2024: A Year of Impact

What a year it’s been here at UWS!

From incredible results to exciting new partnerships, we’ve witnessed some wonderful moments that wouldn’t be possible without your unwavering support. Let’s take a quick look back at our year of impact.

Increasing Access to Quality Education

New Schools, Brighter Futures: We’re thrilled to have opened 17 new schools across Nepal and Madagascar, providing even more children and communities with access to quality education.

Empowering Local Communities: We believe in the power of sustainable education. In 2024, we’ve successfully transition 31 schools to local community and government ownership, with a further 25 schools due to transition by this year’s end. This ensures that these schools will continue to provide quality education for generations to come, even after UWS’s direct involvement.

Empowering Girls Through Education

On International Women’s Day, we proudly championed our Girls’ Education programme, with members of the UWS team sharing what inclusion means to them. 

Our Girls’ Education programme is three-year programme in collaboration with the UK Government (as part of the UK Aid Match Initiative) to improve access to gender-transformative education across 211 communities in Nepal and Cambodia. Together we’re empowering young girls to break down barriers, access quality education and fulfil their dreams. 

Walk for Education

Our Walk for Education campaign on World Environment Day in June, emphasised the synergy between education and environmental sustainability. UWS teams around the world raised a Green Thumb in solidarity with children fighting for their right to education and a healthy planet.

Thank you to all the schools and businesses who joined us in this virtual fundraiser – and to all the UWS schools and students around the world who participated in a variety of eco-friendly activities. Every step taken, and every pound raised, brought us closer to a brighter future for both children and our planet 

Supporting Children to Stay in School

Education is a fundamental right, yet many children still face significant barriers to completing their schooling. This year saw the successful completion of our three-year Dropout Prevention Programme (2021-2024), in partnership with Education Above All’s Educate A Child (EAC) Program. 

We’re proud to share we exceeded our target, identifying and supporting over 6,000 children at risk of dropping out of school, 95% of whom remained in education. 

Exam Success in Madagascar

Huge congratulations to our dedicated team and students in Madagascar! Their phenomenal efforts resulted in a staggering 99.5% pass rate for exam sitters in July. The Certificate of Primary Education is a significant milestone for Malagasy children, marking their first official examination and an important tradition upon completing primary school.

Click here to hear from UWS Education Officers, Osny and Sahaza, on this success

Uniting for a Brighter Future

In September, we had the privilege of attending the UN Summit of the Future in New York. This historic event brought together global experts and leaders to address the urgent challenges facing our planet. 

Additionally, UWS Cambodia was proud to participate in the 5th National Conference of NGO Education Partnership (NEP), discussing transformative strategies aimed at enhancing education and learning outcomes for children in Cambodia.  

The UWS Gala 2024: A Night to Remember

Our annual UWS Gala was a resounding success, raising over half a million pounds to support our mission. The UWS Gala brought together a vibrant community of supporters, all passionate about education and creating a brighter future. The funds raised will directly impact the lives of countless children, including supporting the construction of a new school in remote and rural Madagascar.

Celebrating School Fundraising

A huge thank you to all the schools who fundraised for UWS this year! Your creativity, dedication, and hard work have made a significant impact on the lives of countless children. From Tiffins Girls’ School’s thrilling benchball match to Cottonwood Classical Academy’s talented performances and Berlin Metropolitan School’s creative zombie theater production, your efforts inspire us.

Partnering for Impact

At UWS, we are so grateful and proud to partner with brands that lead with purpose, investing in the future of education for children in the world’s most remote and marginalised communities. For the second year running, our incredible partner, Tropic Skincare, redefined Black Friday with their #GiveBackFriday campaign. Additionally, we’ve forged new partnerships with The Adaptavist Group, Arrow Capital, and Impact Food Group, joining forces to create a more equitable future. 

UWS Germany: A New Chapter

We’re excited to announce the launch of UWS Germany, expanding our global reach and fostering a global movement for education.  Founded in 2013 as a volunteer initiative called ConCultures, UWS Germany has evolved into a dynamic and impactful organisation, organising fundraising activities in German schools and forging important partnerships. 

We are thrilled that UWS Germany has officially joined the UWS network in 2024. This new chapter will allow us to reach even more children with quality, inclusive education.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we reflect on 2024’s accomplishments, we’re filled with immense gratitude for your incredible support. We wouldn’t be here without your generosity and unwavering belief in our mission.

With your continued support, 2025 promises to be even more spectacular. We have exciting plans in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to continue this transformative journey together.