Now in her final year at St Lawrence University, Francesca is thriving in her studies of Data Science and Economics – a path she never imagined when she was growing up in Malawi. She admits she once feared statistics, yet today speaks of how she has “grown to adore data science” and the opportunities it opens to address inequality.

Her journey has been shaped at every step by financial support. Francesca attended UWC East Africa as an Andresen-UWC scholar – a fund that has since become part of the UWC Global Endowment, ensuring scholarships like hers continue for generations to come. She then went on to university as a Davis UWC Scholar. Together, these scholarships unlocked doors her family could not have opened alone – and Francesca has seized every opportunity since.

At UWC East Africa, Francesca gained the confidence to speak up, explore news subjects and connect with people from different cultures and perspectives. “What stands out the most is how I’ve been able to use the communications skills I developed at UWC,” she recalls. “From connections made to really just being able to engage in conversation with people I don’t know and who are different from me.” Those skills continue to influence the way she learns and how she approaches complex issues.

At St Lawrence, Francesca has thrown herself into every aspect of university life. With her Davis UWC Scholarship ensuring she can focus fully on her studies, she has explored new academic interests, taken part in research projects, represented her university as a leader and ambassador and served her community through volunteering. She has taken up student leader positions such as being  a Residential Assistant, drawing on the empathy and collaboration she first learned at UWC to build inclusive spaces for her peers.

Francesca chose to spend a semester abroad in Denmark, where she connected with friends within the wider UWC community and formed deep bonds with her host family. “The experience reminded me of the UWC culture of togetherness that first shaped me at UWC East Africa. It showed me how those values continue to guide my learning and relationships today.”

Francesca continues to enjoy exploring how to use Data Science and Economics in her career. She wants to use data responsibly to uncover inequities and create sustainable opportunities, particularly in communities like her own. She is also committed to giving back through the UWC Malawi National Committee, helping to widen access for other young people. “My own journey showed me how transformative scholarship can be, and now I see that same passion and potential in students applying today. Talent and drive are found everywhere, but opportunities like that provided through UWC, particularly in countries like Malawi, are not.”

She is proud to be part of the global Davis UWC Scholars community. “It means being part of a network of people who are committed to making a positive difference in the world in different ways. It’s really both a source of inspiration and a reminder of the responsibility I carry to use the opportunities I’ve been given to create more opportunities for others.”

Looking back to her childhood in the “Warm Heart of Africa,” Francesca remembers dreaming of possibilities she could barely imagine. “Your support is more than a financial gift,” she says. “It is the spark that turns dreams into reality. By giving to the UWC Global Endowment, you make it possible for talented young people from any background to access life-changing education, create meaningful impact in their communities and celebrate the beauty of diversity across the world.”

We are now working to close a USD 26 million match challenge by December 2025. Every gift to the UWC Global Endowment is doubled, helping secure more scholarships for generations to come – so that future changemakers like Francesca can always access a UWC education regardless of financial background.

Support the UWC Global Endowment