Between 1 and 19 August 2022, a group of 12 students and two chaperones visited the Isle of Man (IOM) for an intensive programme comprising an inspiring mix of classroom sessions, field trips, and other activities to expose them to another culture, with an emphasis on heritage, environmental sustainability, and practical life skills. The Isle of Man visit was followed by a day of sightseeing in London. Consistent with the theme of “The Art of the Possible”, several highly successful people from diverse backgrounds engaged with the students to share their own journeys through life from seemingly inauspicious beginnings.

During the summer of 2022, ISEP’s two SVG-based trustees conducted a thorough evaluation process, which included a long questionnaire, an essay submission and an interview. From this process, they selected six male and six female students and two female chaperones, all of outstanding calibre. In addition to all travel, accommodation, meals and other costs during the three-week trip, ISEP provided the students and chaperones with branded clothes and a large high-quality wheeled duffel bag.

The SVG party travelled on Virgin Atlantic and Loganair and was met at Heathrow Airport and escorted to the Isle of Man, where they were accommodated in a boarding house at King William’s College. Lectures were held in the Bragg Lecture Theatre, named after the former KWC pupil and Nobel Laureate, Sir William Bragg. King William’s provided accommodation at a deep discount and many other facilities at the school were made available free of charge.

A memorable evening for the students and for around 80 Manx guests was a reception at Government House hosted by the Lieutenant Governor, HE Sir John Lorimer and Lady Lorimer. The guests included former and current ministers and other Manx luminaries as well as people who had contributed their time and hospitality to the programme. Guests were moved by short speeches from the students about SVG and the IOM, followed by an a cappello recital of the Vincentian national anthem, a traditional Caribbean song, and Ellan Vannin, the Island’s “alternative national anthem.” The latter, sung on the steps of Government House, brought tears to the eyes of many of the guests gathered in the garden. At the end of the evening, Sir John presented each of the students with a commemorative medallion.

Another highlight for the students was the inclusion of staying one weekend with host families in the Isle of Man. ISEP is indebted to these half dozen families for providing a very welcoming environment and diverse activities. One of the families also hosted a barbecue on another evening during the Isle of Man stay. A key success factor was the support the students and ISEP management received from four IOM student volunteers (university students), who befriended and helped all the students and were each assigned four specific visitors to mentor.

ISEP is also grateful to the Vincentian High Commissioner to the UK, HE Cenio E. Lewis, who hosted the group at the High Commission at the start of the London portion of the trip. In addition to welcoming them, he also shared with the students his own inspiring life and career journey. He has subsequently been unstinting in the support that he and other diplomats at the High Commission in London have provided to ISEP.

Throughout the visit, the students, without exception, endeared themselves to everyone they met. During the three weeks of the visit, they grew in terms of self-confidence, and they credited the trip with having widened their horizons and made them determined to prove the “art of the possible” through their future studies and careers. The study tour far exceeded very high expectations for its success in large part because of the quality of the students, their warmth and intellect and their enthusiasm for everything to which they were exposed. The two chaperones played a key role, living with the students, always providing guidance, and serving as a very effective element of the ISEP management team. The students and chaperones were outstanding ambassadors for their country.

The itinerary for the 2022 ISEP Visit can be seen here: Timetable August 2022 Study Tour