Scholar in the spotlight – Jamesly Pierre

Jamesly Pierre grew up in Haiti in the Caribbean and is studying an MSc in Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Cardiff University. He’s one of only two Chevening Scholars representing Haiti this year and the first member of his family to study for a master’s degree.

Jamesly is keen to explore the UK and make the most of the opportunities that come his way in the year ahead. He’s looking forward to volunteering in the Cardiff area, demonstrating his cooking skills for other students in Cardiff University’s halls of residence, and watching Premier League football!

Jamesly kindly gave Chevening five minutes of his time at Orientation to tell us a little bit about himself…
 

Chevening: Hi Jamesly, congratulations on being selected for a Chevening Scholarship, and congratulations on becoming the first member of your family to study for a master’s degree. How do you and your family feel that you will be representing Haiti in the UK?

Jamesly: It’s an endless joy… I’ll never forget the day when my younger sister said to me: ‘I always knew you’d end up achieving your dream.’

Representing Haiti through the Chevening Scholarships programme is also a commitment; a commitment to pass my master’s degree, to create space for future Haitian Cheveners, and to make Haiti proud.

Chevening: How are you settling into life in the UK?

JP: It’s a phased process. Step by step I’m getting used to it. Even if I’m wondering if I will be able to cope with the weather!

Tell us about what you were doing in your country before you came to the UK:

Before I came to the UK, I was working as Regional Coordinator for a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project called Konbit Haiti. It’s a project which aims to provide capacity-building services for local organisations in Haiti. As the coordinator in northern Haiti, I helped map local organisations, provided assistance in assessing their capacity, and organised relevant training for business leaders and employees.

For example, some companies had problems with their administrative systems which prevented them from being able to receive funds from international agencies like the the World Bank and USAID. Hopefully our work changed this, enabling them to receive funds from international development agencies.

Why is the course that you are studying in the UK important to you?

Through my experience working with a consulting firm in Haiti, and assisting in providing capacity-building services for local organisations in Haiti, I have realized that there is a lack of structure and a huge gap which needs to be bridged. To do this I needed to study a relevant course that would provide me with the necessary skills and experience to address this problem when I get back home.

Why did you apply for a Chevening Scholarship?

I have always dreamed of studying in one of the world’s top universities, a place that would help me expand my knowledge in a way that would not be possible in my home country.

More than any other scholarship, Chevening is the one that could make this dream come true. Chevening is also a rare scholarship scheme as it has a global network of over 46,000 Chevening Alumni. That being said, I could not choose any better.

What are you hoping to do or achieve during your time in the UK?

I’d like to explore the United Kingdom, make new friends, and visit as many cities as possible. I also wish to network with people who share the same interests as me (like business development and entrepreneurship).

Tell us about your hobbies and interests outside of studying:

I like watching my favourite British TV show, Dragons’ Den on BBC, where entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to rich investors in a quest to gain funding for their businesses. I also like playing football and watching matches from the Premier League (UK) and La Liga (Spain) with my friends. I’m supporting Manchester City!

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself:

I’ve represented Haiti on three different programmes in the last two years: the WISE Learners’ Voice programme (Qatar and Spain), Libra Groups Internships (USA), and now the Chevening Scholarships programme.

What tips would you give to future Chevening applicants from Haiti or other countries?

There are a lot of tips that I could share with future applicants, but the most relevant advice that I could provide is to encourage them not to choose their courses randomly. Chevening is a life changing opportunity, so take advantage of it to study a course that would equip you to make a difference in your home country.

Where do you hope to be in 20 years’ time?

In 20 years I see myself as a business owner and consultant who will have helped many others to create the business of their dreams, or helped others to develop their small business into a much larger venture. In a country like Haiti, entrepreneurship is an important skill that can improve the lives of thousands.