Cayman Connection UK marks five years
CIGO UK representative Kate Kandiah (back row, left) with Walters family members from the US
(CNS Local Life): Cayman Connection UK (CCUK), a network for groups and individuals associated with the Cayman Islands who now live, work or play in the UK, celebrated its fifth anniversary this month with a gathering at the Sound South Community Centre. Among those attending the 18 July event were members of the Walters family from the US, whose roots trace to the original Watler settlers in Cayman.
Organised by the communications in-charge for the Cayman Islands Government Office in London (CIGO UK), Kate Kandiah, the occasion featured an ongoing CIGO UK project about reaching out to family of the earliest settlers of the Cayman Islands, the Watlers and Boddens.
Young people, parents and other Caymanians, including a number of local Watlers also took part in the celebration, said a press release.
Present on the occasion to meet and greet local family members was a visiting family from the US, now known as Walters, who have undergone ancestral research to confirm they are related to the original Watlers of the Cayman Islands.
The attendees also were given a presentation on the history of the Watlers in the Cayman Islands from one family member, Olivaire Watler.
Kate Kandiah (second row, left) with some of the students heading to UK
In addition, aspiring students networked and learnt about how to prepare for and then navigate the UK when they take up residence there for further education. All together, 30 students and parents gathered to take part in a workshop which addressed some of the cultural differences between the UK and the Cayman Islands as well as some of the challenges that can be a faced when moving abroad.
Kandiah spoke to the group with CCUK volunteers to share experiences and answer questions. Volunteers who were already students in the UK were also able to encourage new students with stories and examples of the benefits of studying in the UK.
“These annual events in Cayman are integral to the work of CCUK, it is a great opportunity to provide a space for students considering studying in the UK to meet existing UK students.,” said Kandiah in the press release. “The event is also an opportunity to share some of the work that the CIGO has been doing in the UK.”
She added, “It was a special honour to be able to host an event for the visiting Walters family who have been tracing their roots back to Cayman for many years.”
The annual CCUK reception was also a chance to introduce David Ramseran, the new lead student ambassador, who takes on the main responsibility of guiding the student volunteers who run the network. Ramseran has been volunteering with the network for two years.
Ramseran said he was proud to take on the new role for the upcoming academic year. “We have some great development plans for the network that I am looking forward to progress, for example a new website, better communication channels for members across the UK and new cultural programmes and partnerships,” he said. “We’re already planning for the annual reception next year as we have new ideas following feedback from this event.”
Category: Education
