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STEADY AT THE HELM
UWC THAILAND
A Vision Comes to Life
The Heart of Our Beginning In 2002, Klaus Hebben—a German businessman and philanthropist—planted the seeds of a bold idea: to create a school that would educate the whole child. He imagined a place where academic excellence lived alongside emotional intelligence, physical vitality, and spiritual awareness. A school where mindfulness was as important as mathematics, and where young people would grow not just in knowledge, but in character, compassion, and confidence. This vision came to life on the grounds of a former rubber plantation. Thanyapura rose from the earth as a pioneering campus, complete with a world-class sports centre, a mind centre, and a school designed to support deep, intentional learning. Klaus’s dream was not simply to educate, but to transform—to raise future changemakers who would lead with heart and serve with purpose. Living the Mission Even before joining the UWC movement, the school embodied many of its ideals. Klaus’s values were deeply aligned with the UWC mission: “To make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.” The school ’ s motto — Good Heart, Balanced Mind, Healthy Body — was more than a phrase . It shaped daily life , embedding wellbeing and ethics into every lesson and interaction . Social and emotional learning , sustainability , and service were integrated as foundational pillars — not as extras , but as essentials . That founding ethos remains at the core of UWC Thailand. Today, we continue to honour Klaus’s vision: an education that doesn’t just prepare students for university, but prepares them to navigate complexity, to build bridges, and to be of service to the world. “ You have the power to do something good in your life and for the lives of others … We need people like that. The world needs people like that. ” KLAUS HEBBEN, FOUNDER
KLAUS HEBBEN, FOUNDER
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