On behalf of the Beit Trust, Beit Scholar and current member of the Zambian Scholarship Board, Dr. Samuel Munjita (MSc in Infectious Disease, University of Edinburgh, 2012) attended the 2025 Oxbridge Alumni Network Send Off Party, held in August 2025 at the Lenchwe Trust Gallery in Lusaka.  

This event was kindly hosted by Oxbridge Alumni Network Zambia, under the leadership of Dr. Stephen Manchishi (University of Zambia) and Prof Melissa Kapulu.  The Oxbridge Alumni Network plays a significant role in mentoring scholarship applicants. Activities include both group sessions and one-on-one guidance, where former scholars coach prospective applicants through scholarship application processes until submission.

Further, the event created a platform for interaction between scholars, scholarship bodies, alumni, and diplomatic representatives, with a strong emphasis on mentoring and reinforcing the importance of returning skills and expertise to Zambia.  It was well attended, with participation from the Deputy British High Commissioner to Zambia who delivered a keynote reminding scholars of the opportunities and responsibilities associated with their studies.  The Representative from HELSB (Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board) was also in attendance, reminding their scholars of the requirement to return after studies and the importance of repaying undergraduate loans to sustain the national loan scheme.

The occasion brought together 24 scholars bound for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, including three recipients of the Beit Trust Scholarship: Pamela Kalimukwa – undertaking an MSc in Data Science at University of Glasgow, Susan Kabwe – undertaking an MSc in Public Health at University of Glasgow and Abraham Sakala – undertaking a MSc in Environmental Science at University of Leeds.   Scholars from the Rhodes, Commonwealth and Chevening scholarships and distinguished alumni from all were also present.

During Dr Munjita’s address to the gathering, he highlighted the legacy and impact of the Beit Trust Scholarship across Southern Africa.  He emphasized the Trust’s ongoing humanitarian and development contributions in health, education, and infrastructure and the responsibility of Beit scholars not only to complete their academic programs but also to return with practical, applicable skills that will make them stand out in Zambia’s development agenda.  A goodwill message from the Beit Trust Secretary to the Trustees, Sir Andrew Pocock, was passed on to the gathering.  The speech was well received and ended with a resounding round of applause, reflecting the scholars’ and alumni’s appreciation of the Beit Trust’s contributions.

The 2025 Oxbridge Alumni Network Send-Off Party was a successful event that not only celebrated the achievements of incoming scholars but also highlighted the ecosystem of support available to them. Representing the Beit Trust provided an opportunity to showcase the Trust’s pivotal role in education and development across Southern Africa, to encourage the scholars to make the most of their opportunity, and to build collaborative relationships with other scholarship bodies. The Trust’s visibility at such events strengthens its reputation as a leading enabler of human capital development in Zambia and the region.