Sofonie Dala - Young Talents from Africa

Monday, 30 June 2025

MID-YEAR NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2025

Celebrating Purpose, Passion & Powerful Public Engagements!

Dear Changemakers,

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, we’re thrilled to share some of many highlights of an extraordinary journey led by our very own Sofonie Dala — a Chevening Scholar, sustainability impact publisher, and unstoppable advocate for justice, sustainability, and global unity.

From historic conferences to powerful climate dialogues, vibrant sports tournaments, and joyous cultural celebrations, Sofonie continues to inspire change across the UK and beyond.

Let’s relive the magic together!

🌍 SUSTAINABILITY, DIPLOMACY & CLIMATE ACTION

🌿 SSRC25 – Annual Student Sustainability Research Conference
Young minds, bold ideas. Sofonie joined the University of Leeds to spotlight over 50 sustainability research projects.
👉 Read the report https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/03/hybrid-sustainability-week-conference.html

🌐 Chevening Conference 2025 – University of Bath
Global leaders of tomorrow gathered, and Sofonie delivered a heartfelt vision for a just and green future.
👉 Explore her reflections https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/04/chevening-conference-2025-bath.html

🌎 Global Climate Dialogue – University of Warwick
HOPE, EQUITY, LOCALISATION, PARTNERSHIPS: Sofonie joins the Chevening Ideas Connect to tackle climate crises.
👉 Join the conversation https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/06/chevening-scholar-sofonie-dala.html

📚 The Annual Gladwyn Lecture & VE Day 80
Education as a catalyst for climate justice — a day of powerful learning and remembrance.
👉 Experience the day

https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/05/celebrating-ve-day-80-memorable.html

🌱 Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition – University of York
A vibrant, immersive display reminding us that change begins with us.
👉 Be inspired https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-seeds-of-hope-and-action-exhibition.html

🏅 VOLUNTEERISM & SOCIAL IMPACT

💚 253 Hours of Purpose: A Green Milestone!
Sofonie has devoted 253 hours to community service across the UK. Her journey of selflessness and sustainability sets a golden example.
👉 Celebrate her milestone https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/05/celebrating-green-milestone-207-hours.html

🌙 Light Up The Night Walk – Raising Awareness Against Sexual Violence
Sofonie joined voices in the dark to shine a light on survival, healing, and hope.
👉 Walk with her https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/02/shining-light-on-sexual-violence-light.html

🏳️‍🌈 York Pride – Colors of Acceptance
Marching with joy, dignity, and solidarity, Sofonie celebrated love in all its forms.
👉 Relive the celebration https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/06/colors-of-acceptance-sofonie-dalas.html

🇦🇴 ANGOLA ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

Commonwealth Dreams: Angola’s Journey to Membership
Sofonie chronicles a historic moment as Angola advances toward becoming a Commonwealth nation.
👉 Read her story https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/03/from-insightful-lectures-to-royal.html

Africa Day 2025 – Demanding Justice and Reparations
A powerful stand for African dignity, reparative justice, and future empowerment.
👉 Join the movement https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/05/happy-africa-day-2025-justice-for.html

A Beacon of Hope: Rachael Maskell's Commitment to Climate Action

Click here to Join: https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-letter-of-support-addressing-climate.html

🏆 SPORTS, UNITY & ADVENTURE

ROSES TOURNAMENT 2025 – A Varsity Weekend to Remember
From Angola to York’s rugby pitch, Sofonie embraced her first UK sports experience with passion and pride.
👉 Watch and read https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/05/from-angola-to-roses-chevening-scholar.html

A Chevening Scholar’s UK Bucket List Adventure
From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, follow Sofonie’s unforgettable travel stories across the UK.
👉 Check the bucket list https://sofoniegreenmission.blogspot.com/2025/05/from-angola-to-roses-chevening-scholar.html

🎄 HOLIDAYS & HERITAGE

A Magical Christmas Journey at York Minster
✨ 70 Trees. Endless Wonders. Community Spirit.
A festive spectacle of light, tradition, and peace at one of England’s most iconic cathedrals.
👉 Click to experience the magic

A Sweet & Sustainable Christmas
🍫 From cocoa beans to conscience: Sofonie explores York’s chocolate story with a green twist.
👉 Take the chocolate journey

New Year 2025 at the London Eye
🎆 Ringing in 2025 with unity, hope, and panoramic fireworks!
👉 Celebrate with us

Tracks Through Time – York’s National Railway Museum
🚂 Innovation and heritage meet in a powerful journey through transport history.
👉 Hop on the journey

✨ A Final Word from Sofonie
"This journey is not about me. It’s about the power of stories, the urgency of action, and the beauty of human connection — and I walk forward with hope for a greener, fairer world." – Sofonie Dala

📰 Stay connected. Be inspired. Act now.

Saturday, 31 May 2025

From Angola to Roses: Chevening Scholar Sofonie Dala Lives Her First Varsity Experience at Europe’s Largest Inter-University Sports Tournament

Roses are white 2025

Breaking barriers, building communities — how one scholar turned her first UK sports weekend into a story of sustainability, volunteerism, and global inspiration

The 60th Roses Tournament lit up North Yorkshire this past weekend (2–4 May), bringing fierce athleticism, vibrant culture, and spirited charity to the University of York. With over 160 fixtures ranging from rugby and rowing to chess, swimming, and street dance, students from the University of York and Lancaster battled for glory in Europe’s largest inter-university sports tournament. In a thrilling finish, Lancaster edged out York with a final score of 184–160—but York’s pride burned bright, especially after a dramatic Women’s Rugby 1st win with a last-minute try, sealing a 15–12 victory and a pitch-side explosion of joy.

Among the thousands of students cheering, playing, and contributing behind the scenes was Sofonie Dala, an Angolan Chevening Scholar experiencing her very first Roses—and her first time in the UK.

“I had never even heard of Roses before arriving here,” she says, eyes lit with joy. “But this weekend, I saw the power of sport to unite, energise, and uplift a whole community.”

Sofonie’s presence at the Roses is more than symbolic. Just days before the tournament, she was volunteering with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV UK), maintaining cycle routes across The Stray to ensure safe, accessible pathways for both students and the public. Her 180+ volunteer hours since arriving in the UK last October reflect her deep commitment to environmental protection and social equity.

"Volunteering is a way to give back—and to build forward. Every small act contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, from good health (SDG 3) to climate action (SDG 13), and strong communities (SDG 11)," she adds.

Sofonie isn’t just participating—she’s inspiring. Her online sustainability platform has reached thousands of young people across continents, many of whom are now registering to volunteer with UK-based organisations after seeing her work.

As Roses 2025 came to a close with echoes of celebration and camaraderie still in the air, Sofonie’s story became one of the quiet triumphs of the weekend: a young woman from Angola, breaking barriers, volunteering tirelessly, and using sport and service to build a better world.