Throughout February 2022, Commonwealth Alumnus Beauty Kumari led a virtual cycle rally, ‘FebXCyclothon’ in Patna, Bihar. The cycle rally was aimed at young people and participants were encouraged to ride a bicycle anytime and anywhere during the weekends in February.
Four Commonwealth Alumni working as health professionals in the Kabarole District area in Uganda, created a video to raise awareness about regular cervical cancer screening to avoid late-stage diagnosis when treatment is no longer possible. The video encourages girls aged between 10 and 13 years to take up the HPV vaccination which can reduce their chances of developing cervical cancer. The group included lead organiser, Dorine Natukunda, a Medical Clinical Officer, Irene Kabachaki, a registered nurse, and Rebecca Balinja and Euphrasia Kabahuma, both registered midwives.
Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Oluwaseun Anselm, doctoral researcher in Environmental Chemistry at the University of Lagos, developed an informative video designed to target informal e-waste recyclers and improve their awareness of the health and environmental risks of their occupation.
Commonwealth Alumni Dr Cynthia Ogundo and Dr Rebecca Oenga, both ophthalmologists working in public hospitals in Kenya, teamed up with Dr Nyawira Mwangi, Senior Lecturer at the Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, to create a video information session to spread awareness about eye healthcare.
Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Vijaya Ragahavan, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of the Youth Mental Health Programme at the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), created a video to educate youth in India on the causes and symptoms of depression. The video highlights the importance of raising awareness about mental health and issues facing children and young people which are often overlooked in Indian society.
Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Sylivia Nalubega, Lecturer in Nursing at Soroti University, created an awareness video on the topic of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) aimed at promoting the use of safe water to prevent illness to those living in Uganda. In her work as a nurse, health promotion and disease prevention are part of Dr Nalubega’s role, and she is therefore aware of the important need to spread awareness on the topic of safe water to those living in the Teso sub-region.
Commonwealth Alumnus Dr Evelyn Funjika, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Zambia, created a video to raise awareness around the importance of handwashing and the need to improve access to clean water for everyone. The key message in the video included sensitising local communities to wash their hands more frequently to reduce the burden of infectious diseases.
In April, the CSC held the first residential workshop of 2022 for Commonwealth Master’s and Shared Scholars. The Maximising your Impact: training for development workshop took place between Friday 1 April and Sunday 3 April 2022 at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great...
The CSC Evaluation Team is always keen to explore more innovative ways to identify and measure the outcomes and impact of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships. In 2019-2020 we conducted a trial and a pilot study to test the feasibility and effectiveness of using diary methods as a potential tool to collect information on the experiences, activities, and events of our alumni ‘in the moment’ following the Scholarship.
‘In my career, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened’ said Dr Akinniyi Ayobami Adeleke, reflecting on the transformative impact of his CSC Professional Fellowship. As Head Librarian at Redeemer’s University in Nigeria, Dr Adeleke continually applies the advanced computer programming and management skills gained through his Fellowship at the University of East London towards the upgrading and modernisation of his university’s library services, as well as the upskilling of his colleagues.
