Against All Odds: The Remarkable Academic Journey of Salina and Noé Schwoerer

The story of Salina and Noé Schwoerer represents a triumph of determination, resilience, and educational innovation that challenges conventional notions of schooling and academic achievement. Born into the extraordinary world of the TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition, these two young scholars have successfully navigated complex educational systems across multiple continents to achieve remarkable academic success, while simultaneously contributing to global climate awareness and environmental education.

An Extraordinary Educational Foundation

The Schwoerer children’s educational journey began in perhaps the most unconventional classroom imaginable: aboard the expedition sailing vessel “Pachamama,” as part of their parents Sabine and Dario Schwoerer’s ambitious TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition. This unique educational foundation was built on the TOPtoTOP concept of “EXPLORE – INSPIRE – ACT,” which has already inspired over 175,000 students in more than 100 countries to participate in environmental actions. The expedition, which has covered over 132,000 nautical miles circumnavigating the globe, serves as both a research platform for universities and scientists and an innovative educational environment for the Schwoerer family.

The TOPtoTOP project, founded by Swiss climateologist Dario Schwoerer and his wife Sabine, represents far more than a simple sailing expedition. Operating since 1999, their current mission is to “SAVE THE ARCTIC“, the project has been conducting field-based research in Arctic waters up to 82 degrees North, making it the first sailboat to circumnavigate entire Svalbard under sail and opened a new Northwest Passage into Hudson Bay. This extraordinary environment provided Salina and Noé with an unparalleled foundation in environmental science, cultural awareness, and global citizenship from their earliest years together with their 4 other siblings, – the Schwoerer kids:

During their primary education aboard the expedition vessel, all children benefited from the unique privilege of having numerous volunteer teachers participating in the ship’s educational projects. This innovative homeschooling approach was supplemented by attendance at public schools during longer campaigns in countries and places including Australia, Singapore, Nepal, South Africa, St. Helena, Brazil, Trinidad, Colombia, Panama, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, California, Massachusetts, Bermuda, and the Azores. This global classroom exposure provided them with an internationally diverse educational experience that few students could ever access through traditional schooling methods.

Salina’s Academic Triumph

Born in Valdivia, Chile, Salina Schwoerer’s path to academic excellence culminated in her outstanding performance in both the Swiss Matura and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. Her graduation ceremony took place on June 13, 2025, in the historic Klosterkirche (monastery church) of Engelberg, Switzerland, marking the successful completion of her studies at the prestigious Stiftsschule Engelberg.

The Stiftsschule Engelberg, a Benedictine monastery school with roots dating back to the 12th century, has long been recognized as a spiritual and educational powerhouse in Swiss culture. This institution offers both the bilingual Swiss Matura (German/English) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, making it an ideal environment for internationally-minded students like Salina. The school’s unique position as both a traditional religious institution and a modern international educational center provided Salina with the academic rigor and global perspective necessary for her remarkable achievements.

Salina’s academic success is particularly noteworthy given the comprehensive nature of the Swiss educational system. The Swiss Matura, considered the highest tier of secondary education in Switzerland, provides broad and thorough academic foundations designed to prepare students for direct university entry. The addition of the International Baccalaureate qualification further demonstrates her academic versatility and global readiness.

Groundbreaking Climate Research

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Salina’s academic achievement lies in her Matura thesis, which dealt with the effects of climate change on Sami reindeer herders in northern Norway and in which she achieved the highest grade. This research topic demonstrates not only her academic capability but also her deep connection to the environmental mission that has shaped her entire life through the TOPtoTOP expedition.

The Sami people, traditionally inhabiting the Arctic regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, have been experiencing the frontlines of climate change effects. As indigenous inhabitants numbering approximately 50,000 to 100,000 people, the Sami have maintained their traditional semi-nomadic reindeer herding lifestyle for thousands of years. However, climate change has profoundly impacted their traditional way of life, with Arctic regions warming at rates four times faster than the global average.

Salina’s research addressed critical issues affecting Sami communities, including changing snow conditions that prevent reindeer from accessing their primary food source, lichen. The formation of ice crusts due to rain-on-snow events, increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, and rising temperatures have all contributed to significant challenges for traditional reindeer herding practices. Her work contributes to the growing body of research documenting how climate change threatens not only the economic sustainability of reindeer herding but also the cultural preservation of Sami communities.

Download Salina’s paper: Impact of Climate Change on the Sami People (Matura Essay in Environmental Systems and Societies)

Educational Challenges and Perseverance

Despite holding Swiss citizenship and successfully passing entrance examinations, Salina faced significant obstacles in accessing free education in Switzerland due to her parents’ absence from the country during the TOPtoTOP expedition. This challenge highlights important issues within the Swiss educational system regarding children of internationally mobile families and the accessibility of education for those with unconventional living situations.

Salina’s educational odyssey took her through multiple institutions across different countries and educational systems. Her journey included stops in Ftan, Sydney, Verbier, and Disentis before finally finding her academic home at the Stiftsschule Engelberg. This complex path required exceptional adaptability and resilience, qualities that she appears to have inherited from her great-grandmother “Nona,” whose determination and perseverance served as inspiration throughout Salina’s educational challenges.

Throughout her time at Stiftsschule Engelberg, Salina demonstrated remarkable work ethic by combining her demanding academic schedule with part-time employment in a tea room leisure time. This additional responsibility showcases her commitment to both academic excellence and practical life skills, reflecting the comprehensive personal development that characterizes the TOPtoTOP educational philosophy.

Noé’s Parallel Success in Arctic Norway

Noé Schwoerer, born in Darwin, Australia, followed a similar educational path to his sister Salina and his brother Andri, who complete next year with the Matura at the same school as Salina, Stiftsschule Engelberg. Beginning with homeschooling aboard the TOPtoTOP expedition vessel and attending public schools in the Azores, Iceland, and Norway during the family’s various campaigns. His educational journey culminated in outstanding success within the Norwegian education system, completing his official 10-year schooling period on June 19, 2025 at Eidebakken School in Lyngseidet, with exceptional grades.

The Norwegian education system, founded on principles of equity and adapted education for all pupils, provided an excellent framework for Noé’s academic development in Lyngseidet, a wonderful village in the Lyngen Alps. Norway’s comprehensive educational approach, which includes 10 years of compulsory education followed by optional upper secondary education, allowed Noé to demonstrate his academic and athletic capabilities. The system’s emphasis on high standards of general education aligns well with the TOPtoTOP expedition’s educational philosophy of comprehensive global learning.
Noé’s exceptional academic and athletic performance earned him acceptance to the prestigious NTG (Norge Top Gymnasium) in Tromsø, one of Norway’s leading sports gymnasiums. NTG Tromsø, established in 2008 and known as the world’s northernmost elite sports gymnasium, offers students a unique combination of academic excellence and athletic development. The school’s location at Romssa Arena and its comprehensive approach to balancing education and athletic training makes it an ideal environment for students seeking to excel in both academic and sporting pursuits.

The acceptance to NTG Tromsø represents a significant achievement, as these institutions are highly selective and reserved for students demonstrating exceptional capabilities in both academic and athletic domains. Noé’s success in gaining admission reflects not only his personal achievements but also the effectiveness of the unconventional educational approach provided through the TOPtoTOP expedition experience.

Looking to the Future: Continuing the Legacy

Both Salina and Noé are now positioned to continue the environmental mission that has shaped their entire lives, but as leaders of the next generation rather than participants. Salina, for whom “the home is the ocean,” plans to pursue her Dive Master certification, preparing her to contribute to marine conservation and underwater research activities. This career path aligns perfectly with the TOPtoTOP mission’s focus on ocean conservation and marine environmental research.

Noé’s future plans involve obtaining his captain’s certification to command the expedition’s daughter vessel “Naomi” in continuing the “Save the Arctic” campaign. This represents a significant milestone in the TOPtoTOP project’s evolution, as the second generation begins to take operational control of the mission. His leadership of Arctic research and education campaigns will ensure continuity of the project’s environmental education work while expanding its reach and impact.

The transition of leadership to the next generation represents the realization of Sabine and Dario Schwoerer’s long-term vision for the TOPtoTOP project. The development of the expedition from a single vessel to a potential fleet or “armada” of environmentally-focused educational platforms demonstrates the scalability and sustainability of their innovative approach to environmental education and climate advocacy.

A Model for Global Education

The academic achievements of Salina and Noé Schwoerer represent far more than individual success stories; they demonstrate the potential for innovative educational approaches to produce globally-minded, environmentally-conscious, and academically excellent graduates. Their success challenges conventional assumptions about the necessity of traditional schooling environments and highlights the potential for experiential, travel-based education to produce outstanding academic results.

The recognition and support provided by institutions such as the Stiftsschule Engelberg and Eidebakken School in Lyngseidet deserve particular acknowledgment for their willingness to embrace students with unconventional educational backgrounds. These institutions demonstrated the flexibility and vision necessary to support students whose educational experiences transcend traditional boundaries, ultimately enabling remarkable academic achievements.

The story of the Schwoerer siblings also highlights important policy questions regarding educational accessibility and the recognition of alternative educational approaches. Their initial challenges in accessing Swiss education despite citizenship status point to the need for more flexible and inclusive educational policies that recognize the validity of diverse educational experiences and the rights of internationally mobile families.

As Salina and Noé embark on their future careers continuing the TOPtoTOP mission, their academic achievements serve as powerful testament to the potential for combining environmental activism, global citizenship, and educational excellence. Their success paves the way for other children seeking alternative educational paths while pursuing academic achievement, potentially influencing broader discussions about educational innovation and accessibility.

The Schwoerer family’s educational success has been recently significantly enhanced by their partnership with the Swiss Online School, a fully digital educational institution that has proven invaluable for families pursuing location-independent lifestyles while maintaining access to quality education despite being absent from traditional public schools. The Swiss Online School operates as a completely digital platform where students log into their profiles and access subjects appropriate to their current level and individual learning progress through the Moodle learning management system.

The legacy of their educational journey extends beyond personal achievement to encompass hope for a new generation of environmentally-conscious leaders equipped with both academic credentials and practical experience in addressing global environmental challenges. Through their continued work with the TOPtoTOP project, they will undoubtedly inspire countless other young people to pursue both academic excellence and environmental stewardship, ensuring that their remarkable educational journey continues to benefit global environmental education for years to come, which ultimately leads to a more sustainable future for our wonderful planet Earth.

Heartfelt Acknowledgments

The extraordinary educational achievements of Salina and Noé would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of the exceptional teachers who have shaped our children throughout their remarkable journey. These extraordinary educators have consistently believed in our children’s potential, even when conventional educational paths seemed uncertain, and have motivated and inspired them to reach heights we could never have imagined. Most importantly, they have kept alive that precious natural curiosity and joy of learning that burns so brightly in young minds, nurturing it through every challenge and triumph along the way. Their commitment to seeing beyond traditional classroom boundaries and recognizing the unique gifts each child possesses has been nothing short of transformational. We extend our deepest gratitude to the Gertrud von Speyr Stiftung, whose generous support made Salina’s education at Stiftsschule Engelberg possible through their scholarship program. To all these remarkable individuals and institutions who believed in our children and provided the foundation for their success, we offer our most heartfelt thanks – you have not only shaped their minds but have helped nurture the next generation of environmental stewards who will carry forward the vital work of protecting our planet.

All out there: Join the TOPtoTOP Expediton or the TOPtoTOP Arcitc Base. You are all welcome. We will be happy to give back. Just contact us.