Country – Kenya

Reading University

Course – MSc Communication for Development

Caroline is single. She attended Kenya Methodist University – Qualification Business administration on marketing major – Degree.

Caroline currently works for the Cereal Growers Association in Kenya as a Marketing and Communications Manager. Her roles and responsibilities are:

• Farmer mobilization for collective action in, lobbying and advocacy
• Organising communication and public information activities for farmers
• Media relations airing farmers issues through the media
• Publishing a farmers magazine aimed at improving agricultural practices
• Stakeholder engagement aimed at maintaining the desired brand reputation for the Cereal Growers Association

Caroline would like to continue working for Cereal Growers Association when she goes home. She would use her newly gained experience and knowledge to set up a stronger lobbying and advocacy unit. Farmers in Kenya are negatively exploited and would like to change that by challenging the current policies and systems through lobbying and advocacy for farmers, especially small-scale farmers.  

Country – Uganda

Reading University

Course – MSc Communication for Development

Vincent is single. He attended Makerere University – Qualification 2017 Bachelor of journalism and communication.

Vincent currently works for Lira Diocese Media Limited as a Radio Presenter. His roles and responsibilities are:

• On air presentation programs include
  • Wa farmer & youth magazine
  • Peacemaker & community concern
• Field visits: The above programmes require collection of field information, i.e. current problems, people’s perception about chosen subject, problem/success stories, youth activities and life style.
• Hosting talk shows relating to agriculture, peace and business
• Organising community dialogue program discussing land & community disputes, domestic violence and poverty.
• Supporting on-line publication by writing stories and news articles.

On returning home, Vincent would like to collaborate with senior lecturers from different learning institutions in Uganda to conduct evidence-based research to influence policy change for smallholder farmers to practice sustainable agriculture.

Country – Vietnam

Reading University

Course – MSc Climate change and Development

Tien is single. She attended Can Tho University in Vietnam – Qualification 2015 BSc law.

Tien currently works for Tra Vinh University in Vietnam as a Field Coordinator. Since 2017, Tra Vinh University became a partner of World Bank to implement a project named ‘Feasibility study of improving water use efficiency in irrigated rice through deployment of smart sensors’. Her roles and responsibilities are:

• Propose and track detailed implementation plans for each phase
• Coordinate and support device instillation and troubleshooting
• Develop crop diary and data entry format, monitor farmers crop diary record, enter and manage a raw database
• Organise events, such as training, workshops, exposure visits and donor visits
• Undertake regular visits to the field to prepare reports to a project manager to update implementation progress identify arising problems and potential bottlenecks and propose appropriate solutions accordingly and the need for changes in project implementation plans.

Tien is forming some individual ideas on dealing with environmental issues, for example mobile exhibition on water conservation and climate change around high schools. Beyond the course and going home, she wants to apply what she has learnt to improve those ideas, complete proposals, look for grants in order to realise those ideas.

Country – Malawi

Reading University

Course – MSc Communication for Development

Charles is single. He attended Blantyre international University – Qualification 2015 Bachelor of Art Degree in Journalism.

Charles currently works for World Vision Malawi as a Development Communications Manager. His roles and responsibilities are:

• Train farmer clubs in packaging and branding of farm produce
• Facilitate exposure and learning visits for local farmers
• On-job coaching for development facilitators and lead farmers in best practice documentation
• Monitoring project activities and writing most significant change stories
• Organise farmer learning visits and participation of national affairs

Charles would like to do an internship for a media organisation when he returns home, that is dedicated to sharing agricultural innovations among small holders.

Country – Kenya

Reading University

Course – MSc Agriculture and Development

Daniel has a family. He attended Egerton University – 2006 Qualification Bachelor of Education degree in Botany, zoology, chemistry and education.

Daniel currently works for Bukura Agricultural College in Kenya as a Senior Lecturer. His roles and responsibilities are:

• Input in curriculum development and review
• Preparation of teaching and practical manuals
• Delivering in lectures in his subject areas of specialization
• Supervision of practical demonstration by technologies
• Current coordinator of mushroom production course
• Member of botanic garden and research committee at department level

His vision is to start a mushroom tissue culture laboratory to meet the high demand for mushroom seed spawn in Kenya, whilst offering extension services to farmers and upcoming agribusiness entrepreneurs willing to engage in mushroom farming.

Country – Zimbabwe

Writtle University College

Course – MSc Crop Production (Horticulture)

Danisa is married and has two children. He attended Gwebi Agricultural College where he obtained a higher national Diploma in Horticultural science 2000-2001, University of South Africa – 2015 Qualification B Tec Horticulture.

Danisa currently works for the Ministry of Higher Education at Harare Polytechnic in Zimbabwe, as a Horticulture Lecturer. His roles and responsibilities are:

• Plan and implement all learning activities
• Review horticultural curriculum for horticultural extension officers, Research on new technologies
• keep student records and supervise all learning activities
• Visit students on industrial attachments for assessment
• Invigilate all learning (coursework and final exams)

Danisa thinks that knowledge and skill transfer is key in development, so will on returning home facilitate training of smallholder farmers through workshops, short learning programmes and exhibits. His extension officers will be enabled through a review of the curriculum.

Country – Botswana

Harper Adams University

Course – MSc Integrated Pest Management

Onalenna has a son. She attended University of Botswana – 2012 Qualification – BSc in Agriculture & Post graduate diploma in Education.

Onalenna is self-employed and works in the South East District of Botswana as a Temporary Assistant Teacher. Her roles and responsibilities are:

• Provide technical advisory services to small hold farmers
• Provide Financial advisory services to young aspiring farmers applying for government funds
• Carry our market research assessments and linkages
• Advise on post-harvest pest management strategies
• Help develop integrated pest management  strategies

Country – Kenya

Cranfield University

Course – MSc Environmental Water Management

Pauline is single. She attended the South Eastern University in Kenya – 2017 Qualification BSc Hydrology and Water Resources management. She is currently working for International Organisation in Turkana, Kenya as an Intern Hydrologist. Her role and responsibilities are:

• Carrying out flow measurements to come up with a conceptual water balance model
• Conducting bathymetry surveys to determine sedimentation rate on chosen dams
• Carrying hydro census survey for all irrigation schemes and for all the boreholes drilled by the company I worked for
•  Routine water quality analysis for both physio-chemical and biological parameters
• Routine boreholes monitoring through installation, download and interpretation of data from data loggers/trolls
• Supervision of community water projects and drilling exercises

Pauline is a true patriot and believes her country has a lot of untapped potential; therefore, she will immediately contribute by advising her pastoral community to adopt the alternative livelihoods available to arrest food security and their living standards. She will encourage small scales farmers in her village to adopt modern farming methods and go drought resilient plants.

Country – Uganda

Cranfield University

Course – MSc Water and Sanitation for Development

Joan is single. She attended Gulu University – 2016 Qualification BSc Bio systems engineering

Joan is working for a Non-government organisation – Rhino Camp refugee settlement – Arua (Uganda) as a Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) officer. Her roles and responsibilities are:

• Provide technical support to water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) assistants
• Prepare WASH weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports
• Initiate development of project concepts and proposals
• Ensure proper management of grants, through budget control
• Monitor and evaluate performance of WASH projects

Joan hopes on returning home after studies she hopes to propose and start a project targeting safe water and sanitation provision in slums and hard to reach areas like refugee camps. She will work in partnership with agencies with the same vision, like the ministry of water and environment.

Rev Joshua is a Priest and Executive Director for Kaveri Kala Manram (KKM), based in the North of Sri Lanka is a not for profit multi-faith Cultural and Humanitarian organisation founded in 2002, to help rehabilitate the people in the war affected communities of the Vanni Region of the North, who were left demoralised and destitute by 3 decades of civil war.

His roles and responsibilities are:

• Executive director to lead this organization
• Lead the project team & give training for them
• Writing project proposal & project completion report.
• Give training to farmers on organic farming products & animal raring
• Coordinating all projects of this organization

On returning home Rev Joshua has a dream to establish organic farming & marketing network for Sri Lankan farmers to export their product all over the world. To achieve his dream, he wishes to learn more about organic new technologies & global organic marketing system.

Morie attended the National School of Hygiene, University of Sierra Leone – 1993. Qualification Diploma in Public Health

Moria is currently working for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) since 2008 in various roles. His current position is WASH Coordinator, Sierra Leone & Liberia. His roles and responsibilities are:

• Overall leadership of the WASH sector of care international in Sierra Leone and Liberia including management and technical supervision
• Ensure programme design and implementation of WASH programmes including Ebola response & recovery
• Performance management of staff , partners including capacity building
• Submission of timely WASH technical reports for both internal (CARE) and external (Donor) consumption
• Accountability for programme budgets including monthly budget reviews, variance explanations and recommendations for informal management decision making

Upon completion of his MSc Moria would want to lead advocacy efforts for WASH by enlisting with relevant coalitions that would lobby the government to prioritize WASH and make realistic budget allocations to this sector. He will also offer his services to learning institutions to reposition WASH courses in the curriculum and avail himself for the technical assistance and support.

Shu Zhan attended University of Putra in Malaysia 2008 Qualification – Bachelor of Veterinary science degree.

Shu Zhan is currently working as a veterinary officer for the Department of veterinary services in Malaysia. Her job involves:

• Involvement in regulation and control of animals in line with the health & welfare legislation
• Monitor and enforce client compliance according to the state veterinary rules & regulations
• Control & eradicate animal diseases, conducting surveillance and disease investigation
• Perform health check and clinical works on various types of animals

On completing her course she would like to improve and assimilate ideas and knowledge in reproduction aspect in local indigenous animals to improve genetic selection. She would like to supervise women to lead and perform some extension programmes in ruminants. Shu would also like to come out with ideas where less energy is needed to perform husbandry activities.