Why Chevening Scholar Sekulu is giving back as a student fundraiser
For Sekulu Nyekha, choosing to study at Birkbeck was about finding a programme that aligned with her ambitions and a university community where she could thrive.
Originally from India and currently studying MSc Social Research, Sekulu came to London as a Chevening Scholar. Her goal was clear: to deepen her understanding of research and build the skills needed to take her career in a new direction.
Having worked in project-based roles where research formed part of her responsibilities, Sekulu wanted formal academic training to strengthen her practical experience. She said: “I really wanted to learn research methods and methodologies, to ground myself theoretically on how research is to be done, because I got myself into the research work without necessarily having like the right educational or background or experience.”
After researching programmes across the UK, Birkbeck stood out, not just for its MSc Social Research course, but for its distinctive student community and central London location.
She said: “I was nervous about going back to education, but I felt like Birkbeck was what I needed and wanted. I have had so many times where I just sit in the class and I listen to the discussions and I realise that I made such a great decision coming here. So many people are also navigating careers and using education as a way of transitioning to a different space or a different field, which I find really interesting.”
Moving to London as an international student can be daunting, but Sekulu says the transition has been made easier by the friendships and support network she quickly built. As a Chevening Scholar, Sekulu has found a sense of community among fellow scholarship recipients at Birkbeck. Living close to campus in Bloomsbury has also helped her make the most of London life and academic resources nearby.
Sekulu also joined Birkbeck’s Global Buddies programme, which connects alumni with international students who hold an offer to study at Birkbeck, and was paired with Amrita Hurley (MA Medicine, Science and Society, 2003) Amrita helped signpost Sekulu to practical information, such as signing up to a GP, and they quickly realised that they had a connection rooted in shared values. Both have worked in sexual and reproductive health, shaped by a commitment to tackling health inequalities. As Global Buddies is a one-term programme, both were reluctant to let the relationship end. Sekulu then applied to Mentoring Pathways, Birkbeck’s year-long mentoring programme focused on career development, and requested to continue working with Amrita.
“I really value the conversations I have with Amrita,” Sekulu said. “I can ask her questions about my work without giving context because she gets it. She’s also been introducing me to different roles and how my skills and interests align with different roles. Those conversations have been helping me not just stick to this one career path that I’ve been looking at, but to look at other opportunities.”
Alongside her studies, Sekulu has fully embraced student life, working as a student ambassador and now as a telephone fundraiser. For her, the fundraising role offers both a professional challenge and a chance to give back.
She said: “As someone who is on a full scholarship, I know the impact it creates, and I want to remind people about the impact they can have. It’s thanks to these contributions that make students like us able to come to university and finish our education.”
Looking ahead, Sekulu plans to return to India after graduating, where she hopes to continue building a career at the intersection of research, health and storytelling. She said: “I really want to kind of explore more research-intensive projects at the intersection of storytelling.”
Her previous work in reproductive health continues to shape her ambitions, and her dissertation is already exploring questions around indigenous health, policy and public health strategy in India. But her Birkbeck experience has also opened unexpected doors: “I’m even starting to think maybe fundraising could be something I could explore because since I’m passionate about storytelling, I think fundraising is also about telling the right stories.”
For Sekulu, the experience has been about far more than academic study. She said: “I’m taking a lot from this experience and a lot of friends. I’m very grateful.”