By Shamar Blunt
Chevening Alumni Chapter of Barbados came together on Wednesday, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the scholarship scheme during a cocktail reception at the official residence of the British High Commissioner.
Former scholars came together to celebrate the organisation which played a major role in their educational pursuits over the years. There were scholars from several fields of endeavour including renewable energy, economics, computer science, and communications.
Special guest of the evening UK Minister David Rutley, who is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, congratulated the scholars on their achievements over the years.
“What is fantastic, is to just see across all different fields, the contributions that are [made]. There is always that desire, that aim to just make a difference. It’s so distinctive among Chevening Scholars.”
The Chevening Scholarship is a UK-based, government global scholarship programme, which is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. It provides financial assistance to gifted students from across the globe who wish to expand their studies in the United Kingdom.
While recalling a meeting he had with 50 Brazilian Chevening scholars after the January 8, 2023 storming of Brazil’s federal government buildings in the capital by an angry mob, Rutley noted the resilience and the determination by the students to push back against the actions by their positive acts of commitment and determination to contribute in a positive way to their nation.
“What touched me was me saying how sorry I was to hear of the storming of the capitol, which was completely unexpected. Straight afterwards, after meeting all the groups of
Chevening scholars, they were just so committed, so looking forward to getting back to make their contribution [and] to make sure those democratic values that we all hold so dear, would be there.”
He added: “It’s those common values, and those shared experiences that make these experiences so important, and the relationships we build here.”
(SB)
