Zindi Levi

Zindi studied on our MA International Relations course, and is now serving as a diplomatic intern at the Gambia High Commission in London.

Where and what did you study before coming to ARU?

I studied Political Science as my undergraduate degree at the University of Gambia.

What made you decide to go to university?

I had a dream and I said to myself I must strive to achieve this no matter the struggles. This dream was to ensure that I partake in decision making at a young age because the African continent needs young minds to create impact globally, to reflect immensely in the livelihood of the population in all aspects of sustainable development.

Why did you choose to study at ARU?

Because my campus was in Cambridge, and Cambridge being a very renowned city for education and academia, I thought being in this environment where I could engage with other thinkers like me would be very much pivotal in terms of my education. Also it had a very good ranking and the programme was very rich with engagements of practical actions in international relations.

I did look into many universities, but I found myself loving ARU because of this diverse environment it provides to international students, and most of the alumni excel after studying at ARU.

What inspired you to get involved with international relations in the first place?

The fact that I come from the Global South, I feel like we need development and ideas, and young people engaging in decision-making processes. That being the case, I said to myself ‘I need to be involved in a field of study where I can create a greater impact, be it in leadership, or policy development, or economic terms. And most especially, how best these narratives can influence the people that are living in these countries.’

So I feel like international relations provides a breathing space to understand global governance, and this is what we need for most countries in Africa, to show that young people are engaged in terms of decision-making, in terms of policy development, to ensure that sustainable development goals are being met.

What's the most valuable thing you will take away from your education?

That making decisions in a real-life situation is not always easy. During my course I was engaging in extracurricular activities organised by the British International Studies Association, where I had to take part in a COP (Conference of the Parties) simulation in terms of climate, finance, emissions, and all that.

I found myself in a room with a lot of young people, and making decisions in that space was very much difficult because different people come from a philosophical background, and they tend to think from a state-centred perspective. Going by that, it’s very difficult to come to a consensus in terms of making decisions that could enhance global growth.

I feel like we need to engage more in terms of compromise when it comes to decision making.

Which aspects of your course have most helped your career development, and why?

The aspect that helped me most in my career development is having the opportunity to engage in educational exercises beyond the classroom. For instance having the chance to visit one of the biggest think-tanks like Chatham House and some of its events gave me the opportunity to discuss international affairs at a global stage. This has provided me with the knowledge to give expert analysis of current global issues from different perspectives.

What piece of advice would you give to other international relations students?

Don’t just limit yourself to the four corners of the classroom. Go beyond. Make sure that you engage in extra-curricular activities. Know what is happening around you. Be part of the discussions that have to do with your field of study. Be committed to your own ideas, and see how best you can defend them.

Engage in political behaviour analysis. Make judgements about situations in line with your field of study, Make sure you develop your public speaking. These are some of the things that you will need in the future, be it at the workplace or whatever you want to partake in.

It’s not going to be easy, but with striving and the guidance you get from academic staff like Dr Solava Ibrahim, Course Director for the MA International Relations, you can find extra-curricular activities to engage in.

Ensure that you create an atmosphere where you can explore your potentials out there in the world, especially in the area of international relations and international studies.

What is your favourite thing about studying in Cambridge, and what have you learned about it that other people might not know?

As a student, Cambridge gives you a beautiful environment where it’s cool and calm, where you can engage in intellectual discussion with other students in different fields of study, who are developing different ideas. You can network with them, and see how best you can develop yourself.

Finding yourself in this kind of space can help you enhance your professional development and make use of the many opportunities, like the many libraries and extra-curricular activities, which are essential for your personal growth.

What projects are you currently working on, both on and off the course?

One of the key projects that I’m working on is to develop a youth engagement strategy, where young people can be engaged in moving forward a country’s foreign policy in different ways. I feel like everybody can contribute to their country’s foreign policy in the little knowledge that they have from their own field of study.

Another thing I’m involved in is bilateral relations. I feel that this is very much important for countries that are developing, to ensure that they relate with other countries that have had economic growth and prosperity, to see what techniques they can take from them and adapt, to get to economic growth that will reflect the country’s GDP.