UWC Costa Rica - Grieg Foundation Scholars

Children & youth

May 13

Written By Annikken Grieg Sæthre

Who: United World College

What: Grieg Foundation Sholars

Where: Costa Rica

Project period: 2025-2027

About the project

Our new mission is to cultivate in young people the passion and ability to serve humanity and the planet, learning from nature and each other, for a lifetime. As the only UWC in Latin America, we offer a bilingual program, opportunities to learn more about the region's social, political, and cultural history, and options to explore Costa Rica. In addition to the existing structure of support for UWC Costa Rica students, the college is committed, with the support of the Grieg Foundation, to provide additional academic, psychological and individualized support to ensure these students succeed at this school and beyond.

The wellness program ensures that students live with balance and attention to their physical and mental well-being. Licensed psychologists on staff and an on-call medical team ensure that students are safe and informed about leading healthy, balanced lifestyles. In short, the reality for these students implies a past of inequities and a lack of access to solid educational systems—the funding from the Foundation jumpstarts a holistic approach, not just equality but for equity.

The UWC Costa Rica financial model is designed to bring students from different socioeconomic backgrounds together, learn from each other, and innovatively create a positive impact. This philosophy could have a different outlook if the population of UWC Costa Rica was more homogeneous, which is why we place so much value on the merit and potential of each student. Grieg Foundation Scholars come from 9 different Latin American countries, the most diverse yet (Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Venezuela) and vulnerable financial backgrounds to become ambassadors of leadership, resiliency, and strong potential as agents of change.

The three previous cohorts of Grieg Foundation Scholars have received higher education offers from colleges and universities in The United States. These offers come with a financial aid package that ensures the success of these students’ futures to continue enabling positive change in the world. This achievement is a clear indicator of the potential that exists within each selected student.

About the organization

United World College Costa Rica is a non-profit foundation offering a two-year residential pre-university program focused on experiential learning. Our educational program encompasses three main areas: Academics (International Baccalaureate Diploma), Co-Curricular, and Residence Life. All activities and learning opportunities incorporate one or more of UWC Costa Rica's six competencies: social responsibility, diversity, conflict transformation, sustainability, leadership, and a healthy lifestyle.

Today, UWC Costa Rica is home to 204 students representing 70 different countries, so there are myriads of exotic food, new languages, and stories to share. Ten minutes away from a state-of-the-art hospital, UWC Costa Rica’s campus is nestled within the friendly neighborhood of Santa Ana: an extremely safe and caring community that has taken our college under its wing not only by welcoming our students and providing many opportunities to interact educationally but also through creating a secure environment that is a dynamic place for our students to study and live.