Tic, tac, tic, tac…

20 days!

Excited? Nervous? Zen?

Hum… maybe a bit of the three?

Nervous?

Oh yes! Not a lot of days left before pre-departure training and so much to do until then! Catching up with readings, more research about Zambia, development in Africa, getting the last vaccine required, trying anti-malaria pills, packing and realizing that shopping is not over…

I am also nervous about the expectations for the placement. What will be my role overseas? What kind of impact will I have in my host community? How will the partner organization and host community perceive me? To be honest, I have the fear of not being able to meet up with the expectations from EWB, my chapter and myself. There is always the fear of doing more harm than good while overseas. I don’t want my actions to create a negative impact in the community, but I am aware that my knowledge about international development and the history and culture of Zambia is limited and that will affect my perception of current situations and my decisions. I also don’t want to reinforce existing stereotypes about Westerners that have money to give away and knowledge to spread around. To avoid references to neo-colonialism and hopefully break the image of Westerners coming to save the world, I think that the attitude that I will have is key. Going with an open mind and a desire to learn and understand will put me at the same level than Dorothy.

(Who is Dorothy? I will tell you more in future posts but in short: Dorothy is the name that we give to the person that we are working for in EWB. She is the community that I will be living with. She is the people that I will be working with. She is there to remind us that our actions and decisions can have an impact even miles away from us.)

I also have the fear of getting sick in a remote area but hopefully the vaccines will help me and the insect repellent as well. (I am a real candy bar for mosquitoes!)

Feeling isolated is another fear, but my journal will be my best friend and I can’t wait to discover the surprise package especially put together by the GEWBies (The Guelph EWB Chapter) for those loneliness moments. Thanks GEWBies!

One would think that having gone already in a developing country would immune you from cultural shock, but no one is ever prepared enough to resist it. I hope that it won’t be worst than the first time I had it and that I will be able to jump in right back in university life as I only have a few days between my arrival and the start of the classes.

Excited?

BIG YES! I am very excited about meeting my partner organization and see how EWB can collaborate with them! I am excited about finding out more about my role within the organization to contribute to positive change! I am excited about living in a totally different culture, learning the Bemba language, learning about their livelihoods, meeting new friends, meeting Dorothy… I am excited about gaining a better understanding of development and come back to Canada to share my experiences!

Zen?

Not often these days, but I do experience some moments of calmness… in my sleep!

Métro boulot dodo...

(Le français suit.)
During the past weeks, I got caught in the typical cycle of exam time: study, eat, sleep, study, study, eat... Exam time put my preparation for the summer a bit on the side, but I don't have my next (and last!) exam before Thursday, so I have more time to enjoy the sun outside and update my blog!

So let's start with the great news!
I'll be working with Development Aid from People to People - DAPP (exciting name!) on a project in a partnership with Water Aid Zambia and funded by UNICEF! The project in a nutshell is to help people to have access to the tools and knowledge needed to improve their household's well. I will be based in Luapala Province in the North of the country.

DAPP values capacity building and focuses on projects related to current issues in Zambia: orphans, HIV/AIDS, community development, agriculture, environment, social development and education. As I was reading their website, I came across this paragraph in which they explain the idea behind their approach and I am looking forward to see how this approach impact the communities:

"By empowering the individual, DAPP supports various communities in Zambia to develop. The projects promote education at all levels through programs in schools, training the teachers, teaching the peasant farmers and their families, training the workers in the projects and training those around the projects. The idea is to create good examples as inspiration to many people."

DAPP is a new partner to EWB and I will have the chance to be the first to establish a good relationship with them! Having a long term volunteer already working with UNICEF on the project, others with Water Aid and myself with DAPP will allow us to get a better understanding of the interactions and politics between the three organisations!

Since 1986, DAPP has been working to empower Zambians to break away from the cycle of poverty.
In a matter of one day, I moved away from the cycle of exam time.
Imagine if the cycle of poverty was that easy to break...


Au cours des dernières semaines, j'ai été emportée par le cycle de la période d'examens: étude, bouffe, dodo, étude, encore étude, bouffe... La période d'examens m'a obligée à mettre de côté ma préparation pour cet été de côté, mais mon prochain (et dernier!) examen n'est pas avant jeudi! J'ai donc plus de temps pour profiter du soleil et mettre à jour mon blogue!

Alors commençons par les grandes nouvelles!
Je vais travailler avec Development Aid from People to People - DAPP (un nom excitant!) sur un projet en partenariat avec Water Aid Zambia et financé par UNICEF! En bref, le projet consiste à aider les gens à avoir accès aux outils et aux connaissances requis pour améliorer leur puits domestiques. Je vais être basée dans la province de Luapala dans le nord du pays.

DAPP valorise le renforcement des capacités et met l'emphase sur des projets liés aux enjeux actuels au Zambie: orphelins, VIH/SIDA, développement des communautés, agriculture, environnement, développement social et éducation. Alors que je lisais leur site web, je suis tombée sur ce paragraphe dans lequel ils expliquent l'idée derrière leur approche et j'ai vraiment hâte de constater à quel point cette approche a un impact dans les communautés visées:

(Traduction libre)

"En travaillant à développer chaque individu, DAPP soutient plusieurs communautés de la Zambie dans leur développement. Les projets font la promotion de l'éducation à tous les niveaux à travers des programmes dans les écoles, des formations pour les enseignants, les agriculteurs et leurs familles, des formations pour les travailleurs impliqués dans les projets et des formations pour ceux qui gravitent autour des projets. Le but est de créer des modèles exemplaires comme inspiration pour plusieurs personnes."

DAPP est un tout nouveau partenaire d'Ingénieurs sans frontières et je vais avoir la chance d'être la première à établir une bonne relation avec eux! En ayant une volontaire long-terme avec UNICEF, d'autres volontaires avec Water Aid et moi-même avec DAPP pour travailller sur le même projet, cela nous permettra d'avoir une meilleure compréhension des intéractions et des politiques entre les trois organisations.

Depuis 1986, DAPP travaille à empower les Zambiens à briser le cycle de la pauvreté.
En un jour, j'ai réussi à me défaire du cycle de la période d'examens.
Si seulement le cercle vicieux de la pauvreté était aussi facile à briser...