Emma Jones - awarded a Rotary Global Scholarship !

Emma is now in Geneva studying her two year Master's Degree at the Graduate Institute


Photos are of Emma with her Rotary Host in Uganda Past District Governor Peace Taremwa, her trip to Tanzania in 2017, together with her recent trip to Uganda, and in Geneva 2022/24.

HOW EMMA'S JOURNEY IS PROGRESSING

In 2022, following a successful application for a Rotary Global Scholarship, Emma Jones, from Widnes, was awarded funding to begin a 2 year Master’s Degree in International and Development Studies, specialising in Gender, Race and Diversity, at The Graduate Institute Geneva, a highly prestigious institution, which is partnered with Yale and Harvard in USA.  

Such scholarships are awarded with the help of Rotary's own charity Foundation into which members make donations across the globe.  Grants of all types relating to Rotary's seven areas of focus are given out each year.

HOW EMMA FOUND OUT ABOUT ROTARY


Emma’s connection with Widnes Rotary began when she started her first job, at the Ring O'Bells Pub in Widnes, where members used to meet.  Emma, studying for her A levels, was curious and asked what Rotary was.  Then in 2017, Emma, volunteered to work with Raleigh International, and wanted to travel to Tanzania, East Africa to help build toilets and hygiene facilities for young girls.  However, to be able to travel, Emma needed to raise funds and applied to us for a small grant which helped towards her fundraising, enabling her to go.   Emma’s skill set now includes bricklaying and plastering!! 


Emma has gone on to work and volunteer in many places including France, China and the US and her CV is already eye watering.   In 2022, Emma graduated from Nottingham University with a 2:1 in Politics and French and during her studies worked as a Disability Support Worker assisting other students.


ROTARY GLOBAL SCHOLARSHIPS


Aware of Rotary’s seven areas of focus, Emma began to look at Rotary scholarships to study at the Geneva Graduate Institute, one of the most prestigious universities to study international development, which is partnered with Harvard, Yale, the United Nations, the WHO (World Health Organisation), and many other globally significant institutions.  Emma enquired about the Global Grant scholarship with the (then) President, Linda Ord, who supported her throughout the whole application process.  Emma was successful with both her Master’s application and the Rotary International Global Grant Scholarship.  


Emma is now in the final semester of her Master’s programme, and regularly attends Geneva International Rotary and Lausanne International Rotary club meetings.  Her University classes include Social Finance for Sustainable Development, Gender, Race and Diversity, Global Issues and Perspectives, History and Development, Identity and Conflict in Contemporary Africa, Education in Complex Environments, Statistics, and Advanced Quantitative Methods.  She also completed a six month Applied Research Project on “The Impact of Sanctions upon Female Entrepreneurs in Iran”. 


Emma was successful in getting a highly competitive internship at the biggest banks in Switzerland (Credit Suisse and UBS) in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is Co-President of the Geneva Impact Investing Association, and is a research assistant for one of her professors on a “Gender Lens Investing” project.


VISIT TO UGANDA - FEBRUARY 2024

Emma chose Rotary International as her Thesis topic, having researched many different development institutions, and recognising that Rotary was mostly absent from literature, despite being so active globally in development projects.  Interested in philanthropy, gender, and education, Emma, with guidance from Rotary HQ, chose Uganda to use as her case study.  With the help of Rotary members, Emma visited Uganda in January and February 2024, following a short time in Ghana, where she was hosted by Rotarians.  Past District Governor of District 9214, Peace Taremwa, was extremely supportive and helpful. With his guidance, she was able to complete 35 interviews, attend over 15 fellowship meetings, and spend a lot of time engaging with Rotarians in both Districts 9213 and 9214.


She learned how active Rotary is in Uganda, and how there are over 60 clubs in Kampala alone. The high level of both philanthropic donations and engagement in projects was what impressed her most. Highlights of her trip were visits to the Rotary Cancer Centre, the Rotary Peace Centre at Makerere University, and attending a “Mega Fellowship” weekend in eastern Uganda.  The main aim of Emma’s research is to situate Rotary International in Uganda as a development agent, with the hope that it sparks more interest and research into Rotary International within the field of development.  She is also looking at the Rotary-USAID WASH partnership, together with gender dynamics.


Emma saw a lot of need in Uganda, visiting a school where primary students learn under a tree due to the school building falling down in a storm, but the school not having the money to re-build. She also visited homes for children with disabilities, where the facilities were extremely poor, and the children did not even have any shoes. 


THE FUTURE


Emma plans to go back to Uganda to support projects after she graduates later this year (2024).  Longer term, Emma wants to continue in the field of international development, especially working in Sub-Saharan Africa on education and gender equality projects for international organisations, Non Government Organisations, and philanthropic foundations. She also will definitely become a Rotarian once she has graduated!


WIDNES ROTARY VISITS TO GENEVA


To lend their support to Emma, current and Past Presidents Frances Atherton and Linda Ord travelled to Geneva to attend two Rotary Club meetings, firstly Geneva International, where Emma gave a presentation alongside three other Global Grant Students, Katie and Johanna from the US and Rio from Japan. Emma, Frances and Linda then travelled to Lausanne International Rotary club, Emma’s host club.  

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Emma is now in Geneva studying her two year Master's Degree at the Graduate Institute

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