E’bo woman, fashion designer among four new Chevening scholars

For 40 years now, Guyanese have been receiving prestigious Chevening Scholarships from the United Kingdom (UK) and British High Commissioner Jane Miller urges more Guyanese to apply for the programme.

This year, the UK awarded Chevening scholarships to four outstanding Guyanese scholars: Deanna Walcott, Joshua Benn, Amrita Naraine and Keisha Edwards.

They were chosen after a highly competitive selection process.

Walcott who hails from Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, and is an Environment and Safety Officer, will pursue her Master’s Degree in Occupational, Health and Environment at the Manchester Metropolitan University.

Benn, a lawyer, will pursue his Master’s of Laws in Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Law at Swansea University.

Local researcher Naraine is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the University of the Arts London.

Finally, local fashion designer Edwards is building on her fashion career and will be pursuing her Master’s Degree in Fashion Business Management at the University of Westminster.

Each scholar said they are passionate about the country’s development in each of the various sectors they are studying and intend to return with valuable input that will benefit all Guyanese.

They now join some 157 Chevening alumni in Guyana and are now a testament to the strengthening of the UK-Guyana bilateral relationship.

High Commissioner Miller, during the celebratory ceremony held at her residence in Bel Air Gardens, said the award is more than a prestigious programme as it builds future leaders who return and offer valuable service to the country.

“Thousands get interviewed every year and what we are trying to do is find future leaders and we’ve been very successful and I’m not just talking about government leaders although we have been very successful.

“We’ve chosen future leaders in a variety of areas whether it be academic, in the civil society, in government, captains of industry, throughout the fabric of society so in Guyana so far we have had 157 scholarships provided in Guyana, 55,000 people have been awarded globally,” the British High Commissioner said.

With the aim of giving persons the opportunity to complete studies that can be used to develop their own country, Chevening Scholarships in Guyana are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue one-year Master’s at any UK university. This year’s scholarship investment is not yet disclosed.

The next round of applications opens on September 12, 2023 and closes on November 7, 2023 and the High Commissioner encourages others to apply for the scholarship.

Chevening Alumni and current Minister of Culture Youth and Sports Charles Ramson supported the High Commissioner’s charge and said these scholarships have played a pivotal role in creating strong, likeminded leaders who advance toward similar global and national objectives.

“That’s one of the things that help in terms of finding those leaders and having those leaders that come back from the programme to benefit the country because you need strong partnerships to move any serious and major objective forward,” the minister said.

Minister of Finance Dr Ashni Singh, also a Chevening Alumni, said scholars awarded become ambassadors for both nations, signifying the tremendous impact the opportunity provides.