“In rooms with people from all walks of life.”

From a small town to Uzbekistan and Vietnam: a Westminster alumna, now a Content Creator and Presenter, on DEN’s field trips and finding her voice

Keletso Kesupile, BA graduate, University of Westminster (2015–2018); now Content Creator and Presenter

Part of the Inside Westminster anniversary series marking ten years of the Democratic Education Network.

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How did you first come into contact with DEN?

I was first introduced to DEN through my course. I was looking for a place where I could continue my love for different countries and cultures in a more social environment, and DEN was exactly that.

Which DEN activities have you taken part in?

I was involved in many. I took part in the Cultural Food Days, where people brought dishes from their home countries and shared them with everyone. I joined several academic trips to countries such as Uzbekistan and Vietnam, among others. I also attended the international conferences, and had the opportunity to speak and present at them.

Was there a moment at DEN that has stayed with you?

What has stayed with me most is Farhang’s philosophy that the only way to truly learn about the world is by going out and exploring it for yourself, not just by reading about it in textbooks. That mindset has stayed with me ever since.

What aspects of DEN have had the biggest impact on you?

The biggest impact was the exposure to different people and cultures, and being welcomed into all of it with open arms. Having grown up in a small town, I did not have much exposure to different cultures before university. DEN gave me the opportunity to experience people, traditions and perspectives I otherwise would never have encountered.

How has DEN helped you develop personally?

DEN encouraged me to stay curious, and to keep exploring the world and the people in it. It also helped me develop strong public speaking skills, which I continue to use every day, both in my personal life and in my career.

How has DEN influenced your career or professional life?

Although I ended up taking a very different career path from what I studied, DEN played a huge role in giving me confidence in the knowledge and experiences I bring to the table. Through DEN, I had the opportunity to be in rooms with people from all walks of life: presenting, discussing ideas, and debating with them. Those experiences taught me that my voice, my thoughts, and my opinions are valuable, and deserve to be heard.

What is one thing DEN has given you that you would have struggled to find elsewhere?

Without a doubt, it was the exposure to different cultures and ways of life. DEN took us to destinations that many people would not normally think to visit, and those have become some of my favourite places in the world. Without DEN, I would not have had those experiences, or developed such a broad perspective of the world.

What advice would you give to students thinking of joining?

Do it. DEN will completely change the way you see the world. You will build lifelong friendships, create unforgettable memories, and lay the foundations for the kind of life and experiences you want to have. Be open to every opportunity DEN offers. You will not regret it.

What would you say to a colleague at another university?

Every university should have something like DEN. The impact it has on students goes far beyond the degree they graduate with. It helps students grow as people, broadens their perspectives, and prepares them for life in ways that a classroom alone never could.

Should DEN do anything differently in the next decade?

DEN could collaborate more widely across the university, and encourage greater participation from students and staff across different faculties. It is always valuable to hear perspectives from people outside your own field of study, and that diversity of thought is one of the things DEN could carry even further in its next decade.