The Alumnae

The Alumnae

A major new initiative, funded by the CCL, has been the launch of the CCL Alumnae Association.  It is hoped that through the Association contact can be maintained with girls previously sponsored by the CCLEF and that they, in turn, will be active in communicating with each other across the Commonwealth and in promoting and supporting the education of girls and women.

NIGERIA:  Launched in Abuja, in November 2003, nine girls travelled from the north for nine hours by road to join CCL representatives at the Commonwealth Market organised at the time of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.   Their spokeswoman, Maryam, was studying for a BSc in Agriculture, Maimuna was taking an accountancy course and Hauwa, now a mother, is a primary school teacher.  During a workshop the girls told how sponsorship by the CCLEF had changed their lives.   It was important to them that the people from across the world had believed in their potential and chosen to give support.   It had also given them the desire to share their knowledge with others in similar circumstances.

Maryam said “I am hoping that someday I will use these privileges I had to assist people and make them appreciate the nature of education and the advantages of being educated.  With the launching of the Alumnae I hope to link up with other girls who have enjoyed the sponsorship of CCL.”   Each spoke of their appreciation for the chance they had been given and pledged to help their fellow CCL scholars and to exchange friendship and knowledge across the Commonwealth.

In 2006 Ladi, formerly sponsored in the 1980s, arrived with her family, in Aberdeen to read for an MSc in Business Management, graduating in 2007.   Her moving story was profiled in the CCLEF Annual Report for 2005/6.   In October 2007 she spoke at the Royal Commonwealth Society, London, on “Women Matter”.

UGANDA:  In November 2007 six CCL representatives visited Uganda to participate in the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and held in Kampala at the time of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  The CPF attracted 1,500 delegates from over 50 countries, to deliberate on issues related to “Realising People’s Potential”. CCL, under the auspices of the Commonwealth Consortium for Education, was invited to hold a break-out workshop at the CPF.     Milly, currently at Makerere University, was a speaker on the issue of “Better Opportunities for Girls and Women at all levels”.   She shared the CCL platform with a head teacher from southern Uganda and two representatives from the Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE).

Whilst in Kampala the CCLAA Uganda Chapter was launched at Nabisunsa Girls Secondary School, Jinja.   Attended by over 60 head teachers, former scholars, current scholars and interested individuals, it has become necessary to create an associate membership for those who wish to be involved but were not formerly sponsored by the CCLEF.

Milly now heads up the Committee of the CCLAA Uganda Chapter, supported by members from across Uganda.   Committee member Sonia, organised a tea party for the current CCLEF students to meet in the Kabale district.  She is currently on teacher training at her former school.

CCL – the next generation:  Ladi helped draw up the Guidelines for establishing CCLAA Chapters which it is hoped the Uganda Chapter will adopt.   Meanwhile, CCL member, Ester, will be the link person between London and Uganda.

The number of women joining the CCLAA continues to grow.   The link person for Bangladesh is Zakia, Geraldine with Cameroon, June with The Gambia, Ladi with Nigeria, Beatrice W with Sierra Leone.   We are also in contact with members in Belize, Pakistan, St Vincent & the Grenadines, and the Solomon Islands.   We hope to re-establish contact with former scholars across the Commonwealth through our Vice Presidents and members.

Launch of Joint Newsletter “Amity” – Friendship

Former Education Fund Secretary, Sheila (known to many as Aunty Sheila), is Editor of “Amity” the joint newsletter of the CCLAA and the CCLEF.  It is hoped that members of the Association will write some of the articles.

To contact the CCLAA Coordinator, Jenny, please email:   ccl.aa@btinternet.com.