Creativity, Activity, Service
There are three ways of trying to win the young. There is persuasion, there is a compulsion, and there is attraction. You can preach at them; that is a hook without a worm. You can say ‘You must volunteer’; that is the devil. And you can tell them ‘You are needed.’ That hardly ever fails.
- Kurt Hahn, Founder of the UWC movement
Co-curricular activities are the most important part of the UWC Dilijan experience.
This programme helps UWC Dilijan students to identify personal strengths and areas of growth, build on their potential to challenge themselves and move beyond their comfort zone. It also helps them to become more familiar with the Armenian context, develops the ethics of community service, engages with issues of global significance and develops skills for teamwork and project management.
CAS - Creativity, Activity, Service - has always been at the core of the UWC education, and at the same time, it is one of the three essential elements that every student must complete as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
Creativity - Experiences that Involve Creative Thinking and Doing
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Art in the community
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Ceramic with the community
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Carpentry
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Film making
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Debate club
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DiliMUN (Model United Nations)
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Coding
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Web programming
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Robotics
Activity - Physical Exercise and Physical Challenge
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Basketball
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Volleyball
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Football
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Girls football
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Swimming club
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Dance clubs
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First aid
Service - Engagement with the Local Community through Direct Interaction
- Language courses - English, Russian, Chinese, Spanish
- Science with the community
- Swimming for community members
- Red Cross club
- Service in Bridge of Hope NGO
- Cineclub for local kindergarten kids
- Peer to peer
Examples of the CAS programme activities
Project weeks are often the favourite experiences of UWC Dilijan students. Project weeks range from direct action, such as building houses or working in local farms to adventure hiking. Student leadership is an incredibly important aspect of project weeks, and thus students are expected to take ownership of their projects from initiation to evaluation. In this process, students must manage to find a project host, location and accommodation themselves. All groups are accompanied by staff members.
Cultural trips are also popular activities. Life in a UWC involves cultural richness and awareness. Students become familiar with and sympathetic to their cultural setting, aware of local tensions if there are any, and ready to engage with local people in appreciation of their language, religion and history - whether or not they share their beliefs.
Armenia is in a unique geopolitical setting. Apart from Georgia to the north it is surrounded by muslim states of various denominations: Shi’a in Iran; sunni in Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Familiarisation with Armenian history, culture, religion and language is part of our educational provision. Armenian history, culture, and religion are presented through trips to Matenadaran, Tsitsernakaberd, Ejmiatsin, local monasteries, museums and historical sites in Armenia.
Cultural evenings are highlights of our celebration of diversity. The aim is to promote international understanding and appreciation. There are five cultural evenings each year, focusing on a different region - Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and South Asia, North America and South America.
Cultural evenings are built on collective effort. The experience starts long before the actual evening. Students from the same region come together to prepare, present and facilitate a highly-anticipated cultural show. A dinner of regional cuisines is served in our cafeteria. Although a staff member supervises each evening, students lead the way, showing strong initiative, responsibility, collaboration and creativity.
