Four Guyanese have been awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to pursue studies in various fields at renowned universities in the United Kingdom (UK), beginning this fall.
Last week, the UK High Commission in Georgetown announced that the recipients of scholarships for this year are Keisha Edwards, Joshua Benn, Deanna Walcott, and Amrita Naraine. Edwards is the owner and Creative Director of the fashion brand Shasha Designs.
From L-R: Deanna Walcott, Keisha Edwards, British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller, Joshua Benn and Amrita Naraine
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design (Magna Cum Laude) from the respected Caribbean Academy of Fashion and Design at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and is an award-winning fashion designer.
Edwards was chosen to take part in the first-ever Commonwealth Fashion Exchange while still in college. She created a sustainable dress for the event, which made its debut in February 2018 at Buckingham Palace.
She also has a Bachelor’s in Sociology from the University of Guyana and has finished a certificate programme in Fabric Selection and Design Style at the New School-Parsons School of Design in the United States of America. She is a member of the Guyana Fashion Council as well.
At the University of Westminster, she plans to earn a Master’s degree in Fashion Business Management.
Joshua Benn, another scholar, is an attorney-at-law and tutorial lecturer at the University of Guyana’s Department of Law. He formerly worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as a Legal Officer, where he appeared before the International Court of Justice as an Adviser to the Government of Guyana. At Swansea University, Benn will pursue an LLM in Oil, Gas, and Renewable Energy Law.
Born and raised in Queenstown village, Essequibo Coast, Deanna Walcott is a passionate literacy and oracy advocate who volunteers her time and skills toward youth development.
As a Chevening Scholar, she is poised to embark on an MSc journey in Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment at Manchester Metropolitan University. Toastmaster Walcott works as an Environment and Safety Officer at Banks DIH Ltd. Beyond her professional and voluntary commitments, she finds solace in the pages of a good book, the comfort of a cup of tea, and the camaraderie of dominoes, all cherished amidst quality time with loved ones.
Amrita Naraine, a shrewd professional and lead researcher at ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc, with a background in data-driven strategic direction and innovation, is the other awardee.
She is enrolled in the renowned University of the Arts London’s MSc programme in Data Science and AI for the Creative Industries, which is ranked second in the world for art and design technology.
In doing so, she hopes to advance cultural diplomacy between Guyana and the rest of the world by responding to creative disruption with novel ideas in mathematics and the creative economy.
Chevening is the United Kingdom Government’s international scholarship and fellowship programme. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations, it offers individuals who show potential to inspire, inform, and influence positive change the opportunity to study at a UK university to gain a UK educational qualification.
Chevening Scholars study subjects in almost any field, and go on to implement their ideas for positive change in a range of sectors. After completing their period of study in the UK, scholars return home and join the global network of over 55,000 alumni.
