Scottish Overseas Guardianship Association
A safe, secure home
while studying in Scotland
Muna Nweke, "SOGA was there even when I didn't know I needed them."
Every year SOGA says goodbye to our students who leave Scotland for the last time, and who are ready to go out into the World as young adults.
This year, we asked Strathallan graduate and now SOGA alumni Muna Nweke to write reflectively on his time with us and on his time in Scotland. Muna is a artist, recently featured on the Strathallan school website for his impressive list of college acceptance letters in the United States. Speaking about Muna's art to the school newsletter, Frank Glancy, Head of Art at Strathallan said, "Muna's unique style and the depth of his work makes it easy to see why he has already been offered a place to study at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Art, one of the world's leading art schools.
As the next phase of life comes, I know that I wouldn't be where I am without the care and services of Pam and SOGA, and I very much look forward to visiting [Scotland] once again.
"He was also recently awarded a highly commended prize in the senior category at this year’s RSA Schools Art Award 2020. This is Scotland's premier schools art prize and a serious achievement in its own right. We are incredibly proud of Muna."
However, whilst we are always impressed with how hard students work to get to the first steps in their careers, it is always important to make sure that as well as being academically ready SOGA students leave our care socially and emotionally ready for the next steps that they take -- because sometimes those steps are really big ones.
My time in Scotland was greatly enriched thanks to the Kerachers and their associates; whether it was trips to the lochs of Scotland, an appointment with the physio, or go-karting on a weekend, SOGA was there even when I didn't know I needed them.
Muna has been a SOGA student for the last six years, first coming to Scotland and to Strathallen in August 2014. Now that he is back home in Abuja, Nigeria, we reached out to Muna over Facebook Messenger to wish him well and ask him what he thought of his time with Pamela Keracher, with SOGA and with Scotland. Looking back, Muna told us that he has "gained positive experiences that will live with me for years to come. SOGA exhibited a level of efficiency coupled with understanding unlike any I've experienced, allowing myself and others to grow and develop in our respective environments.
"My time in Scotland was greatly enriched thanks to the Kerachers and their associates; whether it was trips to the lochs of Scotland, an appointment with the physio, or go-karting on a weekend, SOGA was there even when I didn't know I needed them.
"In regards to the future, Mrs Keracher and SOGA were able to adequately inform me of choices in regards to the progress of my education and general well-being."
With COVID-19 delaying his ability to travel to the United States and take up his place at College, Muna reflected that "as the next phase of life comes, I know that I wouldn't be where I am without the care and services of Pam and SOGA, and I very much look forward to visiting [Scotland] once again."
