Meet Programme Officer – International, Rebekah. Before joining Chevening, Rebekah studied Arabic in Damascus for a year, and taught English as a foreign language in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Name: Rebekah Palmer
Countries: Middle East, Central Asia, West Asia and some countries in South Asia
From: Bristol, UK
Joined the team: September 2016
Which countries have you visited in portfolio?
My first visit to post was in April this year, when I went to Kyrgyzstan to sit on the interview panel there. The visit was a really useful experience, especially being able to see the selection process from post’s perspective, and being part of the interview process myself. I also enjoyed seeing a bit of Bishkek – although the beautiful sunshine turned to rain on my day off!
What is your previous Chevening experience?
I started at Chevening as an assistant on the Programmes team, before becoming a programme officer (PO). As a PO, I worked with the 2015/2016 cohort of scholars, supporting them with their placement and time in the UK, as well as guiding the 2016/2017 scholars through placement. I was responsible for liaising with universities in the Midlands and also King’s College London. I moved across to the International team in September 2016.
What other international experience do you have?
For my undergraduate degree I studied Modern Languages, which gave me the opportunity to study Arabic in Damascus, Syria for a year, and to work in France. After graduating I taught English as a foreign language in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. I’ve also worked in an international context in the UK, including at a small organisation providing support to refugees and asylum seekers in London.
What is your favourite food that you have consumed on a visit to a foreign country?
All Syrian food. Shakrieh (lamb with yoghurt sauce and rice) is a particular favourite, but it’s all amazing. I am also capable of eating Syrian sweets in much bigger quantities than they should ever be eaten!
What is your favourite place in the UK and why?
My home city, Bristol. There’s always a lot going on, but the city also has a lot of character. There are some iconic landmarks, like the Suspension Bridge, and hosts Europe’s biggest hot air balloon fiesta every year. Bristol has also been voted the best place to live in the UK, so I’m not just being biased!
Which countries would you like to visit that aren’t in your portfolio?
I’d love to visit Madagascar – the nature looks so beautiful!
The Americas Directorate has recently been very busy hosting a series of roundtable discussions for various Latin American scholar groups. I have been lucky enough to attend a few of these, including one for Argentinian scholars, another for Central American and Cuban scholars, and another for a large group of Brazilian scholars. The discussions largely focused on […]
Two Chevening officer regional conferences have recently taken place around the globe: the first in South-East Asia and the second in Sub-Saharan Africa. These are the third and fourth regional conferences that have taken place since the initiative was first launched in 2015. Both conferences were organised and attended by members of the International team […]
In August, I travelled to Nigeria and Ghana to support posts’ marketing campaigns. Read about my experience travelling around these countries and answering questions from potential Chevening Scholars. Nigeria My first stop was Abuja, where the timing of my visit enabled me to attend and present at the second of the Nigerian pre-departure events. Later […]