Chevening scholars to pursue studies in human rights, conservation

Human rights activist Joel Simpson and former Environ-mental Protection Agency worker Chuvika Harilal are the latest Guyanese to be awarded Chevening Scholarships.

A farewell reception was held last evening for Simpson and Harilal, who will be pursing Master’s Degree programmes at British universities during the 2012 to 2013 academic year.

Simpson, who has a degree in Law from the University of Guyana, will be studying Human Rights Law at the University of Nottingham. He has been most active in the area of promoting the rights of Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Gay and Transgender (LGBT) persons through the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD). Harilal, meanwhile, who holds a degree in Biology from the University of Guyana, will be pursing studies in the area of Conservation and Rural Development at the University of Kent.

Joel Simpson and Chuvika Harilal, who have been awarded Chevening Scholarships, at a reception last evening

The duo is expected to leave for the United Kingdom this month to pursue the one-year programmes at their respective universities.

British High Commission-er Andrew Ayre said that the scholars were selected from a number of applications that were received in the areas of human rights, economics, climate change and development.

The scholarships are fully funded by the British government for the entire year of study, after which scholars are expected to return to their country.