 UWC EA/ISM Alumni Bulletin – March and April Issue Dear UWC East Africa, ISM Alumni, It was truly wonderful to reconnect with some of you at our recent gatherings in Dar and Nairobi. Seeing familiar faces and hearing your stories and remembering together your time at the school is always a reminder of what makes this community so special. We hope to see even more of you at our upcoming events in Arusha and London. As we take a short break to recharge. Our thoughts are with our students, especially our D2 Diploma students, who are returning for the final and most important stretch of their journey. You will know this feeling well: that mix of excitement, anticipation, and the bittersweet sense of a remarkable chapter drawing to a close. We are sure they will feel the support of this community behind them. We hope you enjoy this edition featuring the Impact Report, which celebrates the history of Outdoor Pursuits and honors the families who have been part of our school for generations. Their stories, like yours, are part of who we are. With warmest wishes, The Advancement team Alumni Gathering in Nairobi and Dar   On 6 February, we hosted a gathering in Nairobi with parents, ISM and UWCEA alumni, and community members. It was a great time to share our experiences and initiatives. The evening was full of reconnection, networking, and a bit of nostalgia. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces in one room. On the same day, we also hosted a gathering in Dar es Salaam, bringing together ISM and UWCEA alumni, along with members of the Tanzania National Committee. It was a relaxed and enjoyable evening, with people catching up and spending time together. We will be hosting a gathering in Arusha on the 23rd of April, and we would love to see you there. If you are around, please do come and join us! UWC East Africa 2025 Impact Report The advancement office is pleased to share that the UWCEA 2025 Impact Report is now available on our website. This report reflects many of the moments and experiences that shaped the past year across our community. It highlights the journey of Outdoor Pursuits, celebrates 50 years of the IB Diploma Programme at our school, and honours the generational families who continue to be part of the UWCEA story. We invite you to explore the report and share it with your families, friends of UWC, and your wider network. It’s a wonderful way to showcase the work happening across both campuses and the experiences that shape our students. A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed by sharing information, photos, and insights along the way. Your support helped bring this report to life, and we truly appreciate it. Please click here to read the report. 6 – Hour Run   On February 28th, as the sun rose over Arusha Campus, our community came together for a day of excitement and community. Runners, athletes, families, and friends filled the campus with energy and an incredible shared purpose. The run began at 6:30 AM, where 33 dedicated runners joined us and were ready to move. Over the course of six hours, they pushed their limits and cheered each other on. We hope each and every one of them is filled with pride for giving everything they had. Every step taken was a step forward for the students we will support next year. On the pitch, the energy didn’t stop at the finish line. Eight football teams battled it out, while six volleyball teams brought the heat on the court. We were so happy that not only did our Rhino teams participate, but other community members brought their teams to support our cause. None of this happens without the people who show up, not just to compete, but to contribute. Volunteers, organizers, and community members kept the day running smoothly, and their dedication was felt in every moment. Six hours. One campus. An entire community united around something bigger than sport. Want to be part of the impact? If you’d like to support the students who inspired this incredible day, please consider making a contribution using this link. Alumni Spotlight: Jakob Horsch
What path did you take after graduating? Can you share your journey, achievements, and the passions that drive you? I left ISM Arusha Campus in 2002 (I completed S4). I went on to get a German high school leaving certificate in 2007, then did compulsory service at a children’s hospital. In 2008 I began studying at the University of Regensburg (Germany). I graduated in 2017 with degrees in English Linguistics and Spanish Philology, after which I was offered a PhD position at the University of Eichstätt (Germany). I got my PhD in English Linguistics in 2023 and since then I have been working as a linguist/researcher at the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava. I am currently employed in the context of a postdoc scholarship for excellent researchers that is funded by the EU. During my time at ISM Arusha Campus, where I spent time with people from many different countries and cultural backgrounds, I became fascinated by human languages: How different they are and yet, how they all successfully achieve the same goal: efficient communication. After five years at ISM I left with a very high English proficiency, which has become an invaluable asset for my career. While many colleagues struggle with writing in English, I am able to author scholarly articles and books without having to rely on proofreaders. What do you cherish the most about your ISM/UWCEA experience? I am extremely grateful for my five years at ISM. I learned so much more than just English. It has been a defining experience that is impacting me to this day. I made many friends and learned so much about other cultures. It opened my eyes to a lot of things that I was unaware of. I particularly cherish the memory of acting in musicals, which greatly boosted my confidence. Type of Achievement: Fellowship Please provide the name of the distinction you received: Fellowship for excellent researchers funded by the EU’s NextGenerationEU program Awarding Organization: Which organization awarded you this honor? Government of the Slovak Republic When did you receive this achievement? 07/01/2024 Celebrating Our Community: Saying Farewell to Coach Sabini ” Are you ready?” – Coach Sabini On February 18, our community came together to celebrate Coach Sabini and thank him for an incredible 38 years of service with a picnic by the pool. The pool area was filled with alumni, parents, primary students, and staff, and the wider community all gathering to honour someone who has shaped generations both in and out of the water. Alumni took a moment to speak, reflecting on the impact Sabini had on their lives over the years. Diploma students, many of whom had been taught by him for over 16 years, also shared heartfelt words, a true reflection of the long, meaningful connections he had built with his swimmers. There was a real sense of gratitude in the air, alongside a touch of sadness. For many, this moment marked the end of an era, with memories stretching back to 1987 when Sabini first began teaching at the school. Register in Our Alumni Database – Stay Updated & Share Your Story Register in our Alumni Database – Receive exclusive updates and event invites. We’d also love to feature you! Share your updates, achievements, or memories for our next alumni spotlight.
Coming up next: Wamba Marealle (class of 2006) in the spotlight! Curious about what he’s been up to? Stay tuned to find out! We’ve created new spaces for alumni to stay connected, share ideas, and keep up with school news. Whether it’s reconnecting on Facebook, getting quick updates through WhatsApp, or building your professional network on LinkedIn, there’s now an easy way to stay part of the alumni community. Don’t forget to follow our official pages on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest updates, alumni spotlights, and more!    Upcoming Events Here are some of our upcoming events. If you or someone you know will be in the area, we’d love for them to be part of the experience. Feel free to share the details with friends or family who might be interested! We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming alumni gathering in London! Join us for an evening of reconnecting, reminiscing, and celebrating our shared UWC journey. Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Venue: UWC International Office, London We can’t wait to see familiar faces and catch up with each of you. Please RSVP so we can ensure a wonderful evening for all. Jobs & Scholarship OpportunitiesMultiple Teaching Positions – UWC East Africa IB Chemistry Teacher – UWC USA Summer Events Assistant – UWC Pearson College, Canada Diversity in Action short course (Multiple Positions) – UWC Cyprus IB English B and Language Support Teacher – UWC Costa Rica To see more opportunities from other schools, please click here.  Host a Virtual Coffee with Your Class We recently had the pleasure of gathering with the Arusha Class of 2024, and it was a wonderful experience! It was truly special to see them reconnect and enjoy each other’s company. Hearing from the students about how much they valued our role in facilitating the event made it all the more meaningful. We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring everyone together and look forward to more moments like this!  Our team can support you in organising a virtual coffee for your class! A relaxed and easy way to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate your shared memories. The Advancement and Alumni team is always happy to hear from our alumni. Whether you’d like to catch up one-on-one or simply share updates, we’d love to reconnect with you. Click here to schedule a call with us!  If you know someone who should be getting this, please forward this newsletter to them! You’re receiving this because you have previously shown an interest in our school. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe ©2025 UWC East Africa UWC East Africa |
