Preparation I

You've stumbled upon my blog, welcome!

This is where I will be documenting my preparation and stories from my placement with Engineers Without Borders. It hasn't yet been decided, but I will be spending 3 months in Malawi or Zambia working on a Water and Sanitation or Agriculture Value Chains project. If you'd like to learn more about what we're doing in Africa and how we're doing it, please visit the EWB page at the bottom of this blog.

My primary objective for this blog is to connect you to Africans in a way that translates into contribution. It is one thing to care for and understand the complexity of poverty, but it is another to consciously change your behaviour to enhance the lives of others. You are an important part of the global community! I would also like to clear up common misconceptions about Africa and, as the title suggests, shed a positive light on the continent. I am going to try my best to structure this space for many audiences and will use the following headings to organize my thoughts (Great Idea, Owen Scott!).

Thoughts and Stories - every day goings on for my family and friends
For the Chapter - stories to connect the chapter to overseas programs and improve Canadian programs
Work and Approach - thoughts specifically about human development
Random Thoughts/Fun Facts - speaks for itself, no?

For the Chapter
My preparation has been in the works for a few weeks now (National Conference was unbelievable!) and now that this blog is up and running, I will be documenting every step of the way. I want you to be a JF with me!

So far, I have:
-talked with a handful of overseas volunteers and returned JFs about EWB's work overseas, specifically in the Agriculture Value Chains and WatSan sectors
-talked with Macmillan, a Malawian who works with EWB and InterAID, about how to prepare for life in Southern Africa
-read through EWB's Health and Safety documents
-had 5/6 vaccinations (in a span of two days!)
-had one date for coffee with tony and madavine, the return junior fellows (JFs), and talked about my current hopes dreams and fears regarding my placement
-had one Skype call with the JF team
-started reading "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

Hopes
I hope that I find a really nice family to live with.
I hope that I stay on top of my preparation this semester.
Fears
I am afraid of time constraints! I’m worried that I won’t be able to collect enough information before having to frame my placement and find where I am of most use to my counterpart.
Dreams
I dream that my counterpart is as passionate about personal development as I am and that we are able to form a mutually beneficial working relationship.

In addition to the above prep, the chapter mapped out their expectations of me during my 12 month term as Junior Fellow (4 month prep, 4 months overseas, 4 months return). I put this on its own page at the bottom of the blog so we can check in with this throughout my prep/placement to make sure I am serving you the best I can.

I will be changing the settings of this blog as soon as I get a little bit more HTML savvy. Please email me with any suggestions or ideas for this space- it is for you!

love kate