Yesterday, on 3rd November 2023, the British High Commission celebrated 40 years of success and excellence of the Chevening Scholarship, joining worldwide celebrations of this historic moment.
In Sierra Leone, over 150 scholars have been identified and supported to become the leaders of the future since the programme starter in 1983. These leaders join the 53,000 strong scholars and fellows that have benefitted from the UK’s world class education system over the past 40 years.
Scholars have studied across every subject and passion, from arts and culture, literature and music, to good governance practices, democracy, and protection of human rights. As well as engineering, medicine, sciences, media and communication, climate and many more. The breadth of study is a testament to the talent and variety that Chevening Scholars have brought for decades.
Salone’s innovative and talented scholars are no exception to this. Since 1983, and even through the country’s civil war, Ebola crisis and the Covid19 pandemic, Chevening has helped Salone’s best and brightest young people fulfil their potential, creating positive impacts in their communities and making their societies a better place for all.
Speaking at the event, High Commissioner Lisa J. Chesney said, “There is so much that binds the UK and Salone together, and Chevening is one more way that we see our joint positive impact on transforming communities. I urge you all to set aside all difference and engage in the interest of Mama Salone and make it better for those that will come after us.”
The first Sierra Leoneans to benefit from Chevening were: Caeser Amandu Coker, now a renowned educationist; Dr. Kitty Fadlu Deen, an arts, music and culture guru who established the Balanta Academy of Music; and Raymon de’Souza George, senior lecturer of arts (University of Sierra Leone) and now Ambassador at Large.
Their achievements, and the achievements of the scholars that followed them are a reminder that, despite all our differences and the many challenges that face us today, young people continue to inspire us to strive for more.
The British High Commission bade farewell to this year’s Chevening cohort in August, wishing them very well as they embrace their studies, nurture their skills, and continue their leadership journey to support the development of Sierra Leone and become part the solution to the challenges the country faces.
Chevening is UK Government’s flagship scholarship programme, funded by FCDO and partner organisations. It was established in 1983 and supports about 1,300 scholars from 160 countries and territories each year. Chevening scholarship program now has over 50,000 alumni around the World. There have been over 150 Chevening scholars and fellows from Sierra Leone since the programme started in 1983. In 2022, Chevening awarded seven scholarships (6 scholars and 1 media fellow) to deserving Sierra Leoneans to study in the UK, and four in 2021. In 2023, five Sierra Leoneans have been awarded so far to study diverse courses including Energy Law, Environment, Supply food chain, and Trade Law.