|
A new hope, a new desire for our country
Scholar From Myanmar,
M.A. in International Journalism,
Hong Kong Baptist University
In my country, I worked for nearly three years as an editor at a broadcast media joint-venture with the government. This work experience introduced me to a wide gamut of the industry’s internal workings as well as the importance of translating news from the field, editing, interviewing and broadcasting for television programs.
Since I was a primary school student, I was required to study hard, taking down everything the teachers said and learning it by heart. The students were not encouraged, trained, nor dared to ask questions of that would spark debate. So, we memorized out lessons and all of the things which we learned in the classroom without arguing with the teachers.
The teachers also never asked of themselves or invited from the students any discussions or questions about the validity of their teachings methods. To do well in exams, we just need to write down what the teachers want you to say and we would be assured to pass our exams with flying colors.
My teachers from HKBU encourage the students to try to develop more critical thinking on their written assignments as well as on their presentation by encouraging their opinions. They have the ability to make their own judgments from the opinions in books instead of accepting everything its claims at face value.
In these ways, the University teachers enlighten our opinions, ideas and attitudes. The result is that; after finishing my study in HKBU, I find I have begun to have a different idea of myself. What’s more is that I have renewed hope and desire for our country and our future educational system.
Read this scholars complete story…
The work that’s worth doing in my life
Sokunthy Heng, Cambodia,
M.A. in International Journalism,
Hong Kong Baptist University
Sokunthy is the only graduate from Cambodia who was granted a scholarship from the Kearny Alliance(KA) in 2008 to pursue her one-year Master’s Degree in Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong. Upon her graduation, she was selected to work as an export consultant for the KA in Developing Country Export Assistant Program. She screened for quality suppliers, conducted in-depth interviews and trained her 21 small-scale suppliers how to use the online sales tool offered for free by Global Sources.
Cambodia’s civil-war stretched over 30 years. The war left the country riddled with millions of land mines which has contributed to the disablement and widowing of many and has led to the general impoverishment of the country. The small-scale suppliers that Sokunthy is working with mostly employ those disadvantage groups of people giving them opportunity, hope and meaning in life.
In January 2010 she started the Export Service Center (ESC) in Cambodia. Before stepping into the position, Sokunthy was equipped with a 6-week comprehensive training related to the operation of the ESC provided by the ESC team at the main office in Bali, Indonesia. “She was diligent and fast to grab things in such intensive period. I am confident to let her go on her own,” said Eugene Verspoor, General manager of the ESC.
Born in a Cambodian-Chinese family, Sokunthy said: “Now, I am getting more interested in the social enterprise movement and the fact it directly helps the livelihood of the people. I am ready to give what I have to help my people. This makes my life more meaningful.”
Read this scholars complete story…
Doing good things in our communities
Karen Pham, Vietnam,
M.A. in International Journalism,
Hong Kong Baptist University
Choosing a career path is a big decision, luckily the opportunity to pursue an M.A course in International Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University through Kearny Alliance fellowship blessed me with the precise career I dreamed of.
It has been three years since I started to work as a consultant based in Hanoi for the Kearny Alliance’s Developing Country Export Assistance Program after graduation. I wasn’t covering exciting stories about crime and corruption but rather I interview manufacturers and feature them in a series of Vietnam Sourcing Reports. I helped them master the free marketing services offered on Global Sources online to reach global buyers. The Kearny Alliance started the free program in 2008 with in-kind support of Global Sources in developing countries to create more jobs and alleviate poverty.
Each supplier manufactures their own items and it’s wonderful to learn the process of how they areproduced especially see how handmade products are created. The mid- and small-size companies have their own obstacles in promoting as well as approaching their relevant export markets. Before understanding and talking to them, I spend a lot of time on research and preparation. It’s challenging sometimes but I built relationships with many suppliers and gained unique insights into a myriad of different industries in my country.
One of the most rewarding moments in work is when I receive phone calls or emails from suppliers to say thanks for Kearny Alliance team and Global Sources upon securing real orders from major buyers. That means more people are getting jobs.
I appreciate my choice and what I am doing with the support from Kearny Alliance. I hope new scholars who that join us will find a commitment and appreciation for the value they receive from the opportunity to study and the chance to doing good things for their communities.
Read this scholars complete story…
Thank you, Kearny Alliance!
Thein, Myanmar,
M.A. in International Journalism,
Hong Kong Baptist University
I had a dream of studying abroad since I was 14. However, the chance had not favoured me until I applied for Kearny Alliance's scholarship to attend the Masters of Arts in International Journalism Studies at the Hong Kong Baptist University. At that time, I was a reporter with the Myanmar Times, the only private media which runs in both English and Myanmar.
When I applied for the scholarship program, it was the first time the Kearny Alliance offered the opportunity to Myanmar students. Being selected as one of the first students to attend the program really excited me.
During my studies I had a chance to learn many things from my classmates. We came from different backgrounds, different cultures and different age groups. However, we all had one single goal for the program, to create a close friendship among us. We learned from each other while sharing our knowledge and experience among freely.
After I came back to my country, I accepted a position as an aid worker specializing in communication. Whenever facing new challenges in my current career, I use the combined knowledge from my previous work experience, my time with the Kearny Alliance and what I learned from my studies at HKBU. I have faced ups and downs but in general I have a level of progress in my life which could not have happened without the Kearny Alliance scholarship program. Without Kearny's help, it may have required much more time to materialize my dream of studying abroad. Thus, I really want to say "Thank you Kearny!" for all of you’ve help given me.
Read this scholars complete story…
Gateway to many doors of exciting opportunities
Khiem Vu , Vietnam, M.A. in
International Journalism,
Hong Kong Baptist University
“Vietnamese people have a noted proverb which my parents taught me when I learnt to toddle into this life; that is, ‘when drinking water, remember its source’”, Khiem said, explaining that he could not have developed a meaningful program to help his country if he had not had the opportunity to study in Hong Kong provided by the Kearny Alliance.
Khiem has found his life more meaningful as a result of the scholarship program which offered him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue his Master of Arts in International Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University in 2007. This is the course that he always dreamt of studying; the course that he proudly described as “a gateway to many doors of exciting opportunities.”
After finishing his studies at HKBU in 2008, when the world economy was hit hard by a terrible downturn, without hesitation he decided to return his home country to help Vietnam suppliers improve their export marketing activities and wrote two Vietnam Sourcing Reports about Lacquerware and Indoor Outdoor Furniture to promote these suppliers to global buyers.
Khiem has humbly devoted three years to the vision of Aid through Trade at the centre of the US-based non-profit Kearny Alliance. Anyone outside his family, friends and colleagues would hardly believe this young, simple-looking man is leading a sustainable development program to assist hundreds upon hundreds of small and medium-sized suppliers in Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, India and the Philippines grow their export sales and create jobs for their communities.
“In fact, I consider this job, my opportunity, inspiration and passion – not any undertaking or repayment at all.”
“I am so fortunate that I can work with a great team with different background and nationalities. They support me a lot and are dedicated to this Program. Their experience in the field is plenty and worth learning.”
Click to read more about this scholars story
Sparking hope for a nation
Chansok Lay, Cambodia
M.A. in International Journalism,
Hong Kong Baptist University
"I have always dreamt of becoming a very successful businessman and then a politician. And I knew even then that the scholarship that Kearny Alliance offered is a golden opportunity for me to study business and finance, my favorite fields in journalism." At present, Chansok works in Global Sources as Copy Editor of the Consumer Products Group in our Shenzhen office.
While in his senior year at the Department of Media and Communication in Cambodia, Chansok was on his way to the library when one of his professors asked him if he was interested to apply for a scholarship opportunity in journalism in Hong Kong.
Because the deadline was the following day, he had to immediately file his application while juggling his studies and his part-time work as a reporter for Voice of America. Through good fortune, he was chosen to receive the stipend for the coming academic year.
"Honestly speaking, I had never thought of studying in Hong Kong before I was told about this amazing opportunity. It was just a coincidence that I bumped into it," Chansok shared with Exchange through an e-mail interview.
"However, as it is my wish to differentiate myself from others, I decided to grasp the chance since not many Cambodians have studied in Hong Kong. Moreover, since Hong Kong is a business hub, studying there would give me a good chance to expose myself to the business world.
When asked what motivates him, Chansok said: "My aspiration mainly originated from seeing the poverty in my country. I think that working in the field of journalism would bring many changes in the ways of how my fellow Cambodians think. I believe that only when we change our attitude can our country develop at a faster pace. Through my reporting experiences, I hope I can learn a lot about society, business and finance before I put another step into the business field.
"Being a businessperson would not only help provide employment to my people but also contribute to the economic growth of the country as a whole. My role model is Li Ka Shing, a business tycoon in Hong Kong. He inspires me to be a successful businessperson, and I am quite sure that I will achieve this dream.“
"Without the stipend support, I would not have had the opportunity to pursue my masters' degree in Hong Kong," he said. "Being a Kearny Alliance scholar provided me pools of knowledge. The experience has enriched my reporting skills and knowledge. Also, it taught me to be more independent."
Click to read more about this scholars story
[TOP]
|