As schools close for summer across the United States, UWS USA is turning its attention to the millions of girls around the world who are still waiting for the chance to attend school.
Today, UWS USA announces the launch of the Hands Up for Girls Giving Circle, a global call to action inviting women across the U.S. to unite and champion education for girls in some of the world’s most underserved communities.
More than 130 million girls worldwide are out of school. In many remote regions, barriers like poverty, gender inequality, and conflict prevent girls from accessing the education they deserve.
UWS (United World Schools) builds schools, trains teachers, and partners with local communities to provide primary education to children in marginalized regions—including Nepal, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Madagascar.
Headquartered in the UK, UWS established UWS USA Inc., a registered 501(c)(3), to support and expand its global mission. As an independent yet collaborative arm, UWS USA is helping accelerate efforts to reach tens of thousands more children through a growing U.S. donor base and dedicated volunteer network.
The Hands Up for Girls Giving Circle is a philanthropic commitment that aims to bring together a powerful network of women dedicated to removing these barriers. Contributions will directly support UWS programs that deliver quality, inclusive education where it is needed most.
"When girls learn, communities grow stronger," said Cindy Legett-Flynn, Board Chair, UWS USA. "This initiative is about unlocking potential, creating opportunity, and building brighter futures for girls around the world."
Over the last 16 years, UWS has reached more than 75,000 children and built over 300 schools. The Hands Up for Girls Giving Circle aims to get even more girls the tools and support they need to thrive.
This summer, while children in the United States take a break from school, UWS USA invites supporters to help make school possible for a girl who is still waiting.
Join the circle. Raise your hand. Together, we can create lasting change.
Learn more - https://uwsusaglobal.net/hands-up-for-girls-giving-circle/
Francesca Lanning
Executive Director, UWS USA
Since 2013, The British School of Tokyo has worked closely with UWS to bring quality education to some of the most remote regions of Cambodia. With the support of Search Associates, the school has championed a long-term commitment to international development, global citizenship, and inclusive learning.
Over the past ten years, The BST community has gone above and beyond—raising funds, building relationships with UWS-supported communities, and engaging their own students in cross-cultural learning experiences. This isn’t just a partnership on paper. It’s a deeply rooted connection that’s helped transform lives through education.
As featured in the article, a BST student reflected on their trip to the UWS school in Cambodia:
“Older students at The British School of Tokyo inspired me to get involved, and organizing the fundraising gala was eye-opening. Visiting UWS Dor in Cambodia at 16 was transformative—teaching an art class and making friendship bracelets created deep connections.
Zoë, a former BST student
This story is just one of many that exemplify the long-term impact that school partnerships can have—not just on the communities being supported, but also on the students, teachers, and donors who take part in the journey.
At UWS USA, we are continually inspired by the commitment of our partners. The combined efforts of BST and Search Associates are a shining example of what’s possible when global communities come together in pursuit of educational equity.
A Message from our Executive Chair, Peter Taylor
As we accelerate into 2025, I want to express my sincere thanks for your continuing generosity and commitment to UWS. Your support continues to drive our vision of Zero Education Poverty – a world where every child, regardless of their circumstances, can unlock their full potential through education.
In 2024, we are thrilled to share that, thanks to your generosity, we raised over $5 million – a record year for UWS. We have seen growth across all key income areas – corporate partnerships, institutions & foundations, and individual philanthropy. UWS USA raised just over $500,000 in support of UWS's mission and programs. Additionally, a standout moment was the return of the UWS Gala, which raised just over $630,000 and brought new and existing supporters together in a truly meaningful way.
A Year of Impact Reflecting on 2024
In 2024 we reached over 31,000 children across Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Madagascar, providing them with access to a life-changing education. With equal representation of boys and girls, our focus on gender equity is making a tangible difference. With the support of more than 1,300 trained teachers, UWS’ educational programs are delivering positive learning outcomes, particularly in foundational literacy and numeracy. We also established 17 new schools in Nepal and Madagascar, with some of the largest student enrolment numbers we’ve seen to date.
A key component of our model is ensuring local ownership, sustainability and long-term impact. In 2024, we successfully transitioned 56 schools to local communities and governments, empowering them to run their own schools and securing a lasting future for education for generations to come.
We are especially proud of our partnership with the Education Above All Foundation’s Educate A Child Programme in Cambodia and Nepal. Through the Dropout Prevention Project, we exceeded our goal by supporting over 6,000 at-risk children – 95% of whom have stayed in school, far surpassing our 80% retention target.
Our Girls’ Education initiative, supported by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), has already made a profound difference. Over 10,000 girls have been empowered through programmes such as Mothers' Groups and Girls' Clubs, dismantling barriers to education for girls in Nepal and Cambodia. If every girl worldwide received 12 years of free, safe, quality education, lifetime earnings for women globally could increase by up to $30 trillion.
In Nepal, while national-level student enrolment rates have significantly improved in recent years, learning outcomes remain low and dropout rates remain high. In response, in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UWS is now leading an important project focused on improving learning outcomes for marginalized children in Koshi Province in local, non-UWS schools. This initiative provides crucial teacher training, focusing on subjects including numeracy and literacy, and offers community-based support through Mothers' Groups and Girls' Clubs. These efforts have already begun transforming learning environments and boosting attendance rates in local schools.
Looking Ahead in 2025
While we celebrate the achievements of the past year, we also recognize the mounting challenges facing children’s education worldwide. The impacts of climate change, conflict, and pandemics have deepened the global learning crisis. Over 600 million children and young people worldwide are not meeting minimum proficiency levels in literacy and numeracy. UWS is developing an ambitious 2030 strategy to focus our efforts and maximize our impact which we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months.
We have set an even more ambitious fundraising goal for 2025, to continue growing our impact and drive meaningful change, ensuring children’s access to quality education in safe and inclusive environments.
In 2025, we will continue to support tens of thousands of children, including the construction of new schools across Cambodia, Nepal, and Madagascar. In addition, as part of our partnership model - wherein we aim to strengthen local education systems - we will work directly with dozens of government schools in Nepal, supporting even more children to achieve literacy and numeracy.
With your continued support, we are confident that UWS will continue to be a significant force in transforming the lives of countless children. We thank you once again for your commitment to our shared mission.
Best regards,
Peter Taylor,
Executive Chair, UWS Global
WHAT DOES INCLUSION MEAN TO YOU?
"Inclusion means creating spaces where everyone feels they truly belong. It is about celebrating our differences and creating a community where everyone's voice matters”
- Sreynak Hun, UWS Cambodia
Jeannette Rakotoniaina, UWS Madagascar: Inclusion is what allows an individual, or a group, to integrate, to participate and to feel valued with confidence so that they can achieve their full potential.
Natasha Kafle, UWS Nepal: Inclusion is about creating safe, secure and equitable places for everyone, particularly girls, women, people across different gender and sexuality spectrums, and individuals with disabilities, such that they get a fair chance to contribute and thrive.
Susie Ma, Tropic Skincare and UWS supporter: Inclusion, for me, means quite literally including everybody, regardless of their geographical location, their age, the colour of their skin, their background, their beliefs. Everyone is included in terms of what they deserve to have – from education to career progression and everything else that life has to offer.
HOW ARE YOU INSPIRING INCLUSION WITH UWS?
"A teacher training programme that supports teachers in making each UWS school an inclusive space where every child, boy and girl, feels welcomed and valued.”
- Jeannette Rakotoniaina, UWS Madagascar
Sreynak Hun, UWS Cambodia: At UWS, I’m inspiring inclusion by amplifying voices of students and children with disabilities, and other children from diverse backgrounds in the remote communities in Cambodia. I discuss with key stakeholders how to make inclusion work and open dialogue, creating spaces where everyone feels heard, valued and understood.
Jeannette Rakotoniaina, UWS Madagascar: I inspire inclusion by supporting the education system in the development of teacher training programmes in Madagascar. A training programme that supports teachers in making each UWS school an inclusive space where every child, boy and girl (without distinction), feels welcomed and valued.
We work with parents and local leaders to help them participate so that every child can build a new future through education. So that they will have the chance to succeed together.
"Together with these women and girls, we are building brighter communities and schools for a better future”
- Natasha Kafle, UWS Nepal
Natasha Kafle, UWS Nepal: Inclusion at the core of all programmes at UWS Nepal. One powerful example of inclusion in action is the formation of support networks, like Mothers’ Groups and Girls’ Clubs in every UWS school.
Women and girls of these groups meet regularly. They discuss health, education, finances and safety. They empower each other and ensure their voices are heard and if any concerns arise, they even hold the school accountable for a fair and supportive learning environment. Together with these women and girls, we are building brighter communities and schools for a better future.
Susie Ma, Tropic Skincare and UWS supporter: We’re inspiring inclusion all over the world through our work with UWS. By teaching the unreached and reaching children in some of the most remote parts of the world and giving them access to education.
United World Schools is committed to challenging gender inequality in every facet of our work, and the passion and commitment of our female colleagues and community members is essential to achieving our mission. To find out more about how we champion gender equality in the communities we work in, and across our organisation, read our inclusion policy.
It might sound cheesy, but it's true. From Madagascar to Nepal, to Cambodia to Myanmar - and back again.
Access to quality education changes lives dramatically, but differently. No two stories are ever the same. And yet - love is the common thread in every story we tell.
This week, we're sharing stories of the generous professionals who put so much passion and care into each UWS school you fund.
“I love my job as a teacher, it’s gorgeous. It’s wonderful to be with my students in lessons. I spend time with them in the library, encouraging them to read books or create art. UWS Pu Korng School is the children’s hope in the village.”
Mr Tich - UWS Teacher in Cambodia
Mr Tich
– UWS Student, now UWS teacher in Cambodia
Despite facing limited educational opportunities as a child in his remote Cambodian village, Mr. Tich’s determination to learn always burned bright. Thanks to your support of UWS, we constructed UWS Pu Korng School in his village, and once he’d finished there, Mr. Tich cycled 15km each day to finish his secondary school studies too.
“I was a hard-working student. I tried hard in lessons and I did as much homework as I could. After I finished studying at UWS Pu Korng School, I went to Secondary School – it was far to go as student on my bicycle every day. But I didn’t give up”.
Now, fueled by that same passion, Mr. Tich has returned to his village, taking up his place as a community teacher at UWS Pu Korng School, and sharing his love of learning with the next generation.
“I am so happy to have joined the team 8 years ago. I get to travel, meet new people and learn many things. People around me are very proud of what we do. The communities we work with adore us and our work."
Shyam - UWS Construction Worker in Nepal
Shyam
– UWS Construction Worker, Nepal
18 years ago, Shyam, a construction worker in Nepal, was in a serious accident that led to his hospitalisation and a critical operation. It was a life-changing moment for Shyam and his family.
Despite this hardship, Shyam persevered. He now works as a building officer with UWS Nepal – sharing that:
“Building schools isn’t merely a job, but it’s about crafting opportunities for a better future”.
“Before, we were teaching in poor conditions, under trees or in a wooden hut that couldn’t shelter the children in the heat or when the rain came. But today, this is no more, with UWS we have a school building and frequent training courses for all teachers".
Goda - UWS Teacher in Madagascar
Goda
– UWS Teacher, Madagascar
For many years, when he could, Gola taught lessons to the children in his village under a tree (pictured below).
But, without a salary, this wasn’t something he could do everyday, having to fish or farm to support his livelihood.
UWS opened UWS Beangolo School in September 2022, providing Gola and his colleagues with secure employment, as well as the training opportunities to pursue their careers.
“I have been able to master my work as a teacher, improving the quality of my teaching”.
“Of course there are times when teaching is challenging, or when my lesson plans don't always work out as I'd hoped. But when I see the students doing well, I feel motivated to give more than what I have".
Nar Mee Shel - UWS Teacher in Myanmar
Nar Mee Shel
– UWS Teacher, Myanmar
Nar Mee Shel is responsible for the Grade 3 and 4 class at her UWS primary school in Myanmar. Teaching Maths, Burmese and Science, Nar Mee Shel teaches children whose first language is not the national language, Burmese.
A passionate educator, Nar Mee Shel loves her job – through the challenges and rewards of teaching she perseveres. She’s determined to do her very best for each of the students in her care.
“It’s obvious that the students are improving, especially in their language proficiency because when the UWS team visit the school, the students chat to them in Burmese, not their mother tongue”.
You see? Love links our supporters, teams and rural communities, guiding our vision and driving our work.
It allows our teams to be relentlessly dedicated to reaching the most challenging-to-access communities.
It inspires children in London, Berlin, and beyond to raise money for quality education each year.
It empowers mother's like Falina to push for their children's more prosperous futures.
Love is as formidable, essential and life-transforming as, well, education is.
Thank you for being part of our mission to love the world by providing sustainable access to quality education. We're deeply grateful for you.
From UWS, With Love
Education is key to helping children live Happily Ever Smarter
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an economy largely dependent on tourism. As a result, government investment in education has been limited, tending only to reach communities based along main roads. However, many remote villages can’t be reached by road. This means that thousands of children from remote and marginalised communities are excluded from education. Literacy rates remain among the lowest in the world – just 10% of people in rural populations can read and write.
However, through improved access to quality education and better infrastructure provided by this project, we’re changing this story. Funded by the UK public and match funded by the UK government, our Happily Ever Smarter project is an example of what can be achieved through hard work and collaboration.
We’re thrilled to share that 18 months in, this project has significantly impacted the lives of 2,404 children so far. By the end of the project, we aim to bring that number to over 8,500 children.
Meet some of the people making this work possible...
Every school we run is supported by an incredible team of talented and inspiring people.
“It's a contribution to rural Nepalese communities and the dreams of the children who will walk through the doors I’m helping to build."
Mina, Construction Worker
Meet Mina
– Construction Worker, Gulmi District, Nepal
Mina, a single mother raising two children, has worked tirelessly for the past six years in the UWS Nepal building team and most recently as part of our Happily Ever Smarter project. Her dedication and craftsmanship earn her commendations from everyone around.
“I receive so much praise for my work from the community and this motivates me to do better every day,” shares Mina with pride.
Mina’s aspirations extend beyond the construction site; they reach into the future she envisions for her children.
“As a single mother, life has been very difficult for me. I am thankful for my job and UWS Nepal for providing me with a means to support my family and their education.”
"School is like their second home, a place where all children, from different places and families, come to learn. Teachers need to make sure every child feels nurtured.”
Mausami Rai, UWS Teacher
Meet Mausami Rai
– Teacher, UWS Railey School, Nepal
High up in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal lies Railey village, a village which for generations did not have access to quality education. The nearest government school is a 3 hour, round-trip, walk away, up and down steep slopes, which became even more treacherous during the monsoon season. As a result, the majority of children had never been to school.
As part of our Happily Ever Smarter project, UWS aims to build or support schools in 60+ communities across Nepal over a three year period, including Railey village. UWS Railey School was built and opened in the heart of Railey village earlier this year.
Mausami Rai is a teacher here. She shared:
“To be a great teacher, it’s important to understand each child’s background and requirements to teach them accordingly. School is a place where children can express and explore themselves without any worries.”
From skilled builders like Mina, to talented teachers like Mausami, to generous supporters like you, this work takes all of us.
We all have a role in ending education poverty.
Thank you.
On the first day, students took charge of their surroundings, rolling up their sleeves to clean the school environment and sow the seeds of change by planting trees. Through these activities, they learned firsthand the value of keeping their surroundings clean and contributing to a healthier ecosystem, symbolizing their commitment to nurturing nature.
The second day was dedicated to educating students about the 4R principles: Reuse, Recycle, Reduce, and Refuse. The workshops and interactive sessions conducted by the school authorities taught them creative ways to incorporate these principles into their daily lives, fostering a sense of responsibility toward waste management.
Day three saw students actively practicing recycling by sorting and recycling various recyclable products. Through hands-on experiences, they understood the significance of recycling in minimizing waste and conserving resources. Simultaneously, they engaged in raising awareness among their peers and the local community about the importance of responsible waste management.
Building upon this momentum, the fourth day witnessed impactful awareness rallies. Students, armed with colorful banners and passionate voices, took to the streets, spreading the message of beating plastic pollution. Their energetic presence caught the attention of the community, instigating conversations and inspiring others to take action.
Finally, on the fifth day, the schools organized a range of Extracurricular Activities (ECAs), providing a platform for students to showcase their creativity and express their love for the environment. Poetry recitals, storytelling sessions, essay writing competitions, and artistic expressions brought forth a wave of inspiration, uniting the students in their commitment to protect and cherish their natural surroundings.
UWS Nepal’s World Environment Week campaign instilled a sense of environmental stewardship within their students. Through practical actions, educational initiatives, and creative expressions, the event fostered a deep connection between the students and their environment. The seeds of awareness and activism sown during this celebration will continue to grow, empowering the future generation to become agents of positive change, making a lasting impact on their communities and the world at large.
We would like to thank all our students, teachers, principals, SMCs, PTAs, Mother’s Groups, community members, School Mobilizers, and Education Officers who contributed to making this campaign a huge success.
