2009 Fellows Arrive in Edinburgh
During the first week of June 2009, twenty three young leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrived in Scotland to take part in the 2009 John Smith Fellowship Programme. The five-week Programme began with a team-building session facilitated by Paul Jamieson of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). The Fellows engaged in a number of group activities enabling them to get to know each other quickly. During their first weekend in Edinburgh the Fellows were invited to spend time with Scottish families including Baroness Smith and Catherine Smith, Lord McCluskey, Trustee Andrew Wilson, Annie and Alex Kelly, and Professor Susan Deacon.
The 2009 Fellowship group at Bute House
(Photo Courtesy of John McConville)
The Academic Programme began for the Fellows on the morning of Monday 8th June. At the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Trust Advisor Rt Hon George Reid delivered a fascinating lecture to the group in which he discussed the themes of: devolution, the workings of the Scottish ‘people’s parliament’, the importance of civil society, futures thinking, conflict resolution, and the recent European elections.
Trust Advisor Rt Hon George Reid at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
(Photo Courtesy of John McConville)
The new style Academic Programme was launched in Edinburgh. A team of Fellows presented the key problems and challenges they face in the areas being discussed before questioning a series of ‘witnesses’ on their areas of expertise. The interactive sessions produced some very lively exchanges. Emma Gray (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) and Dr Niamh Nic Shuibhne (School of Law, University of Edinburgh) were questioned on the ‘Politics of Human Rights’. Prof. Susan Deacon (Queen Margaret University) and Prof. James Mitchell (University of Strathclyde) took part in a session on ‘Domestic Policy Making and Accountability in Scottish Politics’. On the topic of ‘Devolution and Sovereignty’, John Edward (Head of European Parliament Office) and Professor David McCrone (University of Edinburgh) were questioned by Fellows. Ewan Davis (Chairman, Creative Scotland) and Professor Andrew Scott (University of Edinburgh) took part in a session on ‘It’s the Economy, Stupid’. Whilst in Scotland the 2009 Fellows were given a unique insight into the UK judicial system. They visited the Law Courts with Trustee and former Solicitor General of Scotland, the Rt Hon Lord McCluskey.
Kyrgyz Fellow Tolkunbek Abdygulov and Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson
(Photo Courtesy of John McConville)
The 2009 group were welcomed to the Scottish Parliament by the Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson. He hosted a welcome dinner and reception at the parliament in honour of the group, also attended by the Trust Chairman Lord Falconer, Baroness Smith and a number of other Trustees and invited guests from various sectors of Scottish society. On Thursday 11th June, the Fellows returned to the Scottish Parliament where they observed First Minister’s Questions and took part in a Q & A on the workings of the Public Petitions Committee with Frank McAveety MSP, Nigel Don MSP, John Wilson MSP, Nanette Milne MSP, Robin Harper MSP, and Fergus Cochrane.
Fiona Hyslop MSP welcomes the group to Bute House (Edinburgh)
(Photo Courtesy of John McConville)
By kind permission of Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Fellows were invited to a reception at Bute House, the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland. All Fellows got to meet and spend time with the Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. Many of the fellows engaged in interesting debates with the Secretary on aspects of democracy in Scotland including discussions on the participation of women in political life.
The 2009 Fellows departed Edinburgh on 12th June to attend a weekend conference in Ross-on-Wye at the Leadership Trust – a charity dedicated to the development and enhancement of leadership skills in individuals and organisations. Paul Winter (Chief Executive, Leadership Trust) ran a session specifically for the Fellows on leadership. Trust Director Brian Brivati chaired the weekend discussions on how to build democracy (using Iraq as a case study), the current political situation in the UK, and on the successes and failures of western democracy. The Fellows were privileged to hear from speakers Andy McSmith, Cllr. David Green, Bayan Rahman, and John Newbigin. The weekend concluded with the Fellows presenting in their country groups on the problems that they face at home (Ukraine group pictured below).
The 2009 Ukrainian Fellows at the Leadership Trust
From 15th – 26th June the Fellows completed an attachment period pursuing a programme of individual meetings and work placements tailored to their particular expertise and interests. Georgian Fellow Giorgi Chkheidze (Deputy Ombudsman and Deputy Chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association) spent time at Interights, the Bar Council, Doughty Street Chambers, Amnesty International, the Law Society and the Ministry of Justice. Russian Fellow Anastasia Kalinina (Project Manager, Doctors to Children) visited Women's Aid in Bristol and London, Everychild, and Positively Women.
The Fellows then completed the second week of the Academic Programme in London (29th June to 3rd July). The 2009 Fellowship Programme concluded at No. 11 Downing Street where each Fellow deliverd an action-plan presentation to Trustees, Advisors and invited guests by kind permission of The Lord Chancellor, the Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP. To read more about the 2009 Fellows final day please follow this link: Finale of the 2009 Fellowship Programme
June/July 2009