"Kent offered all the things that mattered to me in one place and opened up the world."

By Kami Asamani (née Peters) Eliot, 2001-2006: BA Politics and International Relations and LLM International Law with International Relations

Kent

Whilst studying Chaucer for my GCSEs at school, my English Literature teacher took us on a trip to Canterbury which included a talk on campus. I loved the fresh air on campus and beautiful view. I visited a couple of other universities during A-levels but Kent had already made a lasting impression.

During the first day in Eliot college halls we had a welcome talk and the speaker told us to talk to the person next to us, so I turned to a tall, animated girl and we became friends on the spot. The next day, I saw her with a group of other girls outside Eliot. I had accidentally dropped my phone credit scratch card in the bin instead of the wrapper. One of them took it out the bin for me and we are still friends today. I also met my soul sister at Kent – I’m really grateful to Kent for this as although she also lives in the UK, I don’t know how we would have met otherwise!

I met the rest of my friends from the Politics and International Relations course, the New Life Church that met on campus at the time and the Afro-Caribbean (or Afrocab) society. One day I met a guy in a cap and t-shirt at an Afrocab event and we became the best of friends. I call him my BFAM – ‘brother from another mother’. He also stayed at Kent for a Master’s and is now really successful in life and career. We were at each other’s weddings and I am proudly Godmother to his son.

Kent offered all the things that mattered to me in one place and opened up the world. I loved Canterbury, the cheerful vibe at what we then called UKC, I met my best friends there and enjoyed my studies. Attending New Life Church also gave me a meaningful connection to a local community beyond university students.

Career

I love finding out about the natural and cultural history, food and practices of people all over the world. Whilst in primary school, my mum gave me a book that shows pictures of children from around the world. I remember being amazed at how each character looked completely different. It was a whole new world, each time you turn the page.

As a teenager, I was part of Lewisham Young Women’s Resource Project in Lewisham borough and was selected for the exchange project ‘gesha’, which means ‘bridge’ in Hebrew. The project took me to Israel with a group of young women from surrounding schools. We hosted talks around youth issues and visited major heritage and historical sites in Israel. This was my first major taste of cultural exchange.

Internationalism to me is a reminder that there is no one way of doing or understanding anything. People live and survive in completely different environments and contexts all over the world. This interest has driven my studies, work and travels.

Before studying at Kent, I hoped to have an international element to my career and I had a dream of working in the public sector for a large and recognised international institution, with people and society across the world at the centre. Yes, I have been incredibly blessed to be able to follow this.

After my Master’s at Kent, I worked as a temp in the Efficiency team at the Department for Transport for a year. One day I saw an ad in the newspaper: ‘TEACH IN JAPAN’. It seemed as though there were sunbeams coming out of the article. I applied and got the job, and had a blast during a year in Japan as an English Instructor and Assistant Language Teacher. When I got back, I got a temporary position at the British Council in the International Assignments team, taking care of the HR needs of senior staff posted to East Asia. Nine months later, I got my first promotion and permanent contract. I’m still there today and have absolutely loved the last decade of my career working on international education, social development and creative programmes. The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

After seven years delivering on a range of international education programmes at the British Council, I wasn’t quite clear on what I needed as a final cherry on my CV cake. I was keen to do more with my skills and felt hugely inspired by the international opportunities and careers of the people all around me. I had worked overseas on short trips to Germany, India, and Portugal and wanted to work overseas for a longer stint – especially on the continent of Africa. I was offered a role in Ethiopia and in 2015 went to work there on an international development programme that supports civil society.

I am currently Head of Business Management for Arts Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). It is my first regional role and I absolutely love it. Our team works in 19 countries in West, Southern and East Africa and the UK to create opportunities and connections for young creatives. I work within the Arts SSA leadership team to clarify our targets, monitor our progress towards them and shape the governance of our work. This includes setting up structures to monitor business performance such as introducing a quarterly business review as well as seeking out support to advance skills and knowledge across the team whilst streamlining our processes so our brilliant team can do what they best – support the creation of new art to new audiences.

I try to see UNESCO World Heritage and other cultural sites as much as possible. I have seen Elmina castle in Ghana, Betty’s Hope and Devils Bridge in Antigua, Meiji and Fushimi Inari shrines in Japan, the Coliseum in Rome, Azure window in Gozo, spice farms in Zanzibar and perhaps the most breath-taking – Lalibela churches in Ethiopia.

Staying connected

I mostly use WhatsApp now to communicate with my Kent friends in London, Birmingham, Japan, Sudan, Bermuda, Nigeria, Ghana and one still in Canterbury! Lots of them also work and travel internationally, so we can keep in touch all over the world. One friend recently sent me stunning pictures from the Sydney Opera House light show whilst on a work trip, and another sent photos of his wedding in India.

Whilst working in Ethiopia, I was in a very quiet mall, at the end of an almost empty corridor and bumped in to a friend from the Master’s course. We were so shocked, that we started screaming and jumping as neither of us even knew the other was in Addis Ababa. The ladies that work in the shops came out because they thought there was a fight!

Having been part of the Afrocab society, I met lots of cool students from Nigeria and Ghana in my time at Kent. A few years after graduation, one of my friends said I should visit. He was serious and so I hopped on a plane and they showed me such a good time – I fell in love with Lagos! Weirdly we bumped into lots of other people who also went to Kent whilst in Lagos, just casually in ice cream parlours and the mall!

I attended the Kent in London alumni event in the summer of 2019 and it was so much fun. I ended up next to the oldest alumnus in the room and his stories of working in Nigeria and travelling were hilarious and super inspiring. It was a great night and reminded me what Kent really means to me and the role it has played in my life.