By Lucy Caulkett-
330 Chinese graduates who attended British Universities have made personal donations of £38,000 to buy two ventilators for the NHS
A total of 78 ventilators have been shipped to the Uk today on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Shanghai to London alongside 76 other ventilators that have been purchased by the British Government alongside PPE for NHS Hospitals.The former students were all part of the UK Government’s Chevening programme which enables future global leaders to study in the UK and create positive change around the world.
Chevening is the UK government’s international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The awards programme offers two types of award – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships, the recipients of which are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world. It also offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK.
Their joint letter reads:
”Dear British people, 2020 saw a pandemic of COVID-19 pestering the whole world with a magnitude unseen before. We find that the United Kingdom, despite its high-quality health-care system, also suffers greatly from the pandemic, with most hospitals and health institutions coping badly and in dire need of medical supplies.
As the alumni of Chevening Scholars who have a fond memory of studying in UK, we wish to help British people ride out the storm by making our modest contributions. To that end, within one week, 330 Chevening scholars from different cities and various industries joined together, donated 38 thousand pounds, and purchased two sets of ventilators, which will be handed over to Department for Health & Social Care, UK next Monday (27th April 17).
As our motto of being visionary, initiative and exemplary goes, we Chinese Chevening Scholars wish to show our support and care by standing with British people in fighting with the pandemic. We have good faith and wish a full and swift success in our joint effort. Also we wish an early recovery and reunion with family to all suffering from the epidemic!
Long live the friendship between our two countries, and as Queen Elizabeth says in her recent public address: we will join with all nations across the globe in the common endeavour, and we will meet again!
With love from 330 Chinese Chevening Scholar
Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams said:
Thank you to the graduates from the UK Government’s Chevening programme for their fundraising efforts.
In total we have now shipped over 800 ventilators from China and we continue to seek deliveries for more.The donation was coordinated by Chevening alumni Alex Zhang who studied an MBA at Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge in 2008.