Recently arrived in Beijing to begin a masters degree in social development and public policy, Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados finds the change of scene an eye-opening experience. Culture shock. It is the dreaded, but necessary, reaction to norms and traditions unlike those an individual has held close for their entire existence. Some believe …

“From the easy island breezes of Barbados to the bright lights of Beijing” Read More »

Recently arrived in Beijing to begin a masters degree in social development and public policy, Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados finds the change of scene an eye-opening experience. Culture shock. It is the dreaded, but necessary, reaction to norms and traditions unlike those an individual has held close for their entire existence. Some believe …

"From the easy island breezes of Barbados to the bright lights of Beijing" Read More »

Caribbean cultural industries have struggled for pride of place at home despite their popularity abroad, according to Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados currently studying in Beijing, China. Barbadian, Belgian, Brazilian and British students sat on a couch in a dimly lit bar in Beijing, China. Other than the fact that they are all …

“Bob Marley had to struggle for recognition in his own homeland” Read More »

Caribbean cultural industries have struggled for pride of place at home despite their popularity abroad, according to Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados currently studying in Beijing, China. Barbadian, Belgian, Brazilian and British students sat on a couch in a dimly lit bar in Beijing, China. Other than the fact that they are all …

"Bob Marley had to struggle for recognition in his own homeland" Read More »

As the world honours the contributions of women on 8 March, Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados studying in Beijing, interviews the founder of a Chinese NGO devoted to improving the skills of females in rural areas. As we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, I share with you the grassroots work of one …

“Empowering women is the best way to get everyone empowered” Read More »

As the world honours the contributions of women on 8 March, Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados studying in Beijing, interviews the founder of a Chinese NGO devoted to improving the skills of females in rural areas. As we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, I share with you the grassroots work of one …

"Empowering women is the best way to get everyone empowered" Read More »

If China wants to become the destination of choice for skilled professionals, it has to end prejudice against people from other countries and ethnicities, writes Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados currently studying in Beijing. Living in Beijing is certainly an experience like none other. It is, in my opinion, one of the few …

“‘We don’t want somebody from Africa,’ they told me.” Read More »

If China wants to become the destination of choice for skilled professionals, it has to end prejudice against people from other countries and ethnicities, writes Leigh-Ann Worrell, 24, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados currently studying in Beijing. Living in Beijing is certainly an experience like none other. It is, in my opinion, one of the few …

"‘We don’t want somebody from Africa,' they told me." Read More »

For two weeks last summer I spent nearly every day in Guangzhou’s African enclave, listening to the women’s stories of migration, writes Leigh-Ann Worrell, 25,  a Commonwealth Correspondent from St. Thomas, Barbados. One of the overriding themes was that of desperation. In the bustling trade areas of Guangzhou, China, an estimated 100 000 Africans from …

“The life in China was not as I thought it would be” Read More »

If we expect people of other races to respect the beauty of black skin, blacks should wear their colour with pride, instead of bringing down others for being “blacker”, writes Leigh-Ann Worrell, 25,  a Commonwealth Correspondent from St. Thomas, Barbados.  Growing up in a small, generally racially homogenous country for most of my life, stories …

"How do we expect others to see past the colour of our skin?" Read More »