Support for UWC ISAK

Goal 4 of the SDGs is "Quality Education." In recognizing that education of the next generation is key to the building of a truly sustainable society, since 2013 the SuMi TRUST Group has supported the activities of UWC ISAK to tackle global poverty issues through education by paying for the tuition fees and travel expenses of one scholarship student attending that college’s summer school program. The school brings together students from vastly different backgrounds from all over the world. Owing to unique classroom and communal living experiences, the students often remark before returning home that the program was a life-changing experience. We will continue to undertake this initiative going forward so that children from all walks of life are afforded the opportunity to learn.

Every year the SuMi TRUST Group pays the tuition fees for one scholarship student.

Hemant participated in the summer school program from Shanti Bhavan. Having known all of the students the SuMi TRUST Group supported in the past, he said that he was really happy to get his chance to attend and thanked the Group for its continued support.

Hemant demonstrated his leadership skills at every turn during a group discussion about finding purpose, especially when talking about his home country by explaining that all countries are two-sided and that India is no exception because even though it is often associated with slums and poverty, it is also experiencing remarkable growth and has many beautiful towns boasting literacy rates of 100%, as well as some towns that even resemble Silicon Valley.

He spoke confidently about his vision of becoming a certified public accountant, saying that if one understands how economics works, one should be able to support themselves, their family, and even their country. We sincerely hope that Hemant can realize his dream in the not-too-distant future.

Prathana participated in the summer school program from Shanti Bhavan. Separated from her family since the age of three, Prathana has received assistance to be able to attend Shanti Bhavan. Having personally suffered discrimination in Indian society and owing to the current situation of everyone leaving India when they reach adulthood, she has continued to study diligently with a strong awareness of issues, hoping one day to change her country with her own actions. She spoke of her clear dream to become a cardiologist and build a hospital in India in the future.

Prashanth participated in the summer school program from Shanti Bhavan. A fan of Shakespeare and naming soccer as one of his hobbies, he speaks just like an ordinary middle school student. However, given his experiences of suffering from class discrimination in Indian society, he possesses a strong awareness of rampant corruption and discrimination, poverty, and black money. He spoke of his wish to attend high school, become a "changemaker," and someday build a school in India just like Shanti Bhavan.

In Eduardo’s home country of Mexico, even young children have fallen prey to human trafficking and murder for the purpose of organ transplantation. He feels angry about this social problem and wants to set up an organization in the future to facilitate safe and appropriate organ donations. Eduardo has a strong interest in other cultures and attended the summer school to broaden his horizons with a view to the future. He said the program taught him the importance of seizing opportunities from all situations, no matter how difficult. In September 2017 he officially entered the high school program of UWC ISAK.

Thanuja hails from the Shanti Bhavan school and is a cheerful girl who loves hiking and playing outside. She said that being able to talk with students from many different countries when learning about diversity during the summer school’s leadership and diversity classes was really stimulating. Full of curiosity, Thanuja speaks five languages and enjoys studying physics, science, and mathematics. She enthusiastically said she would like to contribute to the education of women in the future and become a systems engineer.

Thulasi is a student at Shanti Bhavan, a school for children socially and economically disadvantaged by India’s caste system. With a cheerful and amiable personality, she is a kind girl always willing to help her classmates or assist staff members. At the same time, Thulasi takes a keen interest in social issues, especially when talking passionately with her classmates about caste. She is particularly interested in problems concerning women and poor people in India. She has eagerly been studying biology with the dream of one day becoming a surgeon.

Hong Lien entered the high school program of UWC ISAK in 2014 and was among the first students to graduate in 2017. During high school she contributed to the Karuizawa community mainly by visiting elderly nursing homes and working alongside orphans and people with disabilities.

She has her sights set on being a changemaker and always keeps in mind the words of a senior student, who said that "there will be times when the headwinds are strong and things don’t go right, no matter what you do, but you still have to stay positive and believe in yourself." After studying extra hard, Hong Lien earned the right to study at a prestigious university in the United States.

Located in the naturally beautiful town of Karuizawa, United World College ISAK Japan (UWC ISAK) is a full-boarding high school that aims to nurture changemakers who can thrive in the international community. It accepts students from some 83 countries worldwide and 70% of its total 200 students are from overseas. Many of the children hail from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and 70% of the student cohort are recipients of a scholarship.

The biggest appeal of UWC ISAK is the dormitory-based communal living with classmates from other countries. Students of different nationalities and socio-economic backgrounds are keenly aware of, and readily share in, each other’s standing and culture. In this environment, the students develop into adults that understand and respect different values and beliefs instead of denying and rejecting them.

The SuMi TRUST Group supports the educational philosophy of the United World College ISAK Japan (abbreviated as UWC ISAK) to "empower changemakers." Since 2013 we have supported a two-week summer school program for junior high school students on the ISAK Japan campus. Many of the students who participate in the summer school are from developing countries and impoverished socio-economic backgrounds. Each year we pay the tuition fees and other expenses of one scholarship student participating in the summer school from a developing country such as India. Going forward, we will continue to offer our support so that as many "changemakers" as possible can go out into the world and make a difference.