benefits to New Zealand, in particular:
Projecting New Zealand to future young
leaders across the globe
Forge invaluable relationships that extend
and strengthen New Zealand’s connections to places
of learning, trade, culture and friendship around the world,
and
Establish New Zealand as an international
centre of excellence in global leadership development for
young people
John Allen, CEO NZ Post, has stated:
“There is a real opportunity to leverage
our people capability, landscape, and heritage of country
to create something remarkable – something the world
will look to and learn from.”
The directors of NZ UWC Trust believe this
project is such an opportunity.
The Honorary President of UWC
International is Nelson Mandela, one of only four honorary
roles Mr Mandela has retained in his retirement.
"Education is the great engine
of personal development. It is through education that
the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that
the child of farm workers can become the President of
a great nation".
Nelson Mandela, long-time
supporter and honorary president, UWC International
