I'm going to Malawi to work in the Water and Sanition sector!!!!!!!
I found out 5 minutes ago and I can't contain myself!!!!!
some quick facts about the sector:
-over 40% of the water points in Malawi don't work
-water points are are not well mapped causing them to be installed very close to one another, leaving many without a source of water
-poorly functioning wells are common, as they are installed without considering local variables
-when wells do break, the community does not have access to repair training or equipment, so access to clean water is eliminated
-EWB is working to decrease the number of faulty water points from 40% to 10%
-this has required us to get involved in water point mapping and pump repair
-using an innovative tool we created to monitor the lifecycle of hand pumps, wells and boreholes, EWB volunteers have documented the location of water points across the country
-we are also providing knowledge, training, and research support to our partners to develop and pilot a solution to provide spare parts and training for the repair of faulty water points
(retrieved from http://www.ewb.ca/en/whatwedo/overseas/projects/wateraccess_malawi.html)
WOOHOO!!!!!! I can't wait to learn more.
jumping off the walls,
kate
"CLTS yabweretsa mgwirizano"- CLTS has brought togetherness
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
News of our placements is on its way!
Trevor has been trekkin' African soil to pair us all up with our partner organizations and will be home shortly with news of our placements. Soon, I'll be able to delve into focused preparation for my work this summer.
For the Chapter
Since we last talked, I've become up to date with all my vaccinations. I have also completed the Level Two and Level Three of the Foundation Learning. Hopefully by the time Trevor returns, I will be on Level Five (Project and Sector Specific Learning). I've also been having some great conversations with Tony (return JF from Zambia) about hygiene, culture, things to bring, things to carry around, living with a family, tips and tricks for integrating into my community and I'm getting really excited. I have a lot of work to do before departure, but there is plenty of time and it can be done!
When it comes to feelings, sometimes I drift into fear of the unknown (being alone in another country for 4 months) but it isn't 30 seconds before I am giddy about working for EWB and exploring a new horizon. To prepare for those lonely moments, I bought some awesome fiction last weekend (The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Great Expectations, Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters) and have been downloading albums like a mad man! I've also been dreaming up my social change project.
I've always been interested in documentary filmmaking so this summer, I'm going to make my first doc and use it to connect Canadians to Africans. I've been following EWB overseas blogs for some time now and I've noticed that video is much more powerful than photos. It can capture personalities with stories. I don't want to develop the content until I'm there (I know it will be about livlihoods), but I've been watching documentaries with every opportunity I get and have been taking notes. I'm looking for a video camera and hope to do some trial interviews before exams hit.
I'll let you know as soon as I find out my placement.
Until then, hope you're endin' up on the downtown side.
love kate
For the Chapter
Since we last talked, I've become up to date with all my vaccinations. I have also completed the Level Two and Level Three of the Foundation Learning. Hopefully by the time Trevor returns, I will be on Level Five (Project and Sector Specific Learning). I've also been having some great conversations with Tony (return JF from Zambia) about hygiene, culture, things to bring, things to carry around, living with a family, tips and tricks for integrating into my community and I'm getting really excited. I have a lot of work to do before departure, but there is plenty of time and it can be done!
When it comes to feelings, sometimes I drift into fear of the unknown (being alone in another country for 4 months) but it isn't 30 seconds before I am giddy about working for EWB and exploring a new horizon. To prepare for those lonely moments, I bought some awesome fiction last weekend (The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Great Expectations, Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters) and have been downloading albums like a mad man! I've also been dreaming up my social change project.
I've always been interested in documentary filmmaking so this summer, I'm going to make my first doc and use it to connect Canadians to Africans. I've been following EWB overseas blogs for some time now and I've noticed that video is much more powerful than photos. It can capture personalities with stories. I don't want to develop the content until I'm there (I know it will be about livlihoods), but I've been watching documentaries with every opportunity I get and have been taking notes. I'm looking for a video camera and hope to do some trial interviews before exams hit.
I'll let you know as soon as I find out my placement.
Until then, hope you're endin' up on the downtown side.
love kate
Monday, February 8, 2010
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
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
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