Preparation II: Foundation Learning Explained

Hi again!


For the Chapter
EWB is renound for the training it provides their overseas volunteers. As a Junior Fellow (JF), my preparation consists of the following:

1) Creating and following my own Personal Development Plan (PDP)
2) Coffee Shops with the Return JF (RJF)
3) Foundation Learning Program

A personal development plan is a personalized growth plan. In order to make one, you must reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as a development worker and come up with a list of things you'd like to improve on, the ways you intend to improve them and a timeline for growth. This plan is shared with the RJF and they act as a mentor throughout your personal development.

Coffee Shops are what we call weekly meetings between the RJF and incoming JF. This time is used to discuss readings, work through exercises and monitor PDP progress. I am in the process of mapping out the themes for the coffee shops and they will start this week. I am hoping to include as many chapter members in these coffee shops as possible so they can prepare for my placement with me and become more prepared if they are planning to go overseas with EWB.

The last part of our preparation is the Foundation Learning Program. It is a (very large) book, full of suggested readings to prepare us for one week of training that happens in Toronto right before departure. The Foundation Learning Book is structured in a way that mirrors the sessions we will be having during pre-departure training. The program follows EWB's Learning Pyramid and you must develop competence in one level before you can move to the one above it. I've outlined the content, required readings and activities associated with each level and assigned a timeline for the completion of each section.


1) Health, Safety and Well Being February 12
1.Vaccinations
2. Safety, EWB' emergency response plan
3. Nutrition, nutrition by crop, Canada's Food Guide

2) Understanding Culture and Approach February 26
1. Meet with someone from your host country to talk about the cultural adjustments I will have to make and some of the cultural adjustments they had to make
2. Read Culture as an Iceberg
3. Read Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
4. Read White Privelege and Unpacking the Knapsack
5. Discuss Readings at Coffee Shop

3)Understanding of Livlihoods and Poverty March 5
1. Read Rural Livlihoods in Zambia
2. Complete related activity, discuss at coffee shop -- this will be a future post
3. Read Introduction to Agriculture
4. Complete Ill Being and Well Being Activity, discuss at coffee shop -- future post

4)Understanding the Development Sector March 12
1. Read chapter one of Mastering the Machine by Ian Smilie
2. Learn about international, national and charity aid organizations, discuss at coffee shop

5) Project and Sector Specific Learning March 19
1. Read EWB Profile on Zambia or Malawi
2. Read provided documents on agriculture or water and sanitation
3. Arrange a phone call with Regional Director or current Africa Programs Staff to identify at least 3 new knowledge skills or attitudes I will have to develop before starting work
4. MS Office General Skill Building

6) Understanding how to Create Change March 26
1. Complete an MBTI analysis,a personality test to help me understand my working style
2. Learn about Participatory Approaches
3. Learn about different learning styles
3. Read the Coaching Handbook, practice mentoring!

I hope this gives you more understanding of the JF preparation process. Help yourself to the required readings, they are all posted in the right hand panel. I am about to dive into Level Two!

so long,
kate

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