Team

Radha brings over three decades of experience to the role, working most recently as the Head of Learning and Teaching for a network of fourteen schools in Africa, nine of which are IB schools.Formerly Head of a multicampus school and Associate Director at the National Department of Education in South Africa, Radha describes herself as a teacher at heart, especially passionate about the teaching of English Literature. She was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Peel Board of Education, Canada in 1994.

After South Africa abolished its Apartheid laws, Radha was the elected Independent Education Board’s technical expert who led the writing of the outcomes for English for South African students K-12. Radha has also taught English Language & Literature and Theory of Knowledge at Waterford Kamhlaba UWC of Southern Africa, and she was the elected teacher representative on the WKUWCSA Board of Governors. In addition, Radha is a published author of two Macmillan textbooks about the teaching of English, an accredited coaching facilitator and executive coach. She has been examiner and sub examiner for various boards of education, including IB.

As Director of Education, Radha works very closely with heads of UWC schools and colleges, as well as the UWC International Board’s Education and Schools & Colleges committees to drive strategic alignment on high quality educational outcomes across the UWC movement. She has oversight of the end-to-end process of student selections and short courses, supports the development of curriculum innovations across the UWC movement, and coordinates leadership development initiatives for educational and senior leadership staff across UWC. Radha is based in the London office. 

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Sonia’s deep-rooted passion for language and linguistics led her to an extensive study of the field, with a particular focus on second-language acquisition across different age groups. After completing her Master’s degree, she transitioned into applying her expertise in corporate settings, shaping the way language is used in professional environments. Throughout her long and successful corporate career, she held senior positions in various companies, specializing in training trainers and developing professional growth programs for senior staff.

Her journey with UWC began in 2013 at UWC Mahindra College, where she first experienced the true spirit and purpose of the UWC Colleges. Taking on the roles of English teacher and Houseparent, she also contributed in capacities such as Learning Support Supervisor. In 2018, she moved to UWC Mostar, continuing to teach language and literature while fostering student well-being. At UWC Mostar, she served as a Staff Representative on the College Board, Director of Student Well-being, and eventually, Head of College. In these roles, she strengthened student support systems and enriched both the living and learning experiences at the institution.

prestigious national award, Večernjakov Pečat. Under her leadership, the college also received the Goran Bubalo Peace Award in 2024, recognizing its outstanding contributions to education in the country.

A firm believer in holistic, experiential, and contextual learning, Sonia is deeply committed to the UWC movement and its students. As a mother of two UWC graduates and a dedicated mentor to many, she continues to give back to the community by enhancing student well-being initiatives, refining learning strategies, and advancing curricula—ensuring that students thrive across all UWC schools and colleges.

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Sylvi joined UWC International in July 2023 and is based in the London office, where she coordinates educational initiatives across the UWC schools and colleges, as well as short courses.

Sylvi is an alumna of Waterford Kamhlaba UWCSA (2005) and holds a BA (Hons.) in Politics and Development Studies from SOAS, University of London. Following her first degree, she pursued postgraduate studies in the Justice and Transformation programme at the University of Cape Town, where she also began teaching undergraduate seminars in Political Science and worked as an academic literacy specialist in the university’s writing centre. Her time in Cape Town was followed by eight years at UWC Atlantic, where she taught Global Politics and History, and took on the leadership of the Changemaker Curriculum Team in her final two years.

After an artistic sabbatical in London, during which she also completed a Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design, she was ready to take on the new role of Academic Coordinator. She is particularly passionate about all aspects of curriculum innovation and deepening communities of practice among educators across the UWC movement.

In her spare time, Sylvi is an avid knitter and enjoys wild swimming and sketching.

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Faima Ramírez Hirschauer serves as the Coordinator for the United World College Short Course Development Initiative, where she endorses, supports, and advances over 30 UWC Short Course teams globally. Born in Munich and raised on the Canary Islands, Faima’s background has profoundly shaped her understanding of the complexities and opportunities within societies on the margins. As a UWC Costa Rica graduate (2008), she pursued a BA in Political Science and Journalism with a minor in Social Entrepreneurship from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Since 2014, Faima has found her true calling in UWC Short Courses, where she has designed and delivered curricula focused on Social Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Peacebuilding to over 1,500 young people aged 14-17 across Europe and Latin America. In her role, she has also recruited and trained diverse teams, fostering an inclusive and impactful learning environment. Faima’s commitment to youth development is further evidenced by her diploma in Social Integration and additional training in Positive Psychology, Safeguarding, and Outdoor Adventure Learning.

In her free time you can find her rock climbing, mountain biking or pole dancing, always in the company of her Jack Russel, Tequila. 

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