Q. Why did you decide to support UWC Dilijan scholarships?

JK. I have been following the Dilijan International School project very closely since its beginning, and when I finally saw the school last year, I was just amazingly impressed. The environment, facilities, teachers, students were astonishing, so I decided to become part of it. And after my conversation with Elena Sheroziya (the Head of Admissions) who introduced me to a Spanish girl Belen (UWCD'21), I realized that I could not help but think about that girl. I kept thinking, how amazing it would be if we could become a part of her future, no matter, how big or small but a part.

Q. What does commitment to education mean to you?

JK. You know, I believe in education. In my opinion, the only thing a person can never lose is education that s/he receives. It is the greatest possession and asset of all times, and that is why Maison Mairik dedicates its efforts to support different charity organizations around the world that advocate for education. What I love most about UWC scholarship is that it has so many inspiring stories like Belen's. We are almost in 2020; still there are countries where girls are not allowed to get an education, where kids cannot go to school because they need to work to support their families. This reality has always saddened me so much. The part of the world where I come from, we do take many things for granted, and once we realize that access to education is not the case everywhere, that becomes a wakeup call, at least it has been for me. Jack Ma once said, "One does not need to have a million to start helping others". Those were the words that inspired me to help others as much as I could give within my financial capacity. Moreover, it made me realize how amazing it felt to be part of someone's future, as everyone deserves a chance for a better future.

Q. What is your impression of UWC Dilijan College and students?

JK. I always tell a story of 20 years ago during my first day at a boarding school in Denmark. We had all classes cancelled as we had to go out to the streets to collect money for a school in Latin America which had collapsed during an earthquake. The children in a faraway country could not go to school unless it was re-built. When I walked into a chemistry class and saw UWCD students doing a project with children from a local school in Dilijan, I realized that in 20 years these students would make sure to help someone succeed in some way. The feelings of pride and happiness got mixed up in me. What UWC Dilijan has achieved within five years, often takes decades in other places. This is possible because of hardworking and dedicated teachers, outstanding facilities and students, who have the opportunity to receive scholarships giving them new perspectives and enabling them to believe that everything is possible.

Dilijan, November 2019