Sogn Jord-og Hagebruksskule and UWC RCN have had a long and fruitful cooperation. We’ve had joint staff meetings, their organic food in the RCN cantina and a student exchange programme. This autumn three of our students spent five days in Aurland during RCN’s Project-based learning week learning about organic farming, animal husbandry, greenhouses and more. But above all, they learned about caring – for the Earth and each other.

As Ka Ming, a student from Hong Kong said:

As a girl who has grown up in a big city with many, many people and shopping malls , spending five days on an organic farm was an incredible experience. The fresh air, the calm vibe, the kind faces … everything was just so impressive! It is the first time that I’ve had the opportunity to get in touch with organic farming, my first time to touch goats, my first time to drink and eat such pure, fresh food. I really liked how their students treated us in such a friendly and sincere way. Once I mentioned to a student that I had failed in planting basil and how disappointed I was – and she gave me a fresh basil plant the next day and told me that I could try it again. Even though it wasn’t a very big gift, the meaning was tremendous. The farm and the people there reminded me of why I wanted to go to UWC, to try to cherish our environment, to try to keep a good heart and to try to think of others first. The spirit they have is very inspiring and they showed me that the ‘reality’ is not always the reality. 

Thank you for the staff of the SJHS, especially Spira Svendsen for hosting our students, and to their kind students who treated RCN students as members of the Aurland family.

Queen Sonja (patron of UWC RCN and former Vice President of the Norwegian Red Cross) and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were patrons for this year’s annual Norwegian fund raising event (TV Aksjonen) for the Norwegian Red Cross and their efforts to help victims of war and other conflicts from the following countries: Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Myanmar, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

The money also will be used in helping refugees who have come to Norway. 130,502 NOK was collected in Fjaler and RCN will contribute a further 13,065 NOK to the Fjaler fund following an auction and bake sale. Thank you to all students and staff who took on this challenge to raise money for this year’s TV Akjsonen.