Scholarship / Leadership is a quality that has always been present in my life. Chevening. [3]

Essay for the Chevening Scholarship - Leadership

Leadership is a quality that has always been present in my life. Both of my parents are pastors at my church, and my older sisters are prominent figures as well. Their lives are an example of morality and Cristian values that people consider worthy to follow. This has led me to believe that leadership is only accomplished by example and the improvement of our society.

For almost five years I have been involved with an organization that works for the betterment of people in poverty, sexual prevention, and organic feminine hygiene. My purpose of working here is to help as many people as I possibly can, and a way to accomplish this mission is by getting others involved.

Last year I was in charge of coordinating a campaign to raise money for the communities in the Andes of Perú, who were being stricken by extreme low weather. This was my first time being in charge of an event of that magnitude.

Soon I learned that most people won't donate time and resources to something that won't profit them, but despite the inconveniences, my team and I manage to surpass our expectations. It required a lot of work and an excellent communication system, which I consider to be one of the top skills a leader could have, that consisted of benefit dinners, social media campaigns, and public relationships.

At the time I was set to travel to the first community, I was told we were going accompanied by two members of one of our sponsors, which were two women above the age of 40. This was their first trip to the Andes, which is at five thousand meters above sea level. It's safe to say, it wouldn't be an easy trip for them.

When we were at first community, the night came along with freezing cold, and we were set to sleep on the floor of an old shack, the two newest members insisted we should go back to the cars and go ahead to the city, this was impossible since we were 6 hours away and there was no clear route.

I explained how difficult it would be for us to go back, so I took part of the quilts we were going to donate, accommodate them on the floor and prepare "rustic" beds for the voluntaries. It was a freezing night, with no electricity or water; nonetheless, I tried my best to comfort my team until everyone fell asleep. That night, I took it upon myself to ensure they would be safe and warm, which kept me awake the entirety of the time.

This is one of the times I have felt I have embodied what it means to be a good leader, since helping those in need is the best influence one can project to their community.

I believe the Chevening scholarship will help me boost my potential and will challenge my abilities to promote real change in my country, through the learning of new communicational skills.

Scholarship / My network include several politicians; members of Congress and ministers, as well as public figures [3]

Networking essay - Chevening scholarship

Over the past year, I have been working at the Congress of the Republic of Peru, as a press assistant. This experience has allowed me to meet several politicians, including members of Congress and ministers, as well as renowned public figures in my country.

Last year, before the beginning of school year, I managed to contact a congresswoman from the region of Iquitos, the jungle of Peru, to help the social work organization I belong to, with her help we planned a benefit dinner to raise awareness and funds for the children in need.

During my time as a volunteer at the Ravi Zacharias International Ministry (RZIM), I managed to build a substantial network of academics in diverse fields, including philosophers, scientists, and theologists. Last year, I succeeded to set up a meeting between the Director of the Latin American RZIM, with the President of the Commission of Production from the Congress. The result of this encounter concluded in an event about the "Anticorruption Politics: the Hong Kong model," that took place at the Parliament Palace of Peru, with the former Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong and Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, as lead speaker.

Outside of my professional field, I have also managed to develop a good network of friends from all over the world. An example would be a couple I met several years ago, who are now the directors of a school in China, they have also sent several donations to the charity organization that I belong. Likewise, friends in Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have sent both donations and volunteers to help.

Another example of my networking skills takes place in 2016. A Britain Indian girl contacted me through a friend in London. She was coming to Peru to live for a while even though she knew no one. I wanted to help, so I gave her a room to stay at my house. I learned she was a First Class graduate of Film and Theory, and me being a graduate of Communications with a minor in Advertising, we quickly formed a partnership and started doing business together. She eventually went back to London, but the friendship, as well as the professional relationship, has maintained.

If I become a Chevening Scholar, is my goal to cultivate empowering relationships with other students as well as professors in my university of choice, that will allow me to develop a more enriching perspective of the needs and solutions for the betterment of my country.