Meet The Team

This is Ai Kap Taung and from Myanmar. In short, you can call me “Ai”. Current I am volunteering at UWC Myanmar National Committee. Nature is my energy as I am too made of nature. I have some camping experience in different countries and camps with different roles such as team leader at Powerful Youth Global Leadership Academy in Singapore, volunteer at Embodying Earth Junior Camp in Vietnam and admin and logistic at Adventure Youth Summer Camp in Thailand.

Hello! I am Alex, I come from and live in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. After attending ISAK summer school as a student, I decided to continue on to the high school program. Afterwards, I studied physics with a specialization in optics at the University of Vienna in Austria. I spent some time in a research group working on experimental research to shape an electron beam with laser light. Currently, I am a student of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, where I mostly work on projects connecting my experience from physics with the everyday world and state of modern society. I am passionate about the human stories behind big discoveries in science and believe that science can be accessible to and inspire each one of us. I look forward to my third summer as a part of the summer school team!

My journey in education began after my first year of university, when I chose to travel and work with communities across India. What started as an experiment to figure out what I wanted to do with this world led me to something I now hold close: the belief that education has the power to transform human lives. Since then, I’ve been driven by one purpose, to make meaningful learning experiences accessible to all. Education that challenges how we see ourselves and the world. Education that builds toward a future that is just and open to everyone.

Through my work in Short Courses at ISAK, I hope to help young people reimagine their potential and dream their place in this world. Beyond work, I find joy in sunsets, music, football, and experiencing culture through food, coffee, and conversation. A quote that stays close to me these days: “Take time to see the quiet miracles that seek no attention.” — John O’Donohue

My name is Anouk, I am originally from Germany and Norway, and am currently living in London. I recently graduated with a BsC in Politics and Philosophy from LSE, where I furthered my studies in climate policy and politics, and contemporary political theory. I am currently working in Consulting, and as a Research Assistant for the Charity Wonder, that facilitates partnerships with local leaders to redistribute resources. I have been involved in community organisation since leading the Gender Council in my school, working as a Consent Education Facilitator and most recently, founding a Chess Club in East London. I also love textile design, and draw inspiration from natural environments. I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone on campus, and am excited to earn with and from you!

Hello! I am currently completing my master’s in Social Psychology, where I focus on young adults mental health and development within different sociopolitical environments. I am deeply interested in education, and I am very excited to be part of UWC ISAK summer camp.
In my free time, I enjoy playing the oud (a Middle Eastern string instrument), dancing, and cooking dishes from all over the world.

Since birth I have been on an epic quest to “BE EVERYTHING”

This led me to study philosophy, sociology, classics, history, anthropology and finally Theatre & Performance.

Becoming …

a Dance Teacher in Cape Town,
A Fine Artist in Leipzig,
A Travelling Busker in the Balkans,
A Writer & Theatre Maker in Italy,
A Creative Director In Berlin
And a now a full time Nomad working in arts & education.

Off the clock, I am an avid role-player, always ready to pretend to be even more things, with anyone game enough to join me.

I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Alongside the university related activities that I do, I also study the German language, and participate in a lot of youth exchanges and courses, most of them being within the framework of Erasmus+. My passion for working with youth and people from different parts of the world encourages me to participate in a lot of these kinds of activities, allowing me to better understand myself, and the world that I live in! 🙂

Hey, I’m Finn, I’m from the UK. I’d like to think I’m a passionate, creative and curious person, keen to engage with others. I love spending time outdoors, getting creative and playing sports as well as trying new things whether it be new ideas or new experiences. Very excited to have a memorable summer with you all!

I am an environmental advisor focused on sustainable development and community engagement. I direct the Susaki City Government SDGs Promotion Team in Kochi, Japan, supporting data-based planning and collaboration across departments on environmental and social initiatives. I holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Systems Science and a Master’s degree in Sustainability Science and Practice from the Stanford University Doerr School of Sustainability. My background includes research consulting, policy support, and educational program development. I values creating spaces where people can learn together and connect global sustainability goals with the realities of local, everyday life.

I am Gurbani, a poet, artist, migrant, and a facilitator who believes in the power of creating spaces where uncertainty and curiosity are tools that can help us imagine and construct better worlds for ourselves and the collectives we comprise of.

In my free time I love to be outside and play all kinds of sports, listen to (and share) music from different cultures, practice photography, and learn about other peoples passions. I love to find connections between things that are seemingly unrelated, and use those links to foster community. I look forward to creating a really safe and fun space in summer school this year!

I grew up in India and the Philippines before joining UWC ISAK Japan’s high school program. I have since lived in California, New York City, and now Barcelona, where I works as a researcher in the international development space and I am also a storyteller and artist.

I am shaped by my exposure to people from different cultures and socio-economic realities. Returning to UWC ISAK Summer School for my second year as a counsellor, I hopes to facilitate spaces where students listen closely, speak honestly, and leave with more curiosity and care for the world we share.

I am a youth policy advisor and digital inclusion advocate working at the intersection of accessible education, technology, and inclusive governance. I currently serves as the Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships Manager at Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation, where we champion national efforts to establish a National Science and Technology Center to advance a knowledge based economy.

I am also currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Governance, Development, and Public Policy at the University of Sussex, where my research explores how digital learning can complement traditional education while addressing inequality in access and learning outcomes.

A Mastercard Foundation and Commonwealth Scholar with a First-Class Honors degree in Social Sciences, my cross-sector experience spans policy reform at the Rwanda’s Ministry of Local Governance, education leadership with the Ashinaga Foundation in Tokyo, and driving youth-led SME digitization to strengthen Africa’s digital economy. I specializes in turning grassroots realities into evidence-based policies and practical communication strategies.

In 2024, I won the National Bank of Rwanda’s Monetary Policy Challenge, deepening my focus on inclusive finance and youth-led enterprise. Guided by the Jewish principle of Tikkun Halev and Tikkun Olam—repairing the heart, repairing the world— I also volunteer with the National Child Development Agency, supporting early childhood development and girl-centered education in rural communities.

In 2025, Julia I appointed to the Mastercard Foundation Youth Advisory Committee, where I contribute to the Young Africa Works strategy, ensuring that young people’s voices shape the future of dignified work across the continent.

Hi, everyone! My name is Kat, I’m super excited to be coming back for Summer School 2026 as a team member. I am Latvian, graduated from UWC ISAK Japan, and currently studying Veterinary Medicine in Valencia, Spain. Animals, science and research have always been a passion of mine, and I am eager to share the knowledge with anyone who’s interested to have a chat. During my free time, I enjoy traveling, exploring new places, hiking, taking photos, cooking, and meeting new people. I am excited to meet all of you and make this summer a positive and unforgettable experience for everyone!

Hi, I’m Mako. Born in Japan, lived in the UK, Germany, South Korea, China, France and Vietnam. I enjoy traveling and exploring the outdoors — I like to stay active with some hiking, jogging, and tennis. Looking forward to meeting you all in person!

Hi everyone! I’m Manuela (they/she), from Colombia, currently based in Medellín. I’m an anthropologist and a MUWCI (Mahindra United World College of India) alumni working at the intersection of gender, violence, sexual and gender diversity, education, and social justice. I’ll be a returning faculty this year and will be teaching a course (tentatively) titled “What’s Normal? Everyday Life Through the Lens of Culture, Power, and Inequity,” where we’ll be questioning the ways we (societies) organize ourselves and interpret our experiences of the world (culture) to understand and question systems of injustice and our roles in them.

In my free time I enjoy traveling, hiking, meeting people, climbing, swimming, theater, and film. Recently I’ve been exploring making collage and am trying to learn German, besides spending a lot of time rehabbing from a knee injury! I am very excited to meet all of you and look forward to spending the summer together!

I’m Mayur Menon, UWC ISAK alumni. I’ve grown up in multinational environments (The UAE, India, Hong Kong, and Japan). I currently am a student at the University of Hong Kong.

Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mexican parents, I experienced life between two cultures from an early age. That sparked my curiosity about different cultures, which grew as I met people from all kinds of backgrounds. After high school, I took a gap year in China, where I had the chance to experience a new culture firsthand before starting university. I earned my degree from St. Olaf College, where I studied Quantitative Economics and minored in Asian Studies and Statistics and Data Science. During university, I loved working with students as a tutor, mentor, and residential staff member, which helped me discover how much I enjoy supporting youth. I also studied abroad at Yonsei University. After graduating, I spent a year in Tokyo working at a public high school as an assistant teacher. Since returning to the U.S., I’ve continued working in education and currently work at a Montessori elementary school. I’m really excited to be a counselor this summer and can’t wait to help create a fun, welcoming, and memorable experience for all students!

Hello! I am Mile, a sustainability enthusiast based in Stockholm, Sweden but originally coming from the Balkans. I grew up in North Macedonia before going to UWC Atlantic. After that, I pursued a degree in environmental engineering in the US and the UK. While studying to become an engineer, I developed a passion for teaching and developing interdisciplinary curricula that integrate social sciences into the natural sciences, which I got to do as a teaching fellow in Boston public schools where I taught engineering and applied science to elementary school students. Following my time in the US, I also spent a year working in an environmental NGO in Croatia where I focused on circular economy education. I am currently completing a master’s degree in industrial ecology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, where I am also a teaching assistant. In addition to this, I work as a learning assistant and IB program coordinator for a company providing learning support services. When I am not engaging with education or sustainability professionally, you will find me going on long city walks, watching history documentaries, traveling, or picking up a new language (Latvian is the latest one I have started). I am looking forward to meeting the students at the Summer School and supporting them in developing design ideas for a more just and equitable future.

I am excited to be part of ISAK Summer School! I was born and grew up in Japan, have studied abroad in New Zealand and Sweden and an internship in Zambia.
I am a graduate student in Education and I am passionate about inquiry-based learning. During free time, I like playing sports, listening to music, and traveling. I’ve visited 20 countries so far. I also enjoy interacting with people and getting to know everyone.
I look forward to learning together with you all!

I’m Na-il from Thailand. I recently returned home after spending a few years in Japan. I’m currently working as a freelance educator based in Thailand.
I’m still at the beginning of my career journey and exploring which field of education I would like to focus on. I hope to reconnect with the local community and better understand the needs of children to contribute to the education sector. Working with children has taught me many valuable lessons, especially the importance of being present and attentive to how each moment unfolds.
Recently, I’ve been enjoying trying new activities, spending time in nature, and doing arts and crafts. I’m excited to be part of short program again and look forward to meeting everyone.

Hi, I’m Nichole! I’m a Filipino American living in Brno, Czech Republic, where I work at a residential Montessori middle school based on a farm. I completed my BA and MA in International Development and Education in the UK, during which time I also got involved in supporting students from Tajikistan to attend UWCs. When I’m not working, you’ll probably find me rock climbing somewhere around Central Europe, playing cello in different groups, or (optimistically) revisiting my childhood gymnastics skills. At home, I’m usually wrapped up in a non-fiction book with a cup of tea in hand. Fun fact: my first ever job was at a Japanese-American museum in California—and this summer will be my first time visiting Japan!

Kuzuzangpo La! (Hello in Dzongkha)

My name is Pema, and I am from Bhutan. I am a graduate of UWC Pearson College and am currently pursuing two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Physics and the other in Mechanical Engineering, at Trinity College in the United States.

Outside of my academic and research pursuits, I enjoy listening to music and reading. I’m especially interested in technology and how we can develop it in more sustainable ways. I’m excited to be part of the ISAK Summer School and to learn alongside everyone this summer!

Hi everyone! I’m Sarah and I’m from Wisconsin in the U.S. I’m currently going to school in Eugene, Oregon to study Global Studies and Spanish. In my free time I’m a part of the ultimate frisbee team and enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and spending lots of time outside.

I’m Tanuja, from India. I was part of the very first ISAK summer program as a student, so it’s really special for me to be back now in a different role. That experience genuinely changed how I think about learning and people, so I’m excited to be on the other side of it this time.

I’m a part-time tutor and a tech writer, and I spend most of my time working on things around learning, documentation, and building tools in the AI space. I really enjoy thinking about how we can make learning more accessible and meaningful.

Outside of that, I love sports — I play basketball and football — and I also play the piano. I’m really into dancing as well, and generally enjoy anything that keeps me moving or creating.

Hi everyone! My name is Thando. I am from South Africa, but I grew up in China. I am a UWC Changshu Alum, and am currently studying sports communications at Marist University in New York. I have a passion for anything sports, so I love talking to people about that, but I also really love fashion and music, and studying how music influences fashion and cultural identity. Looking forward to meeting everyone, and I’m so excited to be a part of the team.

Hello! My name is Tipu, I have grown up in Oxford, England, aside from a few years in India. I am on a gap year before starting university in September. For most of my gap year I’ve been in India, first teaching football and English in some rural schools, and then traveling all over with some friends from back home. In school, I enjoyed maths and astronomy, but am also very interested in philosophy. I love seeing and living in nature, especially through trekking, and meeting new people. I speak English fluently, but know basic French and Hindi.

Hi my name is Yeshwini. I am from India and I currently work in the climate and energy space in New York City. My background is in policy and economics, so if any of you are interested in talking or discussing current affairs and any global issues, always very much interested. Outside of school, I enjoy musical theatre (specifically watching broadway), photography, playing the piano and dancing.
I was a UWC ISAK Japan Summer School participant and ISAK graduate. I am excited to learn more about what you’re interested in and make your summer school experience as enriching as mine was.