Calgary Professional Chapter Quarterly NewsletterDate of Issue: February 6 2011

Issue Number: 2

KUMVANA, Canada’s largest international development conference, wrapped up on January 15th of this year, and left in its wake an audience that had gone through multiple days of intense critical thinking and personal exploration surrounding the complexities of international development. Many members from the Calgary chapter made the trek over to EWB’s 10th anniversary conference in Toronto, and they returned armed with an infectious spirit and willingness to share what they had absorbed during that time with both the chapter and the Calgary community.

Reflecting back on the conference, an idea that stood out for many of the delegates was brought to light by one of the conferences keynote speakers – John Githongo. Described as Kenya’s anticorruption czar, John Githongo unearthed a $1 billion scam involving some of the country’s top ministers in 2003. The 91-page report he prepared and presented forced him to flee the country for fear of his life. Githongo’s story, told in the recently released book ‘It’s Our Turn to Eat’, by journalist Michela Wrong, has earned him international acclaim as a whistle-blower who came forward under the most trying of circumstances.

John Githongo’s keynote speech stemmed from the time that he had spent travelling around Kenya, talking to its citizens about how they felt within their own nation. From this experience came John’s underlying message that “...dignity comes before development. It must be dignity first, then development”. In nations such as his homeland Kenya - which has been heavily divided by issues such as religion, race, conflict, and occupation - development means listening first. Talking to a room that was full of some technically minded individuals, John described this idea as needing “...software first – hardware second...”.

What does the idea of software and hardware mean in the context of development? As an

example, John talked about how Kenya had all the ‘hardware’ within the nation working correctly. In the five years leading up to the massive political upheaval of 2007, the stock exchange had grown 400%, the economy had grown at an average of 5.5% per year, and by 2006 the number of children enrolled in primary school had doubled from 2003. All the ‘hardware’ within the nation was working – but this couldn’t stop the massive ‘software’ failure that occurred in 2007. Emphasis was being placed on the idea that “...growth alone can allow a nation to

solve issues of ethnic division...”, without listening to the underlying issues that were dividing Kenya’s citizens.

John commented on how “African development is often measured by the success and failures of the development industry, and one must face up to the fact

that the development and aid industry has become just that – an industry. If [the aid industry] were a potato chip factory in Africa, it would have spent hundreds of billions of dollars on what would seem to be not that many chips, and that weren't edible in many places. The development of orthodoxies has not delivered whether you speak of basic need theories, human capital theories...” .

John concluded with the idea that development, in the end, works the best when it dignifies people within their current circumstances. Only when that dignity is firmly in place can progress be made.

To see the full presentation, please go to http://www.vimeo.com/groups/kumvana/videos/18791667.

Reflections From KUMVANADignity Before Development

John GithongoCEO, Inuka Kenya Trust

Show You Care By ChoosingFair Trade

This Valentine's Day, EWB chapters across Canada are challenging Canadians to show their sweethearts they care not just on a personal level, but also globally by ensuring that their gifts are Fair Trade certified.

Fair Trade certification ensures that farmers are ethically treated and enjoy fair wages for their produce. The certification also promotes environmentally sustainable farming methods.

Look for the labels pictured here to make a gift that is able to make a difference in a farmer’s life!

For more details, visit: http://www.myfairvalentine.com

LOOK FOR THESE SYMBOLS TO DISCOVER

FAIRTRADE!

After a short sojourn in Calgary over the holidays, Mark Hemsworth, of the Calgary Professional Chapter, is continuing his social enterprise work in Zambia. Rent-to-Own, a company recently formed under Mark's direction, is continuing to grow as it helps farmers access much needed equipment and build their credit without the requirement of formal collateral. Mark shares some of his company's recent achievements and updates below:

We’ve successfully installed another $37,000 worth of equipment bringing our total to $95,425 across 105 clients! We’re focusing on collections and strengthening our business systems. Agents are currently taking training courses (e.g. mechanics, computers, driving) to help them improve.

We met with the operations manager of Dunavant, a cotton out-grower, who has hundreds of field staff with personal relationships with farmers. We are exploring the possibility of using their network of employees as Rent-to-Own Agents. That would give us access to 65,000 farmers across Zambia, all with 10+ years of credit history.

We are building a new funding relationship with the Grassroots Business Fund (http://www.gbfund.org). We are excited to announce that they will be providing 50% of our financing needs starting June of 2011, thus enabling RTO to continue to grow.

Finally, we’re expanding to Eastern Province in

March! This requires $75,000 of new investment, and we’re seeking Canadian investors for this piece of the business. The ideal investment size is between $2,500 and $25,000. We pay 1% a month and require a minimum of 1 year commitment.

If you are interested in supporting this venture, please contact Mark at markhemsworth@gmail.com. He will send a sample agreement and documentation to start the discussion.

For more information on Rent-to-Own in Zambia, or Mark’s Volunteer Experience visit:

http://rtoafrica.com/Home.htmlhttp://markhemsworth.blogspot.com.

An Update from Mark Hemsworth in Zambia

Zambian Farmers with a Rent-to-Own pump

What does poverty reduction look like? How should it be done? What is an engineer's role? You have a perspective and so do the Calgary chapter members below. They were part of a national initiative to challenge perspectives in support of EWB's systemic approach to addressing the root causes of poverty.

Once again, we would like to offer our sincerest thanks to all those who participated in the Perspectives Campaign, either as a campaigner, donor, or for simply starting a conversation about development. Our team goal was $6,750 and we raised $10,975!

Some Calgary Perspectives Campaign Highlights

"I believe that aid is a tool. Tools are not inherently good or bad; it is how they are used that matters. Current aid expenditure is often similar to pounding nails with the handle of the hammer. Eventually, if you hit hard and often enough, you'll probably get the structure standing. But it will be messy and is far less efficient than using the head of the hammer." – Jody Rechenmacher

"I have been so blessed to be able to travel so extensively and meet so many amazing people. Far too often we (myself included) look at development as such a huge task. But when we look at the difference we can make in one persons life, and the difference that that one person can then make in the lives of others, I feel so hopeful that great things can happen." – Karen Hincks

"In part, the engineering expertise that our country has developed, due to the structure of our society, due to the opportunity of education, technology, planning, recording, is what allows us the basic human right to clean water." – Angela Alambets

Perspectives On Development

We are currently accepting applications for the 2011 Professional Fellowship Program. The Professional Fellowship Program was created to build a new generation of leaders in the development sector. It helps fuel EWB chapters to sustain and build their knowledge and passion about human development, providing them with on-the-ground experience and a direct, personal connection to Dorothy.

Through participating in the Professional Fellowship Program, Fellows will become skilled and experienced agents of change, able to contribute to the work of our partner agencies overseas and help Canadians understand, through sharing their first hand experiences, the challenges facing people in the developing world.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Elizabeth Logan, who was a Professional Fellow in Ghana from August to December 2009.

What was the most significant thing you took away from the experience? It sounds a little cliché, but I feel I understand what ‘gratitude’ means a little bit better. We are incredibly lucky to not only live in a country like Canada, but to have sound business organization, tools and infrastructure.

Shortly after I returned to Canada the power went off on my floor at work. I instinctively dimmed the brightness on my laptop to maximize the battery life and kept typing, not even realizing the power was out until I heard commotion in the hallway outside my office.

Did your work overseas relate to your job in Canada? At the time I went overseas I was working as a Change Management consultant, and overseas I was doing just that, but in a different environment, industry, and with extremely different challenges. Working as a volunteer exercises your skills in patience, perseverance and communication; something we can all benefit from no matter where we are working before or after our placement.

What is life like as an overseas volunteer? I’m not sure if I can summarize that in a single sentence or two. What I can say is that it is one big adventure, full of ups and downs. Maybe look at my blog – ghanaliz.blogspot.com.

For more details, visit: http://calgary.ewb.ca/2011_professionalfellow.html

Applications are due Friday, February 25, 2011, 11:59 pm.

Professional Fellowship Program

A Little Bit About Us...Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is a movement of professional engineers, students, overseas volunteer staff, and supporters across Canada. Together, we are almost 50,000 strong. We believe that the next generation of rural Africans should have the same opportunities to improve their lives that we have right here at home.

The Calgary Professional Chapter is involved in many events, from corporate workplace outreach programs to member learning initiatives. Workplace outreach events are put on by knowledgeable EWB volunteers, and aim to raise awareness of issues associated with international development, and where global engineering can fit into the mix. Monthly member learning events (generally held on the 2nd Thursday of the month) provide a forum for individuals to learn from each other and guest speakers about the many facets of international development.

Want to get involved? No matter what your background, we are always looking for volunteers who are passionate about making a difference.

For more information, try checking out the following resources:

Calgary Professional Chapter’s website: http://calgary.ewb.ca/ General Information E-mail: Calgary@ewb.caTwitter: ewbcalgaryFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112977635382408Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/EWBCalgaryProfessional/

Run To End PovertyLooking for a way to revive what may be a flagging new years’ resolution

to fit more exercise in your life? What better way to do it than during the Calgary Chapters’ 2nd annual Run to End Poverty (R2EP) on Saturday May 29th? Runners can choose their own challenge, with chances to run for a distance of 5K, 10K or for a half marathon. You don’t have to be a member of Engineers Without Borders to get involved – all runners are welcome!

R2EP is a team of compassionate runners united for a common cause – to bring an end to extreme poverty in Africa. Runners across Canada and Africa have run together to raise awareness about extreme poverty, and to build support for Engineers Without Borders’ development efforts in Africa. The team has grown with races now planned in Calgary, Edmonton,

Vancouver, Montreal, Waterloo, and Ottawa. R2EP provides team members with the opportunity

to train together, learn together, and to race together within local high profile running races – this year the ScotiaBank Calgary Marathon. Through coaching and training workshops and weekly group runs, beginners can build a strong base while experienced runners can improve their abilities and aim for their personal best!

For more information, or to sign up, please contact Barend Dronkers at bpdronkers@gmail.com.