The article highlights the professional achievements of three notable individuals from the Kurdistan Region: Sawen Hawre Yasin, Peshavan Saadi, and Salah Essa. Each of them has made significant contributions in their respective fields—psychology, humanitarian work, and linguistics—while also being recipients of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which supported their advanced studies in the UK. This scholarship not only facilitated their education but also empowered them to bring valuable skills and knowledge back to their communities, furthering progress in mental health, humanitarian aid, and language education.
The Chevening Scholarship is a highly competitive and esteemed global program funded by the UK government. It provides fully funded scholarships for individuals from around the world to pursue a one-year master’s degree in the UK. The scholarship seeks to support future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential. In addition to covering tuition, it offers a monthly stipend, travel costs, and various other allowances, making it a valuable opportunity for professionals looking to further their education and contribute to positive change in their home countries.
Sawen Hawre Yasin
Sawen Hawre Yasin is a clinical psychologist with an MSc in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Wales, UK. She received the esteemed Chevening Scholarship for the 2020-2021 academic year. Sawen has been com- mitted to delivering mental health and psychosocial support services to those in need in the Kurdistan Region. In addition, she is currently engaged in mental health research, further advancing the field.
Peshavan Saadi
Peshavan Saadi is a Program Officer with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Erbil. A recipient of the Chevening Scholarship in 2018-2019, he earned his MBA from the Uni- versity of Huddersfield in the UK. Peshavan has dedicated his career to supporting refugees and internally displaced persons in Kurdistan and Iraq, while also contributing to humanitarian efforts at the UN Headquarters in New York and in the UN’s offices in Afghanistan and Sudan.
Salah Essa
Salah Essa is an English language instructor at Amideast, a sociolinguist, and a former translator and interpreter. He was awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship in 2020-2021 to pursue an MA in Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London. Salah is also a recipient of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, which he is using to pursue a Ph.D. in Sociolinguistics at the University of Bern.