The Southern Africa crew! We kind of thought the motorcycle helmets we received were a hoot, and obviously took the health and safety seminars to heart. It’s been an intense week for sure—plenty of learning, and lots of good times as well. We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the challenges of working in development, what development means, and different approaches to development practice. There have been case studies galore (I begrudgingly acknowledged the importance of Engineering economics and cash flow analysis) and practice doing field work (asking non-leading questions when there’s a serious language barrier and cultural filters sure is tough my friends).  I’m anxious, and excited, and ready to do some work, and try my best and all that. I’m also really grateful that I’m headed to Zambia and Malawi with a pretty incredible group of people who have been challenging, and encouraging me for the past week, and who will continue to do so for the next three and a half months.  Anyway, next stop is Lilongwe, Malawi! I hear the market is incredible and will report back with findings.

The Southern Africa crew! We kind of thought the motorcycle helmets we received were a hoot, and obviously took the health and safety seminars to heart.

It’s been an intense week for sure—plenty of learning, and lots of good times as well. We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the challenges of working in development, what development means, and different approaches to development practice. There have been case studies galore (I begrudgingly acknowledged the importance of Engineering economics and cash flow analysis) and practice doing field work (asking non-leading questions when there’s a serious language barrier and cultural filters sure is tough my friends). 

I’m anxious, and excited, and ready to do some work, and try my best and all that. I’m also really grateful that I’m headed to Zambia and Malawi with a pretty incredible group of people who have been challenging, and encouraging me for the past week, and who will continue to do so for the next three and a half months. 

Anyway, next stop is Lilongwe, Malawi! I hear the market is incredible and will report back with findings.

The Southern Africa crew! We kind of thought the motorcycle helmets we received were a hoot, and obviously took the health and safety seminars to heart. It’s been an intense week for sure—plenty of learning, and lots of good times as well. We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the challenges of working in development, what development means, and different approaches to development practice. There have been case studies galore (I begrudgingly acknowledged the importance of Engineering economics and cash flow analysis) and practice doing field work (asking non-leading questions when there’s a serious language barrier and cultural filters sure is tough my friends).  I’m anxious, and excited, and ready to do some work, and try my best and all that. I’m also really grateful that I’m headed to Zambia and Malawi with a pretty incredible group of people who have been challenging, and encouraging me for the past week, and who will continue to do so for the next three and a half months.  Anyway, next stop is Lilongwe, Malawi! I hear the market is incredible and will report back with findings.

The Southern Africa crew! We kind of thought the motorcycle helmets we received were a hoot, and obviously took the health and safety seminars to heart.

It’s been an intense week for sure—plenty of learning, and lots of good times as well. We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the challenges of working in development, what development means, and different approaches to development practice. There have been case studies galore (I begrudgingly acknowledged the importance of Engineering economics and cash flow analysis) and practice doing field work (asking non-leading questions when there’s a serious language barrier and cultural filters sure is tough my friends). 

I’m anxious, and excited, and ready to do some work, and try my best and all that. I’m also really grateful that I’m headed to Zambia and Malawi with a pretty incredible group of people who have been challenging, and encouraging me for the past week, and who will continue to do so for the next three and a half months. 

Anyway, next stop is Lilongwe, Malawi! I hear the market is incredible and will report back with findings.

Posted 2 years ago 1 note View Larger Image

Notes:

  1. zambiamanda posted this

About:

Hello!
My name is Amanda Giang, a 3rd year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Toronto, and this summer I'm volunteering with Engineers Without Borders in Zambia. I thought I'd share my adventures and experiences, so here goes?

If you’re not familiar with EWB Canada, it’s an organization which helps create opportunities for rural Africans to improve their lives. EWB is trying to effect change in Canada, as well as in four African countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, and Zambia. Here, EWB challenges the engineering profession and Canadians in general to think and act globally. Overseas, EWB is working with communities, governments and local development organizations to make agriculture a viable livelihood for small scale farmers, and improve critical infrastructure, and access to clean water. By leveraging the critical thinking and problem solving skills traditionally associated with the engineering profession, EWB is trying to apply innovative approaches to these systems-scaled problems.

I should probably note that everything I write here is entirely personal opinion, and doesn't speak for EWB Canada or its partner organizations!

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