chyea
international development enterprises
re: tony fedec
10 kantanta road
kitwe, zambia (africa haha)
this is going to work because i think mail is better there than at home
cant wait to get some mmmmaaaaiiilllzzz
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
PHOTO MOTO AGAIN!!!!!!
more soon..this post is unfinished.
much love to you all.
extra to you. you know who.
captions tomorrow.
along with more.
cheers.
tony
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tiny update...new internet cafe...things are going better
This was from an email within our IDE team of JF's. It encompass alot of things that I have been doing. I took out some sensitive details..please pardon that.
YOYOYOYOO!!!!
Today was day one for me (Tuesday the 26th). I arrived here on friday and met with my counterpart and we talked for a while but the rest of the team was out in the field (more on that below). SO she droped me after her friends place where I would be staying. This house I am staying at is really great, my family is awesome and they have welcomed me with open arms. There have been somethings I have had to get used to such as their religion (or most people in Zambia according to the ones who i spoke to) as my mum is a religous leader in our community so daily (very daily ) prayer is a must. I live with two kids, a 17 year old teenager their mum plus her brother which is father to one of the children. There is also another man who lives here who is renting a room, his name is Anthony and is a rad dude. We have become solid friends. But life is not perfect. Some members of the family have been asking me for money a little to easily and it has been very hard to say no...i also feel like one of them has been taking the liberty of going through my things (like finding an old cell phone burried in my stuff then asking if they could have it...its broken so i said yes but i am rather disapointed that this is happening...at the same time i understand that they see me as a rich person and these things dont mean much to me....glad pre dep talked about these things before leaving...) and their religion is very intense, i have been to church (we went for 10+ years from what I can remember) and it was nothing like this. I have never been so scared in my life. Other than that I feel like I could be pushing my comfort zone more...but I dont know how..I have tried so much and things are going really well...I have really connected with this family and have gained my role in it...and I have slowly started gaining responsibility in this household..I am looking forward for the moment when I am not a guest but a true member (hopefully this happens).
Anyway, to IDE!
Well my office is composed of three staff.
-Aggie the team leader, she has a diploma in agriculture/forrestry
-Chiseba the Kitwe office dude - he is in charge of all activities in Kitwe (although there are not many farmers in Kitwe but outsdie of it)
-Mwakoi the Ndola leader who takes care of all activites in the Ndola region. He is also the Irrigation technology guru.
From being in the office one day here are my observations:
-this team is ultra indepedent, they only meet once every two weeks to discuss their projects in between those times no one really sees each other but does their own thing. We had a team meeting today (thankfuly) which made me understand how good this team works...I am going to have a hard time finding my impact (although this was day one) or maybe not. I don't know but I am so impressed with the high functionality of this team. I showed they my terms of reference so we could all be on the same page on what I was there to do in order to plan accordingly. They were excited to know I would be working specifically on market linkages which seemed to be something they are really stressing about, they then informed they had VERY HIGH expectations of me...so i better perform.
As our meeting ended they asked me to create an action plan for myself and have in done in 30min...something I could work on for the whole summer but they wanted me to create a project for myslef on the first day....that through me off. Anyway after wondering what the hell I was going to be making I came up with the idea of having a market information database that could be accessible by the staff, zone and group leaders as well as their promoters (do they breakdown their regions in this way for you guys too??). They seemed to be interested but as I presented I also stressed the need for me to spend some serious time understanding the environment I am working in and how they work and what I can help with. They agreed and so everything was cool. I was also informed that their previous marketing student was still in town and that I could draw much knowledge from her so that I was not blind. One of their major faults right now is they have tons of market info...in their heads and not physically accessible...which means for the next few weeks I will be slowly extracting data from the three teams leads and the past student when she is avaiable.
In short:
-My team is super functional and independant
-They know what they are doing
-They expect a lot for me, so I have quite the challenge ahead.
-There is much information within the office but it needs to be extracted and made accessible
-Right now I feel as if the office could benefit for a buisness student more than an engineer but who cares...i will learn.
As for the XXXX situation:
As you all may know by now the price was set at XXXX which is about XXXX is the dollar does not dip or the kwacha does not get any better (my office thinks the kwacha is on the rise for now which is not very good). They are not stoked on the fact they have to go and tell all their farmers the contract was re-neged and they would be get XXX less than they were promised (they too were under the impression that it would be XXX). I am going to the feild tomrorow to visit some farmers and assess their quality and quantity of beans with Chiseba.
I would re type my mind/body/heart but its on my blog. I worked on it today. Over all my body is wierd..still getting used to all this food, i need to exercise more. Mind is ok but I feel guilty at points..I feel like I should push my comfort zone more but I do not know how...i will call mark in a few days and discuss...i would consider moving but i have made such strong connections with this family and my boss assured me this a very true and honest zambian/kitwe life experience. heart is mixed, i am feeling good and down at the same time..i hope to get in a good groove soon, maybe once work really kicks in. kitwe is great but not very rural, maybe i set my expectations too high for a rural experience and need to be realistic about how living works where i am.
hope you are all very well. i miss you all much.
take care and much love,
tony
thats all folks.
more to come.
photos soon i promise.
ah and mom. if you want to post on here you must create a google account. it is very easy.
just goto gmail.com and go from there. it will change your life.
YOYOYOYOO!!!!
Today was day one for me (Tuesday the 26th). I arrived here on friday and met with my counterpart and we talked for a while but the rest of the team was out in the field (more on that below). SO she droped me after her friends place where I would be staying. This house I am staying at is really great, my family is awesome and they have welcomed me with open arms. There have been somethings I have had to get used to such as their religion (or most people in Zambia according to the ones who i spoke to) as my mum is a religous leader in our community so daily (very daily ) prayer is a must. I live with two kids, a 17 year old teenager their mum plus her brother which is father to one of the children. There is also another man who lives here who is renting a room, his name is Anthony and is a rad dude. We have become solid friends. But life is not perfect. Some members of the family have been asking me for money a little to easily and it has been very hard to say no...i also feel like one of them has been taking the liberty of going through my things (like finding an old cell phone burried in my stuff then asking if they could have it...its broken so i said yes but i am rather disapointed that this is happening...at the same time i understand that they see me as a rich person and these things dont mean much to me....glad pre dep talked about these things before leaving...) and their religion is very intense, i have been to church (we went for 10+ years from what I can remember) and it was nothing like this. I have never been so scared in my life. Other than that I feel like I could be pushing my comfort zone more...but I dont know how..I have tried so much and things are going really well...I have really connected with this family and have gained my role in it...and I have slowly started gaining responsibility in this household..I am looking forward for the moment when I am not a guest but a true member (hopefully this happens).
Anyway, to IDE!
Well my office is composed of three staff.
-Aggie the team leader, she has a diploma in agriculture/forrestry
-Chiseba the Kitwe office dude - he is in charge of all activities in Kitwe (although there are not many farmers in Kitwe but outsdie of it)
-Mwakoi the Ndola leader who takes care of all activites in the Ndola region. He is also the Irrigation technology guru.
From being in the office one day here are my observations:
-this team is ultra indepedent, they only meet once every two weeks to discuss their projects in between those times no one really sees each other but does their own thing. We had a team meeting today (thankfuly) which made me understand how good this team works...I am going to have a hard time finding my impact (although this was day one) or maybe not. I don't know but I am so impressed with the high functionality of this team. I showed they my terms of reference so we could all be on the same page on what I was there to do in order to plan accordingly. They were excited to know I would be working specifically on market linkages which seemed to be something they are really stressing about, they then informed they had VERY HIGH expectations of me...so i better perform.
As our meeting ended they asked me to create an action plan for myself and have in done in 30min...something I could work on for the whole summer but they wanted me to create a project for myslef on the first day....that through me off. Anyway after wondering what the hell I was going to be making I came up with the idea of having a market information database that could be accessible by the staff, zone and group leaders as well as their promoters (do they breakdown their regions in this way for you guys too??). They seemed to be interested but as I presented I also stressed the need for me to spend some serious time understanding the environment I am working in and how they work and what I can help with. They agreed and so everything was cool. I was also informed that their previous marketing student was still in town and that I could draw much knowledge from her so that I was not blind. One of their major faults right now is they have tons of market info...in their heads and not physically accessible...which means for the next few weeks I will be slowly extracting data from the three teams leads and the past student when she is avaiable.
In short:
-My team is super functional and independant
-They know what they are doing
-They expect a lot for me, so I have quite the challenge ahead.
-There is much information within the office but it needs to be extracted and made accessible
-Right now I feel as if the office could benefit for a buisness student more than an engineer but who cares...i will learn.
As for the XXXX situation:
As you all may know by now the price was set at XXXX which is about XXXX is the dollar does not dip or the kwacha does not get any better (my office thinks the kwacha is on the rise for now which is not very good). They are not stoked on the fact they have to go and tell all their farmers the contract was re-neged and they would be get XXX less than they were promised (they too were under the impression that it would be XXX). I am going to the feild tomrorow to visit some farmers and assess their quality and quantity of beans with Chiseba.
I would re type my mind/body/heart but its on my blog. I worked on it today. Over all my body is wierd..still getting used to all this food, i need to exercise more. Mind is ok but I feel guilty at points..I feel like I should push my comfort zone more but I do not know how...i will call mark in a few days and discuss...i would consider moving but i have made such strong connections with this family and my boss assured me this a very true and honest zambian/kitwe life experience. heart is mixed, i am feeling good and down at the same time..i hope to get in a good groove soon, maybe once work really kicks in. kitwe is great but not very rural, maybe i set my expectations too high for a rural experience and need to be realistic about how living works where i am.
hope you are all very well. i miss you all much.
take care and much love,
tony
thats all folks.
more to come.
photos soon i promise.
ah and mom. if you want to post on here you must create a google account. it is very easy.
just goto gmail.com and go from there. it will change your life.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
round 2 of heart/body/mind....see what i mean the internet hates blogspot. might just hate me. I AM A VIRUSSSSSS. no. i am not.
so how am i doing heart/body/mind? Body: It has its ups and downs. right now is it good because i am full, i dont get very many "big" meals but i had a huge chicken shwarma today. oh yea, being vegetarian here is impossile....i am dying to get healthy food in me. some places dont have water for sale...coke and fanta (which is like orange pop...they have it at some places in canada). i feel weak about 60% of the time but i have been excersing and doing yoga 2 times a day. ah this is were i have a favor to ask you. could you send me some yoga flows from the internet...google is really slow here and it takes forever to search. its not even that i dont have the money to do it (i do, money i am good) but time is hard to come by or access to internet...i never know when i will have a reliable amount. i have not built up the courage to run around my 'hood yet. soon i hope. still trying to fit in...the scariest part is the ground...its so uneven that if i am not looking on the ground i will break my neck...its unexplainable...i will take photos...overall i am really trying to keep my health on top.
Mind: I am either bored or overwhelmed. Well 80% i am in those catagories. The other 20% i am uncertain. Today for example is my first day at work...we had a planning meeting for 3.5 hours then my boss was like "tony, go sit in the corner over there and make an action plan for the summer about your position....." well i did that and i came up with some random ideas (i let her know that) but i also explained for a real action plan to be made i need some time to understand the environment i am working in, how they are working, their strengths and their weaknesses. my one idea we went with (and surprisingly they need this i was told) was an information database for all their market information. they have tons of infomation about their surrounding regions and their markets (this office has awesome potential but they also use about 80%, they are very very effective and good at what they do) but they lack the recrod keeping and orginization. i have no physical information to gather, i have to interview and pry information for each of my three co workers. so this was an example overwhelming bored times are when no one is home and i am there alone or everyone is talking in bemba and forget that i am there...thats hard sometimes. i really feel alone at those points. i am getting some bemba down but im kinda slow. i think tonight i will update my bemba guide. i keep my mind going with solitaire, i am so happy i brought cards... what i good idea. ah now favor number two...could you (not right away, whenever you have time) find me some instructions and rules for one players card games...i love solitaire but im starting to get bored. i hate to do this but im a little desparate.
Heart: Ah...the hardest one to define. its flutters...i have been feeling like i am not pushing myself enough lately and i need to do so. but at the same time i am really comfortable talking to strangers or being alone in the markets or cities. so i am at a loss. i was told that it would be very difficult for me to find a rural experience in this town, i think that is what is getting to me. i feel guilty because i am in a house with power and i have my own room...but i dont know what else to do. i am learning the customs ( i think ) and i am gaining a true kitwe experience ( i hope..people tell me so ). i have been participating in church, family activites, conversations about life here...seeing local markets....but i still feel down in the heart area...i feel like i am cheating somehow. so i will be pushing myself more and more. although i have to admit i have still avoided the latrine experience..contrary to popular belief there are many flush toilets and i have been using those....latrines scare me due to the increased chance of spiders.
this was an exerpt from something. please forget the questions but i did not want to alter the utter (moo!) truth.
Mind: I am either bored or overwhelmed. Well 80% i am in those catagories. The other 20% i am uncertain. Today for example is my first day at work...we had a planning meeting for 3.5 hours then my boss was like "tony, go sit in the corner over there and make an action plan for the summer about your position....." well i did that and i came up with some random ideas (i let her know that) but i also explained for a real action plan to be made i need some time to understand the environment i am working in, how they are working, their strengths and their weaknesses. my one idea we went with (and surprisingly they need this i was told) was an information database for all their market information. they have tons of infomation about their surrounding regions and their markets (this office has awesome potential but they also use about 80%, they are very very effective and good at what they do) but they lack the recrod keeping and orginization. i have no physical information to gather, i have to interview and pry information for each of my three co workers. so this was an example overwhelming bored times are when no one is home and i am there alone or everyone is talking in bemba and forget that i am there...thats hard sometimes. i really feel alone at those points. i am getting some bemba down but im kinda slow. i think tonight i will update my bemba guide. i keep my mind going with solitaire, i am so happy i brought cards... what i good idea. ah now favor number two...could you (not right away, whenever you have time) find me some instructions and rules for one players card games...i love solitaire but im starting to get bored. i hate to do this but im a little desparate.
Heart: Ah...the hardest one to define. its flutters...i have been feeling like i am not pushing myself enough lately and i need to do so. but at the same time i am really comfortable talking to strangers or being alone in the markets or cities. so i am at a loss. i was told that it would be very difficult for me to find a rural experience in this town, i think that is what is getting to me. i feel guilty because i am in a house with power and i have my own room...but i dont know what else to do. i am learning the customs ( i think ) and i am gaining a true kitwe experience ( i hope..people tell me so ). i have been participating in church, family activites, conversations about life here...seeing local markets....but i still feel down in the heart area...i feel like i am cheating somehow. so i will be pushing myself more and more. although i have to admit i have still avoided the latrine experience..contrary to popular belief there are many flush toilets and i have been using those....latrines scare me due to the increased chance of spiders.
this was an exerpt from something. please forget the questions but i did not want to alter the utter (moo!) truth.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
photo moto (had to, just because)....the rooster wins.
As we get smaller.
chyea.
Ooooo..the festivities
The last supper
Tough as nails - Annette
The market down by the river in Lilongwe
How to vote in Malawi
Lilongwe night lights
Touchdown in Africa
Airplane lights to MalawiSo this is it.
I am leaving for Kitwe this morning and will be arriving there tomorrow afternnon-ish. The rooster won, we never caught it although I got an audio clip to share. Keep your ears peeled.
I am leaving for Kitwe this morning and will be arriving there tomorrow afternnon-ish. The rooster won, we never caught it although I got an audio clip to share. Keep your ears peeled.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
photos....the rooster must die
airplanes in amsterdam
breakfast in amsterdam airport. klassan is off da hook.
chillin with persons in pearson
JFs of DDDOOOOOOMMMMM
Alfred the man.
Let's talk about I.M.P.A.C.T and possibly Sogruhm
Moustache = Big Man
left to write : Deg, Andrew, Annalise, Rob, Vicky
so there are some photos of pre dep and departure. next set will be of malawi and zambia. keep your oranges ripe.
also....the rooster MUST be stoped.
also....the rooster MUST be stoped.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Damn Rooster...
Well here I am...finally in Zambia.
It took a 14 hour bus ride from Lilongwe, Malawi to Lusaka, Zambia but what a ride it was. I never expected the rolling hills or the forests that we saw. Although 70+ people on a grehound-like bus gets really hot really fast. There was a point where it got so full th e bus pulled over and people started to get kicked off...this lasted for about 20 minutes it also led to someone yelling "Do us no evil, Do us no evil".
But, after all that, we got here to Lusaka. This place is wild, I never dreamed it to be so industrialized. There are highways and cars everywhere, and a handfull of 10+ story buildings.
The first day we were here we got to meet all the people at the IDE headquaters and had a meeting about where IDE is and what is going on for the summer. One of the major projects that is going on right now with IDE is the bean project. The project is an aggrement with a bean distributor who has provided farmers with essential inputs for growing beans througout the season, once harvested the beans are then sold back to the distributor at a set price. Harvest is just ending and IDE is connecting the farmers with the distrivutor for transportation of the harvest. There is also encouragement for the farmers to bulk up their beans together in order to save on transportation costs, IDE is also facilitating this.
On top of the bean project my focus will be on market facilitation projects. Which means I will be aiding my office in helping rural farmers by creating links between them and local markets in Kitwe. I am sure this sounds a little abstract so one example of this last year was a JF worked with a high scale hotel and their buyers to create agrrements for fresh procude that was grown in advance for the hotel. Every two weeks the buyers would visit the farmers to collect the vegetables they ordered and bring it back to the hotel to serve. This type of connection gave frequent income for over 60 farmers but this is only one type of linkage...there are many others that are possible. I can't wait to get out there.
As for the damn rooster....we are staying at a hostel. For some reason they have a rooster there....and for some reason it does not bother them that it yells at every hourly intervale. I woke up this morning just sitting there in front of our porch...i think it smiled at me, knowing how much sleep it took away from me. I might have to make some rooster soup soon.
Anywho!
I am about to enter day 1 of 2 for the ID market facilitation meeting.
Chyea!
Tony
It took a 14 hour bus ride from Lilongwe, Malawi to Lusaka, Zambia but what a ride it was. I never expected the rolling hills or the forests that we saw. Although 70+ people on a grehound-like bus gets really hot really fast. There was a point where it got so full th e bus pulled over and people started to get kicked off...this lasted for about 20 minutes it also led to someone yelling "Do us no evil, Do us no evil".
But, after all that, we got here to Lusaka. This place is wild, I never dreamed it to be so industrialized. There are highways and cars everywhere, and a handfull of 10+ story buildings.
The first day we were here we got to meet all the people at the IDE headquaters and had a meeting about where IDE is and what is going on for the summer. One of the major projects that is going on right now with IDE is the bean project. The project is an aggrement with a bean distributor who has provided farmers with essential inputs for growing beans througout the season, once harvested the beans are then sold back to the distributor at a set price. Harvest is just ending and IDE is connecting the farmers with the distrivutor for transportation of the harvest. There is also encouragement for the farmers to bulk up their beans together in order to save on transportation costs, IDE is also facilitating this.
On top of the bean project my focus will be on market facilitation projects. Which means I will be aiding my office in helping rural farmers by creating links between them and local markets in Kitwe. I am sure this sounds a little abstract so one example of this last year was a JF worked with a high scale hotel and their buyers to create agrrements for fresh procude that was grown in advance for the hotel. Every two weeks the buyers would visit the farmers to collect the vegetables they ordered and bring it back to the hotel to serve. This type of connection gave frequent income for over 60 farmers but this is only one type of linkage...there are many others that are possible. I can't wait to get out there.
As for the damn rooster....we are staying at a hostel. For some reason they have a rooster there....and for some reason it does not bother them that it yells at every hourly intervale. I woke up this morning just sitting there in front of our porch...i think it smiled at me, knowing how much sleep it took away from me. I might have to make some rooster soup soon.
Anywho!
I am about to enter day 1 of 2 for the ID market facilitation meeting.
Chyea!
Tony
another update
hey hey
my laptop is about to die.
quick things.
i am well.
kinda broke my laptop but there is everlasting hope.
i think about you all the time. i really do.
southern africa is beaitful
please post your adress and you will get post cards.
100%
my email is tony.fedec@gmai.com
more formal post to come.
the stars here are breathtaking.
expect more soon.
love,
tony
my laptop is about to die.
quick things.
i am well.
kinda broke my laptop but there is everlasting hope.
i think about you all the time. i really do.
southern africa is beaitful
please post your adress and you will get post cards.
100%
my email is tony.fedec@gmai.com
more formal post to come.
the stars here are breathtaking.
expect more soon.
love,
tony
Update from the sky
from toronto to amsterdam
amsterdam to niarobi
now niarobi to lilongwe
what a day....
we have been traveling for almost 30 hours
but im feeling pretty fine.
it was quite a surprise to find out that KLM offers free "drinks" on their planes.
there is no doubt that i took full advantage of this.
its been a rather hazzy adventure.
right now we are a couple thousand feet up in the air and the city lights of niarobi just fades away
next stop is lilongwe, malawi were we will be for the next 3 days getting in country training and information.
our plane will land at 1am where we will be graciously greeted by melissa leafas our junior fellow support staff and collen duncan a long term overseas volunteer.
the mash of hours have gone by in such an odd pace i do not know how i feel anymore.
am i tired? sorta
am i rested? ya..sorta
am i full? oh yes. i cannot belive the ammount of air plane food i have consumed.
airplane meals - 4
air plane drinks - 8
airplane movies - 3...all pretty terrible
back to malawi..
once the malawi experience has come to an end half of us are off to zambia.
from lilongwe (the city where we fly into) to lusaka (capital of zambia) it is a 12 hour mini bus ride! whoo hoo.
but it does not stop there.
from lusaka to kitwe, where i will be working it is a 5 hour mini bus ride again.
i am really going to have to plan my bathroom breaks.
i am pretty stoked to get on the ground.
keep an eye out for some photos in the next few posts.
much love,
tony
amsterdam to niarobi
now niarobi to lilongwe
what a day....
we have been traveling for almost 30 hours
but im feeling pretty fine.
it was quite a surprise to find out that KLM offers free "drinks" on their planes.
there is no doubt that i took full advantage of this.
its been a rather hazzy adventure.
right now we are a couple thousand feet up in the air and the city lights of niarobi just fades away
next stop is lilongwe, malawi were we will be for the next 3 days getting in country training and information.
our plane will land at 1am where we will be graciously greeted by melissa leafas our junior fellow support staff and collen duncan a long term overseas volunteer.
the mash of hours have gone by in such an odd pace i do not know how i feel anymore.
am i tired? sorta
am i rested? ya..sorta
am i full? oh yes. i cannot belive the ammount of air plane food i have consumed.
airplane meals - 4
air plane drinks - 8
airplane movies - 3...all pretty terrible
back to malawi..
once the malawi experience has come to an end half of us are off to zambia.
from lilongwe (the city where we fly into) to lusaka (capital of zambia) it is a 12 hour mini bus ride! whoo hoo.
but it does not stop there.
from lusaka to kitwe, where i will be working it is a 5 hour mini bus ride again.
i am really going to have to plan my bathroom breaks.
i am pretty stoked to get on the ground.
keep an eye out for some photos in the next few posts.
much love,
tony
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
airport scents
ah..
the smell of leaving.
i cannot remember the last time i felt like this.
everything is slowly fading away for me.
soon this canadian paradise will be fading too.
but there is new things ahead.
a new land.
a new climate.
a new home...
it would be an understatement to say im nervous.
but im nervous in a pretty good way.
i know that i am in good hands and that there are some great opportunities in store for me in Zambia.
i know that my loved ones got my back.
the friends i have made this week are here/there for me.
its hard sometimes to leave something so good but i know that this is what i want.
i know that i will be happy. that there is so much to be learned.
no more textbooks for a few months. its all about experiences.
what kind of experiences?
well let's start with what i know of...
my job.
i am working with Internation development enterprises (IDE) in Kitwe, Zambia.
IDE's work focuses on water technologies for rural farmers. More specifically treddle pumps and drip irrigation systems.
The project I am working on is called the Rural Poverty Initiative. The project's focus is all about getting rural farmers to make more money. The main idea is to grow more produce and sell it to surrounding markets. So for the last 3 years IDE has worked on getting farmers to grow more produce and now that things have settled the other part beings, getting that extra produce to the market.
I will be working with the IDE office on market linkages. My main priority is to help build the capacity of the feild staff there so that they can be even more9 effecive than what they already are. Thanks to my extensive job experience with 5 other orginizations I will be able to use my diverse experience to give different perspectives for their office.
But this is still a lot of paper terms. I am not exactly sure what all this will turn into but I promise to keep this blog up to date.
Hit me with some comments.
Much love to you all.
Time to fly.
the smell of leaving.
i cannot remember the last time i felt like this.
everything is slowly fading away for me.
soon this canadian paradise will be fading too.
but there is new things ahead.
a new land.
a new climate.
a new home...
it would be an understatement to say im nervous.
but im nervous in a pretty good way.
i know that i am in good hands and that there are some great opportunities in store for me in Zambia.
i know that my loved ones got my back.
the friends i have made this week are here/there for me.
its hard sometimes to leave something so good but i know that this is what i want.
i know that i will be happy. that there is so much to be learned.
no more textbooks for a few months. its all about experiences.
what kind of experiences?
well let's start with what i know of...
my job.
i am working with Internation development enterprises (IDE) in Kitwe, Zambia.
IDE's work focuses on water technologies for rural farmers. More specifically treddle pumps and drip irrigation systems.
The project I am working on is called the Rural Poverty Initiative. The project's focus is all about getting rural farmers to make more money. The main idea is to grow more produce and sell it to surrounding markets. So for the last 3 years IDE has worked on getting farmers to grow more produce and now that things have settled the other part beings, getting that extra produce to the market.
I will be working with the IDE office on market linkages. My main priority is to help build the capacity of the feild staff there so that they can be even more9 effecive than what they already are. Thanks to my extensive job experience with 5 other orginizations I will be able to use my diverse experience to give different perspectives for their office.
But this is still a lot of paper terms. I am not exactly sure what all this will turn into but I promise to keep this blog up to date.
Hit me with some comments.
Much love to you all.
Time to fly.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The start
Well well well...
So here it is. Pre-Departure training.
I am finally here.
I left Guelph today at 4pm. Made my way to Toronto.
Downtown Toronto. The EWB intern house in a pretty solid little area.
After claiming a bed we all gathered and waited for the group to arrive.
Not too much went down today other than some logistical info and house rules and politics.
Tomorrow is going to be the first big day, we have our health session along with one on one guidance then we are heading out to a dinner event. should be interesting.
i know this is a little monotonous right now but things are going to gear up soon.
much love.
i should post my job description shortly....maybe tomorrow.
it is exciting.
agriculture value chains.
oh baby ;)
So here it is. Pre-Departure training.
I am finally here.
I left Guelph today at 4pm. Made my way to Toronto.
Downtown Toronto. The EWB intern house in a pretty solid little area.
After claiming a bed we all gathered and waited for the group to arrive.
Not too much went down today other than some logistical info and house rules and politics.
Tomorrow is going to be the first big day, we have our health session along with one on one guidance then we are heading out to a dinner event. should be interesting.
i know this is a little monotonous right now but things are going to gear up soon.
much love.
i should post my job description shortly....maybe tomorrow.
it is exciting.
agriculture value chains.
oh baby ;)
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