SPRINGNEWSLETTER
EWB PROFESSIONAL FELLOWSHIP 2011 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 those whom we are working to benefit. The participants of this year’s Professional Fellowship (PF) have been selected. We are pleased to announce that Calgary is sending two volunteers, Eric Limacher and Kevin Hanson. They will be joined from 2 volunteers from Vancouver, 1 from Edmonton, 1 from Toronto, and 2 from Ottawa. Kevin and Eric will be working with our African Programs teams from August to December 2011. Prior to their departure they are participating in numerous training sessions in Canada. When they return to Calgary in January 2012 they will be hosting sessions to share their work.
KEVIN HANSON Kevin
is
a
Professional
ERIC LIMACHER years
Eric currently works for New Energy Corporation Inc.
experience working in the Oil and Gas industry in Calgary.
Engineer
with
nine
designing and developing hydrokinetic turbines. Eric loves
He has been actively involved with Engineers Without
sports of all kinds, hiking, camping,motorcycles, reading,
Borders for the past four years and is currently finishing
and diving into whatever life throws at him. He loves being
up his tenure as Calgary Chapter Co-President. Kevin is an
outside and the anticipation of spring and summer.
enthusiastic traveller, certified SCUBA diver, avid art housecinema goer and aspiring to become a competent salsa dancer. What are looking forward to about being a Professional Fellow?
What are looking forward to about being a Professional Fellow? The next three months are going to fly by and it won’t be long before I’m getting on an airplane. I know it will be tough to be away from the comforts of home for four
I am looking forward to getting firsthand knowledge and
months, but I believe that is a key element of this process.
experience on the long term development work that our
I want to step out of my comfortablelife in Calgary, to
organization is doing. I have done a significant amount of
broaden my perspective and deepenmy understanding of
travelling as a backpacker and tourist over the years, but
development, to put myself in others’ shoes and to really
this placement represents a great opportunity to make
learn what is necessary to make a sustainable positive
connections with the people in the local community over
impact for others.In the technical circles of which I am a
a longer term and in a more authentic way. As a result
part, I hear plenty of ideas about how we in Canada can help
of thisI hope to get the opportunity to understand the
to develop Africa. What I don’t hear is talk of sustainable
wchallenges that the people in my host community face, the
implementation processes, the development of local
causes of them, and then assist in work of addressing these
leadership and the involvement of this leadership in
challenges and bringing that knowledge back home with
strategic planning. I’m looking forward to approaching
me to Canada.
development with an eye towards sustainability.
SPRINGNEWSLETTER 1
Calgary as a Fair Trade Town? The idea of a Fair Trade Town was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1999. Awareness of Fair Trade was promoted in Garstang by an Oxfam Group, and quickly gained formal endorsement by local community,
photo by E. Logan
media and politicians. This grassroots movement has gained worldwide momentum and there are now
Celebrate! Africa
over 500 Fair Trade Towns spanning the globe. The
Despite a furious spring snowstorm, over 100 people joined together on Saturday, April 2nd to Celebrate!Africa. Celebrate!Africa is one of EWB Calgary’s key annual fundraising events. This year, attendees had the chance to join with to test out
push to create Fair Trade Towns isactively linking communities and producers around the world, bringing about a greater awareness of what it means to be a conscious consumer. Wolfville, N.S. acquired
their rhythm dancing to the drums of Ibrahim Diallo,
status in 2007 and was
from the Congo.
named
Canada’s
first
Fair Trade Town. Last As part of the fundraising activities, a photo silent auction
year,
and contest was held. Photos were submitted by EWB
the first major Canadian
members, family and friends, and judged on the basis of
city to be recognized
highest auction price. Congratulations to Brett Cedergren
as fair trade. Halifax is
and Karen Hincks whose photos garnered the two highest
currently
auction prices.
towards Fair Trade Town
donated
prizes
or
materials for the event: Swizzlesticks Salon & Spa, Higher Ground, Teaopia,
Manana
Gifts
Imports,
Blacks
and
Photography,
One WorldDrum Co., Safeway and Calgary Co-op. We look forward to hosting
this
event
again in Spring 2012, and will hopefully see you there.
was
working
certification.
We would also like a knowledge those who
Vancouver
Thank you to volunteers
In
Calgary,
members
of
EWB
are
currently
laying
the ground work for greater availability of Fair Trade products, wand ultimately, working towards achieving Fair Trade Town status.
Stacey Cedergren, Jodi McMullen, Jodi MacMillan, Jennifer Tam, Meheran Mehta and Nikhil Ramesh for their time in organizing and running Celebrate! Africa.
FairTrade Canada (formerly TransFair Canada) has outlined 6 goals focused on gaining support of local businesses, political authority and the community at large that must be attained to become a Fair Trade Town. formal support from local political authority (city council); ensuring a fixed proportion (per population) of retail outlets, restaurants and cafes sell or serve two or more Fair Trade Certified products; visible support of community groups; support of the public through active media campaigns and public events;establishment of a local Fair Trade steering committee; the presence of additional community initiatives regarding ethical and sustainable consumption.
SPRINGNEWSLETTER 2
The Run to End Poverty –Running for a Reason On May 29 2011, compassionate runners are hitting the streets as part of Calgary’s second annual Run to End Poverty (R2EP) in support of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) . In addition to individual runners, local corporations have also registered as part of the R2EP’s corporate challenge, providing the chance for colleagues to team-build while also helping build opportunities for rural African’s to access programs The Run to End Poverty was born in 2007, when an EWB volunteer in Ghana, West Africa, and three EWB chapters in
photo by E. Logan
Montreal created a truly ‘international’ half-marathon event. Simultaneous runs were held in Montreal, Quebec and
Richard and Juilet are cocoa farmers with the Fair Trade Certified
Tamale, Ghana to raise awareness about extreme poverty
Farmers Cooperative Kuapa Kokoo, located just outside of Kumasi,
in Africa and to promote EWB’s capacity-building efforts in
Ghana. Photo taken by former EWB overseas volunteer Elizabeth Logan on a visit to their farm in 2009.
its partner organizations and communities overseas. This year R2EP Calgary is running in support of Engineers
While we expect this will be a multi-year initiative, with
Without Borders’ “Agricultural Value Chains” team in Zambia.
a lot of work involved, we are excited about the journey.
The Agricultural Value Chains Team is working to facilitate
We hope this campaign will bring together a group of
stronger links between the private sector and rural farmers.
like-minded Calgarians, committed to increasing social
As the partnership between these two groups grow, rural
awareness within our community. If you are interested
farmers have increased access to valuable farming inputs like
in learning more or becoming involved in this campaign,
seeds and fertilizers, micro credit, and market opportunities,
please contact us at calgary@ewb.ca. Fair Trade is a
enabling them to climb out of the cycle of extreme poverty.
trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and
By working directly with development organizations in
respect, that seeks great equity in international trade.
Zambia, EWB can help them bridge the communications
It contributes to sustainable development by offering
gap to connect small businesses and farmers, so that both
better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of,
can better succeed.
marginalized
producers
organizations
(backed
and
workers.
Fair
Trade
engaged
Since the first run in Vancouver in 2007, Run to End
actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and
Poverty teams across Canada have raised over $105,000
in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of
from more than 2,000 donors in support of EWB’s
conventional international trade. - FairTrade Canada
development efforts in Africa. In 2011, Run to End Poverty
by
consumers)
are
teams will be running in nine cities across Canada, all united in the fight to end extreme poverty in developing nations. To join the Run to End Poverty, first register at www.runtoendpoverty.ca. You will then receive a discount code to register for the Calgary Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 10K and 5K walk and run taking place on May 29. While it may be a little late to decide to run a marathon, we definitely encourage you to participate in the 5K walk or run. Registration is open until Tuesday, May 24. For more information, please contact us at: calgary@runtoendpoverty.ca SPRINGNEWSLETTER 3
Did you know that as part of our corporate engagement program, EWB offers workplace Lunch and Learn workshops?
Overseas Case Study A presentation hosted by one of our returned overseas volunteers, sharing their recent experiences of living in Africa and working on an EWB project.
All presentations are designed to fit into a one-hour lunch break, with some companies choosing to provide snacks and/or lunch for their employees. The interactive workshops are a great opportunity for employees to collaborate and learn from each other,
while
broadening
their
knowledge
and
perspectives.
TransCanada and Engineers Without Borders Canada are partnered together for the next three years (2011-2013) to support a rural agricultural project in the country of Ghana. This is the first time a corporation has provided both project funding and long-term seconded employees toward an Engineers Without Borders Canada initiative in Africa. Altogether, TransCanada will be contributing $300,000 to fund the project and will be sending six employees overseas. Like other EWB volunteers, TransCanada employees will undergo training in Canada before going to Ghana. They will receive a small living allowance and will be expected to integrate into the Ghanaian community they’re
We would like to thank the following companies for inviting
serving.
us to facilitate one or more presentations this year: Shell, NovAtel Inc., Nexen, Stantec, Hatch, MPE, CDL and
The program is an experiment for both organizations, but
APEGGA.
both have high hopes. Engineers Without Borders sees this as an opportunity to prove a concept that will be made
AVAILABLE WORKSHOPS: Root Causes of Poverty Our most popular workshop has participants working together in small groups, analyzing and discussing a case
available to all of its corporate partners. TransCanada is excited to provide skill-based leadership opportunities to its employees, while helping to build sustainable communities on a global scale.
study, with the goal of determining the fundamental causes
For more information about TransCanada’s community
of poverty.
investment program visit:
Access to Water in Malawi - Creating Opportunity for
www.transcanada.com/communityinvestment
Positive Change - An Interactive Workshop This workshop divides participants into two groups. Each group has to defend why their water pumping system will be
Engineers Without Borders
most effective. At the end of the case the true facts are ex-
Engineers Without Borders Canada is a movement
posed and participants are able to reflect on the many factors
of 50,000 professional engineers, students, overseas
influencing the success of a development project.
volunteer staff, and supporters across Canada. They believe
Water for the World -An Exercise in Trade and Resource Management An interactive game-style workshop that has participants representing different countries, each working to obtain necessary water, oil, technology and monetary resources while
that the next generation of rural Africans should have the same opportunities to improve their lives, that we have right here at home. To help make this a reality, members and volunteers apply all the creativity, technical skills and problem-solving approach for which engineers are known.
navigating challenging social, economic, political and cultural
The Calgary Professional Chapter is involved in many events,
barriers. The complexities of world water issues and EWB’s
from corporate workplace outreach programs to member
work within the water and sanitation sector are discussed.
learning initiatives. Want to get involved? Volunteers
Global Engineering Canadian engineers have the opportunity to lead the charge to solve the problems of humanity through human development. This workshop explores the idea of global
for
Engineers
Without
Borders
are
not
limited
to
professional engineers but include all professions with a foundation of humility, passion, critical thinking, adaptability, flexibility, awareness of issues and awareness of self.
engineering and how we can facilitate design for adaptable,
Please see the Calgary Professional Chapter’s website
people focused, social impact solutions to the problems of
at http://www.calgary.ewb.ca/ more information,or e-mail
the world.
us at Calgary@ewb.ca to find out how you can get involved.