STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2008
Bonaventure Feka Ngode
University of the West of England
WINNER OF
Xcel Humanities Student of the Year award
Xcel Humanities Student of the Year award
Julian Davis (right) from Uproar Unit presenting Bonaventure Feka Ngode (left) with his award
Bonaventure Feka Ngode from the University of the West of England won this year’s Xcel Humanities Student of the Year award. Bonaventure won this award for his outstanding extra-curricular work and his determination to succeed in adverse circumstances.
Whilst studying Economics in his native Cameroon during the 1990s, Bonaventure became a leader in student protests against all teaching being in the French language. This activism created difficulty for him and so in 1997 Bonaventure became a political refugee. Originally, Bonaventure settled in Greece where he learned a new language and even became a professional footballer until injury ended his career. Deciding to resume his university education and better understand his country, Bonaventure came to the UK to study a degree in International Relations and Politics.
I felt so proud after looking at the list of contenders I was up against for this prestigious trophy.
In addition to his degree, Bonaventure has a family to support and works part-time as a carer to support the elderly and those with physical disabilities in their own home. Bonaventure also volunteers at his university providing support to disabled students and works in the student union shop as a volunteer assistant with the Red Cross.
Despite his exile, Bonaventure is committed to his home country. As President of the Cameroon Community in Bristol, Bonaventure is actively involved in supporting the cultural and social development of his community in his local area. He also co-ordinates fundraising events to support development projects in Cameroon.
[From winning the award] I picked up extra courage and after considering to drop out of university this year, I’m ever so determined now to see the end of the tunnel.
However, it has been a struggle at times for Bonaventure to keep going and it seems that winning this award came at just the right time: “I picked up extra courage and after considering to drop out of university this year, I’m ever so determined now to see the end of the tunnel. I have had difficulties on my own such as paying my fees, those of my brothers and sisters back home, raising a family here and immigration issues which have seriously disrupted my progress in my studies.”
Like all of our winners, Bonaventure remained modest when accepting his prize: “I felt so proud after looking at the list of contenders I was up against for this prestigious trophy. I was touched when I heard some of the thrilling stories and difficulties other contestants have gone through in an attempt to acquire knowledge or better themselves and those who heavily depend on them.”
I appeal to the sponsors to continue assisting the Xcel awards in getting the 21st century talents to where they deserve to be without, race, culture, boundary or background.
Since receiving his award, Bonaventure expressed his support for the Xcel Student of the Year awards; “I’d like to thank the management and staff of Xcel for the hard work they are doing in raising awareness and supporting talent especially in ethnic minority groups and giving us the opportunity to see what the future holds. I appeal to the sponsors to continue assisting the Xcel awards in getting the 21st century talents to where they deserve to be without, race, culture, boundary or background.”
Interview by: Emily Crane
