Prison officer named Chevening Scholar
(CNS Local Life): Prison officer Tamekia Young has received a Chevening Scholarship, one of 1,500 people worldwide handpicked for the award. The supervisor in the rehabilitation unit at HMP Northward will be using the scholarship to study for a master of science degree in addiction at King’s College London beginning next month.
Chevening Scholarships offer full financial support to study for any of the 12,000 master’s degree courses available at more than 150 UK universities. Sponsored by the Governor’s Office, applications are now open for the next academic year.
Governor Martyn Roper congratulated Young, saying, “I wish her every success and look forward to hearing how her studies will support her role at the prison. Chevening Scholarships provide a fantastic opportunity not only to increase your qualifications but also to meet like-minded people from around the world and have the chance to build knowledge and exchange information in a stimulating environment.
“With our world facing countless challenges, the role that the Chevening community plays in building bridges and collaborating across borders is more important than ever.
“The UK has world leading universities and I want to see even more Caymanians going to the UK universities and taking advantage of the home fees available,” Roper said in a press release.
Young, who is a mother of two, said, “I feel very blessed to have been chosen for this scholarship – it’s an amazing opportunity that I prayed for over the last 15 years and God has answered my prayers.
“In the Cayman Islands we are seeing an increase in people affected by addiction and we need to work to influence positive change in individuals to encourage them and empower them to lead law-abiding lives. It’s well known that when people are able to make positive changes in their lives it creates a safer environment for all.
“I want to continue my work as part of that process – to be an agent of change and to provide guidance and help to individuals faced with addiction problems.”
Prison Director Steve Barrett said Young’s studies in the UK will benefit the prison. “This is a great opportunity for Tamekia to take time out to focus on an area of study that will have great value to us here at the Prison Service particularly as we move towards trauma-informed services and interventions,” he said. “And it will also give her the chance to explore in-depth how addiction affects people and how countries around the world deal with similar situations.”
Chevening Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and more than 50,000 people have taken advantage of the programme over the last 35 years.
For more information on the scholarship programme and to apply, go to the Chevening website. The application deadline is 5 November.
Category: Civil Service, Education, Prison Service, Scholarships
