Shaniek Parks : Jamaican Ambassadorial Scholar in Leeds, UK

To further international understanding and goodwill is one reason Shaniek Parks will travel to Leeds in September. She will be doing an MA in International Communications at the University of Leeds, this will allow her to become more informed about the impact of communication on global affairs, people and their reactions towards societal issues. She is intrigued by the area of Communications as a developmental tool and its impact on the ways people analyze and relate to situations.

Shaniek graduated from the University of the West Indies, Mona in 2008. While at UWI, she majored in Media and Communication and minored in International Relations. She was a member of the UWI Honour Roll and the received the JN/CARIMAC Media Award for excellence in Radio Production. She had the opportunity of interning with two influential development organizations namely; the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office for the Caribbean and the Roving Caregivers Programme in St. Vincent in 2007 and 2008 respectively. These organizations introduced her to a plethora of opportunities for societal development and strengthened her passion of making the world a better place through service.

Volunteerism has always been an important part of Shaniek’s life. This appreciation for volunteerism dates back to her time at the Mount Alvernia High School where students had to complete a quota for community service. She was later given the opportunity to be instrumental in the planning and execution of the Protect. Stop. Seek. Talk (P.S.S.T) Campaign Against Physical Abuse in the inner- city community of Torrington Park, Kingston while attending the UWI. The campaign ran from February-April 2008 and featured various workshops and follow- up sessions culminating in a Blue Ribbon Drive at Crossroads, Kingston.

At present, Shaniek is member of the Rotaract Club of Montego Bay and a member of the United Nations Online Volunteers (UNV). In her capacity as an online volunteer she has assisted with the formulation of proposals for organizations in various parts of the world. However, her focus has been on assisting organizations in Cameroon, Africa namely the Rural Development Corporation (RUDEC) and the Goodness and Mercy Mission.

Shaniek is excited to be representing District 7020 and the Rotary Club of Montego Bay in Leeds. She is honoured to be joining Rotary’s International Family as an Ambassadorial Scholar and will do well in representing Rotary and its values while in the United Kingdom.

The Rotary Club of Montego Bay wishes her all the best while in the United Kingdom.

Shaniek plans to blog about this new and exciting chapter of her life in Leeds. Go visit her blog at http://adventuresofajamaicanrotaryscholar.blogspot.com/ and leave her a note of encouragement or two!