Hello and welcome to the third edition of Chevening Connects – the regional newsletter that aims to bring together the Chevening alumni network across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

A new feature in this edition, alongside our regular feature of forthcoming Chevening events and our “What's On” in the UK section, is a list of Mexican themed events that will be taking place in the UK over the next few months. With thanks to the Mexican Embassy in London for providing this, we hope in future editions to be able to expand this to include forthcoming events in the UK with a Caribbean or Central American twist. Of course, there will always be things we miss, so if you are aware of any events that fit this description, or simply anything that you think other Chevenings would be interested in, please do drop us a line and we'll do our best to get the word out.

Once again, many thanks for all the positive responses we have continued to receive following our first two editions. We are continually striving to improve this newsletter, to make it an even more useful tool for helping us to keep in contact with our Chevenings in the region, so do please continue to send us any feedback, comments or suggestions you have. Once again there is a feedback questionnaire attached to the newsletter, and we would be very grateful to receive any ideas you have. Alternatively, you can give your feedback directly to your local British Embassy or High Commission contacts.

Welcome to the latest edition of Chevening Connects, the regional newsletter for Chevening scholars and alumni in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

When I was appointed head of Public Diplomacy Group in April 2006, I was honoured to take overall responsibility for the Chevening Scholarship and Fellowship programmes. I was excited to be part of our hugely successful Chevening programme, and to work with our overseas missions to continue to identify and assist the leaders of the future.

Having met many Chevenings from many countries, both in this job and previously in my work at the FCO, I am convinced that we have successfully identified some of the finest minds around the world.

There is no question about the value of our Chevening network, both for the UK and for our alumni. We know that the expertise of our Chevenings is an invaluable aid in working towards a safer and more prosperous world. You are the best of the best, and we are proud to have been able to be part of your personal development.

All that remains for me to say is to wish a warm welcome to our new Chevenings, and to send a fond hello to all of our Chevening scholars and alumni in the region. We wish you continuing success whatever you are doing, and look forward to staying in close contact with you.

With kind regards,

Jolyon Welsh
Head of Public Diplomacy Group
Public Diplomacy Group in London has overall responsibility for the UK government's Chevening Scholarship and Fellowship programmes

• Today, Alejandro León Ramos, Msc in Public Economics at The University of York (2000-2001), is working at the “Contaduría Mayor de Hacienda” of the “Asamblea Legislativa del Distrito Federal”, where he has been developing the coordination and supervision of activities regarding the audit of Mexico City's budget, as well as the integration of reports given to Deputies, where he has been working for the last 8 years. Read more
  
  
• Adrian Arias recently left his native Costa Rica to go to the UK and study for 3 months
  at the University of Wolverhampton. Read more
  

• Climate Change in the UK Media
• London Mayor

Chevening Fellowships are a relatively new addition to the Chevening programme. They were first piloted with a small number of short courses in 2005. They were considered so successful that the number of courses offered has been increased and the number of Fellows has nearly tripled, to more than 230 worldwide. Of these, some 10% are from the Americas.