Thanks for supporting UWC

UWC is committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to experience a UWC education regardless of national, socioeconomic, cultural, racial or religious background. UWC achieves this through selection based on potential and merit, but also by providing  scholarships — over 80% of IBDP students selected by a UWC national committee receive full or partial financial support. To continue this work, UWC relies on donations from former students, trusts, foundations, companies and governments.

There are several ways you can support UWC Senegal’s activities. Please select the most convenient option for your circumstances from the options below. Thank you!

The UWC Senegal National Committee relies heavily on the support of generous individuals to continue offering bright young Senegalese students the opportunity to pursue their academic journey at United World Colleges, regardless of their financial means. If you would like to contribute to this cause, there are several ways to do so.

Most of the students we select receive scholarships offered by the various UWC colleges. Private philanthropy is also an important source of our funding. The support we receive from our partners enables us to send Senegalese students—driven by sharp minds and a desire to change the world—into the UWC movement. Two years later, they emerge equipped with the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in their future endeavors.

An excellent way to support us is to donate to the fund Amadou Cissé d’aide et de dotation aux étudiants sénégalais.
Amadou Cissé (Class of 1997) passed away on November 19, 2007, victim of a failed robbery attempt near the University of Chicago, where he had just completed the defense of his doctoral thesis. The university awarded him his doctoral degree posthumously. Described as a man deeply committed to his work and his faith, Amadou supported his mother and brother throughout his university studies.

Gert Danielsen ’96, who was Amadou’s roommate at UWC-USA, shares the following words:

“Amadou and I were roommates during his first year. I will always remember the tolerance, dedication, and good spirit that defined him. We formed a wonderful connection, despite our different backgrounds, and our more-than-friendly cohabitation was such a powerful and distinctive symbol of the UWC movement. I know how determined Amadou was to return to Senegal to help his beloved fellow citizens. And I am moved to know that he earned his doctorate—a fact that comes as no surprise given the mindset, determination, and work ethic I knew him to have.”

Donations have already been made in Amadou’s honor to the fund Amadou Cissé d’aide et de donation aux étudiants Sénégalais, created to honor his memory and ensure that Senegalese students at UWC-USA have access to the resources they need for essentials, emergency expenses, and school trips. You can contribute to this endowment fund by clicking the link on the UWC-USA website. Select “Other” in the designation tab and specify: “Amadou Cissé Support and Endowment Fund for Senegalese Students.” Your contribution will go directly to the fund. 

Autres Options
If you would like to make a donation to the UWC Senegal National Committee, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]. We will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

“Smart gratitude”:
Abdoulaye Thiam, Class of ’85, is grateful for the scholarship and pocket money he received as a student at UWC-USA, coming from Senegal. Without that financial support, he would not have had the opportunity to fully benefit from the transformative experience that United World Colleges offer their students.
As an alumnus, Abdoulaye has been a dedicated donor. Since the scholarships awarded to students do not include pocket money, he made regular contributions to ensure that his young compatriots had the financial means to cover school trips, daily needs, and any emergency expenses.

A few years ago, inspired by the generosity of philanthropist Shelby Davis—who committed to matching all donations—and supported by other Senegalese alumni as well as the UWC Senegal National Committee, Abdoulaye decided to turn his annual donations into an endowment fund. The goal was to ensure that students in need would have ongoing access to pocket money throughout their time at UWC.


By strategically taking advantage of matching gift opportunities from both his employer, Deutsche Bank, and the Davis Foundation, Abdoulaye grew his contributions into a $40,000 endowment fund in just two years—making it, to date, the largest endowment fund initiated by a UWC alumnus for the benefit of current students.

Abdoulaye’s initiative was further strengthened by donations made in memory of Amadou Cissé ’97. To honor Amadou’s legacy, the fund was renamed the Amadou Cissé Endowment Fund for Senegalese Students, ensuring that Senegalese students at UWC-USA have access to the financial resources they need for daily expenses, emergencies, and school trips.

You can donate to UWC Senegal via UWC International.

Please indicate that you would like to make your donation to “UWC Senegal” by selecting “Senegal” using the drop-down menu “Select a UWC national committee”. Funds and the details of your donations will be allocated to UWC Senegal.

If you live in the U.S., you can make a tax-deductible donation to UWC Senegal via UWC International’s Myriad-USA account. Please indicate that you want your donation allocated to us by checking “Add a note for The United World Colleges (International)” and writing in NC Senegal in the ‘private note’ box.