Three FIUTS Alumni Chosen for Chevening

The prestigious Chevening Scholarship is an award offered to emerging global leaders allowing them to study for a fully-funded master’s degree in the UK. FIUTS is thrilled to announce that three alumni of our Visiting Programs have been chosen for Chevening this year! We are so proud of the incredible work that Aisha, Samira, and Leocádia have done so far to make a difference in their communities and the world, and we can’t wait to see what they do next as they embark on this adventure.

Leocádia Fernandes Valoi, mozambique

My name is Leocádia and I am a SUSI alum from the Civic Engagement cohort of 2017. I was recently awarded a Chevening scholarship and will be attending the University of Leicester in England to study Global Media and Communications.

This is a huge step to keep fighting for equality and better opportunities for the people like me: Black, Woman, LGBT+ and from one of the least economically advantaged countries In the world.

I was selected to Chevening for the same reasons I was chosen to SUSI: being an engaged, honest and humane young leader.

Leocádia Fernandes Valoi was a participant in the 2017 Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) on Civic Engagement.

Samira Gasimova, azerbaijan

I am Samira from Azerbaijan, alumna of Youth Leadership Program cohort of 2013. I have been chosen for Chevening Awards this year and I will be pursuing master’s degree in Economics at London School of Economics and Political Sciences.

7 years ago these days I was stepping in U.S. to have my first experience abroad. FIUTS turned my stay in Seattle to a great milestone I still keep talking about. Since that period I finished my undergraduate studies, did an exchange in Italy, participated in dozens of international projects and landed great job opportunities in my country. I cannot wait to see how my LSE experience will contribute to my academic and professional career. But one thing is for sure, at the end I will use my knowledge and skills for the better wellbeing of my country.

Samira Gasimova was a participant in the 2013 Youth Leadership Program with Azerbaijan.

AISHA NAZIM, SRI LANKA

I can definitely say that the summer exchange programme on Leadership and New Media with FIUTS at the University of Washington gave me the confidence to take on new challenges from 2015. My first internationally published article was a piece on reviving the Lushootseed language which I wrote while on the programme, for The Seattle Globalist! Working on that is what solidified my interests in writing about and working with minorities and underrepresented communities.

I'm really excited to be chosen for Chevening, and will be at the University of Sussex for Gender Studies. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and can't wait to get back to work here.

Aisha Nazim participated in the 2015 Study of the U.S. Institute (SUSI) on Journalism and New Media.

Aisha, Leocádia and Samira, congratulations to all of you! Your FIUTS family is proud of you and wishes you all the best.

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The Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) are programs of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. SUSI programs promote a better understanding of the people, institutions, and culture of the United States among international students, teachers, and scholars. SUSIs are short-term academic programs for groups of undergraduate leaders, educators, and scholars from around the world. Hosted by academic institutions throughout the United States, these 5- to 6-week Institutes include an intensive academic residency and an integrated educational study tour. Extracurricular cultural and community activities help to broaden the participants’ understanding of U.S. society. Learn more about SUSI programs here.

The Youth Leadership Program with Azerbaijan is a short-term cultural and educational exchange program focused on expanding relationships between U.S. and Azerbaijani students, educators, and communities from differing ethnic, religious, and social groups and strengthening ties between the two countries. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and in 2013 was administered by American Councils for International Education and FIUTS.

Guest posts on the FIUTS blog represent the experiences and views of individual writers. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FIUTS or any organizations or institutions affiliated with our programs.

September 16, 2020: This post has been updated to include Aisha Nazim’s photo and bio.