Eighteen students from Sub-Saharan Africa make commitment to help their communities with agricultural development charity
Recipients of the Marshal Papworth Fund scholarship programme celebrated coming to the end of their studies at a special student certificate presentation at Haddon Church in Cambridgeshire, near to the home of the scholarship, the Marshal Papworth Fund, which is managed by the East of England Agricultural Society, Peterborough.
The 18 scholars, comprising 11 sustainable agriculture short-course scholars and seven Masters scholars, were joined by a congregation of over 50, including supporters of the Marshal Papworth Fund, Revd. Geoff Dodgson and Stuart Roberts, Vice Chairman of the East of England Agricultural Society.
Chairman of the Marshal Papworth Fund, Tom Arthey, commended the students: “You have all made a serious commitment to working with us on our vision to help communities in developing countries in ‘growing out of hunger’ by leaving your families and loved ones at home, for 10 weeks for our short scholars and a year for our Masters students, to take up this opportunity to improve your knowledge.
Tom Arthey with Oluwabunmi Oluwatosin Adeuyi from Nigeria, one of this year’s short course scholars
“Knowledge is such a powerful tool but means nothing unless you share it. We know you will be brimming with ideas but don’t try and change everything at once but pick one thing you can positively impact on day one and the ripple effect will look after the rest.”
Tom Arthey continued to thank the universities that are partnered with the Marshal Papworth Fund, particularly Harper Adams University, hosts of the intensive 10-week short course in sustainable agriculture, which is about to conclude. “Thank you to Mitch Crook and Ed Mashitise at Harper Adams University in particular who work so hard to deliver the course; this is a great partnership built on our shared aim of helping developing countries through shared knowledge.”
Revd. Geoff Dodgson and Stuart Roberts presented the students with their Marshal Papworth Fund certificates, with Mr Roberts praising the scholarship programme: “This is an outstanding programme of work. These occasions remind me how small our world is, how inequal it is, and how conflicted it is. However, what we see on occasions like this is that we all inhabit the same global village – you are doing the same things on your farms as I do on mine, we all want to produce food in a more sustainable way. Agriculture is a community, and you will always be a member of our rural community.”
L-R Revd. Geoff Dodgson, Aisha Olumentiola Adebayo, Stuart Roberts
Revd. Geoff Dodgson praised the students’ sense of hope, saying: “You students give us a great cause for hope despite the situation in your home countries. We know from past scholars of the Marshal Papworth Fund that improving lives through agriculture is possible, and your training here is just the start. I pray you go home safely and use your new knowledge for the good of all.”
Following the special presentation ceremony, it was a two-day whistle-stop tour of local farms, Abbots Ripton Estate near Huntingdon, and Hill Farm, Chesterton, near Peterborough. Bunmi Adeuyi, one of this year’s sustainable agriculture course students, shared some of their learnings from the Abbots Ripton Estate visit: “We received a detailed explanation of the farm’s diversified investments and its evolution from a small operation to a thriving commercial enterprise, which was truly enlightening. Visiting Abbots Ripton Hall and having a tour of the gardens led by Gavin, their head gardener, the Elm pub, and the location for the music festival The Secret Garden Party showcased the breadth of opportunities in agricultural diversification and inspired us greatly”.
“We deeply appreciate the time you spent with us, sharing your wealth of knowledge and experiences. Your generosity and dedication have profoundly influenced our understanding and perception of agricultural investments.”
Students at Abbots Ripton Estate
Lesley Cundy, Abbots Ripton Estate, said: “Hosting the students from Marshall Papworth was an honour, they were so enthusiastic with their questions and despite it being a long day, they were respectful to a pleasure to have on our Estate. Your groups are very much welcome back, it was both inspiring to hear their stories and be a part of their own learning journey. A great day was had by all.”
The Marshal Papworth Fund provides scholarships for students from developing countries, including year-long Masters MSc scholarships to leading UK agricultural universities and colleges, and a bespoke 10-week short course, developed with Harper Adams University. To date, 261 students have been educated at UK agricultural universities as part of the Marshal Papworth Fund scholarship schemes.
