20 Nov 2017

Beneficiaries of the Chevening scholarship in Botswana are in the process of forming  Botswana Association of Chevening Alumni.

Speaking at an event to welcome home nine returning scholars at Travel Lodge recently, Ms Anna Mmolai- Charmers who is also a Chevening alumni said the constitution of the association was also at an advanced stage for approval.

She said the only setback with the constitution was that the officer who was directly involved in it had since left for further studies in China and this may delay the registration of the association, adding that this meat that the association would be registered early next year instead of the end of this year.

She appealed to returning scholars to take the lead in the activities of the association, adding that the association will serve as a fantastic networking space in supporting beneficiaries of the Chevening scholarships.

He advised returning scholars that what they studied in the United Kingdom should not only benefit them alone, but should also benefit the community they served.

Ms Mmolai-Charmers explained that the past few months they had been busy motivating young Batswana students to apply for the scholarship, which was free of charge.

Meanwhile, communications and political officer at the British High Commission, Mr Boniface Badubi explained that the formation of the association was an extension of what they had studied abroad.

He said the Chevening programme offered scholarships each year to exceptional students to study in some of the best universities in the world.

Mr Badubi said the programme was a testimony of a cemented and ever-deepening relationship between Botswana and the United Kingdom.

The returning students shared their experiences while studying and vowed to take part in the activities of the association.

One of the students, Mr Budani Madandume explained that his Chevening journey was a very exciting and precious moments in his life as a Master of Science in Gender and Development student at the University of Sussex.

He said he was now empowered and saw the world differently, adding that what was fascinating with universities in the UK was that they emphaseed mostly in critical thinking.

He said the scholarship was a great opportunity for him to unleash his potential and appealed to the British High Commission to market this programme across the country to give underprivileged students an opportunity to benefit from it.

Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have strong academic backgrounds.

The scholarship offers financial support to study for a master’s degree at any UK university and the opportunity to become part of an influential global network of 46 000 alumni.

These scholarships represent a significant investment from the UK government to develop the next cohort of global leaders.

A typical successful candidate demonstrates the potential to benefit from the scheme and to further develop their career and to contribute to Botswana’s development.

On their return to Botswana, the scholars will become members of the Botswana Association of Chevening Alumni.

The association provides the returnees with a valuable network of contacts. ENDS