tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44888716000647238532011-07-08T00:49:43.556-07:00This blog is about my discoveries, beliefs, and insights from my May-August 2009 placement with Engineers Without Borders Canada. This will be a public record of my journey before, during, and after my volunteer position with IDE in Zambia. Healthy amounts of biased, opinionated thinking out loud will be present.Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-77791322736862368572009-08-15T02:31:00.000-07:002009-08-15T03:53:33.986-07:00

So it's my last day in Kafue town. I'm heading to Lusaka on Sunday morning, and presenting with IDE field staff/management on Monday. A few last-minute details of things to work out - my time since my village stay has gone SUPER well and everything has worked out, until today. Bah. I'm waiting on a few things that are taking longer than I had hoped. Things were going way better than normal, but

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-31533309392366216982009-08-13T03:18:00.000-07:002009-08-15T03:54:15.469-07:00

My JF placement has a portion of staying in a rural village for 7 days and nights, give or take. I chose to stay in Chikupi, which is about 20km from Kafue town (maybe 40km from Lusaka). I wanted to stay with a typical farmer with that IDE group, but I ended up staying with the chairman/lead contact farmer. He's far from the 'Dorothy' that EWB describes, which is a future topic of

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-55244802046668411302009-07-31T05:39:00.000-07:002009-07-31T06:05:19.048-07:00

At the beginning of July was Heroes Day and Unit Day - national holidays in Zambia. IDE also had some sort of holiday, so we only worked on Friday. Saturday was the provincial show for Lusaka Province. IDE Kafue office and Lusaka field offices attended/presented together.I got a VCT! I proudly wear the yellow wristband. And I'm HIV negative.The show was pretty chill but still fun. I rode in the

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-74109702059848496892009-07-31T05:17:00.001-07:002009-07-31T06:01:47.937-07:00

So I haven't updated in a while. Yeah.In the last couple weeks I've gotten to a much better point in my placement -- my relationship with Alice and Jairos is much deeper, more friendly.. just better! I'm starting to be able to push them a little on issues, we respect each others opinions, whatever. I've noticed my counterpart speaks much less formally and inserts more.. vernacular.Jairos and I

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-82479335829793342732009-07-08T06:21:00.000-07:002009-07-08T06:30:10.262-07:00

Ok, one more crappy story before I return to more interesting/happier stuff.Most of this week is a holiday in the office, but CETZAM needs to finish farm appraisals and I volunteered to come. But on Monday I couldn't, because the village's farmers are spread out and the CETZAM officer needs to carry someone on his bike to show him around. So I decided to hang out in the office after buying some

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-74430308919798395202009-07-06T07:17:00.000-07:002009-07-08T06:35:29.994-07:00

This little guy was hanging out in my latrine, watching me do my business. I pulled him out with my camera case (he clamped on with his teeth). He was stuck in a crack from the other side..

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-75096556037675876432009-07-06T07:04:00.000-07:002009-07-08T06:39:24.749-07:00

The Kasaka Roadside Market has launched! It's a few kilometers south of Kafue town at the Kasaka area, it's a market, and it's beside the road. Woot.The three nearby farmer groups - Muchuto Waterworks, Kasaka Clixby, and Nutrition - worked together to clear land, build temporary stands, and sell vegetables every Saturday. IDE played a strong role in facilitating the market committee to work out

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-4102515278521568222009-07-04T08:05:00.000-07:002009-07-04T08:06:59.188-07:00

I'm very uncertain of my plan for overseas impact. UVic's returned JF (many awesome coffee date discussions), Mark Brown, had a pretty unique placement as far as overseas placements go. This year, EWB has partnered 5 of its 7 Zambian JFs with IDE - it's partly an experiment to see the effect of directly working with field staff and building their capacity.I'm still coming to terms with my

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-13679446494488244042009-07-04T07:53:00.000-07:002009-07-04T07:58:25.033-07:00

Required tools to repair anything mechanical in Zambia: a heavy blunt object (metal or rock), a sharp/pointed object (uusally metal), some stiff wire, maybe some soft wire, and occaisonally a screwdriver or pair of pliers or wrench. Bicycle maintenance/repair, doors, motorbike clutch cable, under-the-tree car repairs.. it's all covered.

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-90783237724604492682009-07-02T07:58:00.000-07:002009-07-04T08:03:37.367-07:00

Something that's been really bothering me lately is the reason why I'm here. For over fifty years, Northern people have come to the South with the intention of direct, positive change (large or small), but the bigger impact always seems on making the Northerner a better person/learning. That seems greedy to me and I'm part of this culture. EWB wants to foster better leaders in engineering, in

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-19405850507251978262009-06-30T05:15:00.000-07:002009-06-30T05:16:20.544-07:00

Why can't we volunteers share some access to technology? Decent Asus EeePC netbooks are around $500 CAD. A 4GB USB flash drive is $5-$10. Both of these take up very little space in a backpack, and can easily cost twice as much in Zambia.I don't have the capital/time to resell netbooks, but I am working with Mike H to buy flash drives in Canada, ship them here (his aunt is visiting so it saves

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-82342716365896310942009-06-30T05:13:00.000-07:002009-06-30T05:15:37.516-07:00

Death sucks. I see a lot of very young kids (under five), and tons of teenagers and older. It's hard to judge the age of older people, but I see a fair amount of people with white in their hair. My host mother is one example, and I think she's 59. I haven't seen many people with a full head of white hair.In the ~1 month I've stayed Kafue, 3 or 4 people have died with some connection to me. One

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-89783511227476433812009-06-26T07:13:00.000-07:002009-06-26T07:30:28.279-07:00

I'm back from a rushed week of travels and learning and challenges and fun... our SA JF retreat! It was at the Wheelhouse Marina, Senga Bay, Malawi. I think that place runs programs for street kids or something. But it was sweet to be able to swim every morning, drink full-strength unsweetened coffee, cook a crazy variety of food, and share stories of the last month. Sending letters with the JFs

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-19545466295290252392009-05-31T23:36:00.000-07:002009-05-31T23:40:49.762-07:00

So, what's up with me going to Africa? I've got a bunch of audiences of my blog - friends from Ladysmith, UVic/Victoria, the EWB (the UVic chapter, connections across Canadian university and professional chapters, National Office, past and present Junior Fellows, the Long Term Overseas Staff..), my family, my extended family (there's like 50 of you, jesus), work friends, acquaintances, anonymous

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-63606033194344058262009-05-27T00:10:00.002-07:002009-05-31T23:43:15.374-07:00

Things I wish I brought:Pictures - family, friends, Canadian things like farms/markets big and small, cities, the Gulf Islands, transit, homeless people, pollution, food, ...Maple syrup - Zambians hella love sugar, and this would be so perfect. It was foolish not to take this. My counterpart's family wasn't too impressed that I didn't bring it, once I described it.Jacket - riding a motorbike

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-8870926053202388552009-05-25T00:10:00.000-07:002009-05-31T23:42:23.481-07:00

The IDE team spent the longest time together - 2 days of in-country sessions in Lilongwe, Malawi; 1 day of travel; 1 day of learning Lusaka; and 2 days of IDE sessions on markets and linkage facilitation at their head office. My field office staff attended the sessions which offered a nice introduction.The head office is wicked! Wifi and a gazebo with power. Our backpacker's hostel place was also

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-63154345535134906492009-05-19T00:04:00.000-07:002009-05-31T23:41:32.475-07:00

I decided to divide my blog into 3 categories:Partner Work - I am directly assisting IDE-Zambia in Kafue. I work with the field staff and help where possible as according to my Terms of Reference - helping build capacity for market facilitation. My stakeholders include the smallholder farming households, the field staff, and IDE-Zambia as a whole.EWB - I am working for Engineers Without Borders

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-30189324162475732642009-05-17T11:28:00.000-07:002009-05-18T23:31:49.092-07:00

Hello my friends! What is your name? What is your number? Come come, let me show you some good (shirts, shoes, potatos, cellphones, wrenches, vegetables, ...)! You are my friends and I will not charge muzungu prices!We've finished our two days of in-country training in Lilongwe, Malawi. What a place! What amazing people! I'm sure that being in the city definitely brings a different experience

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-22017038428911884172009-05-14T00:08:00.000-07:002009-05-31T23:40:39.542-07:00

To the UVic EWB chapter,Kawamba! Or rather, wawa from Lilongwe! I hope that finals (or coop reports..) went well, and you're succeeding in whatever venture (or adventure!) your summer brings you.My Junior Fellowship placement with EWB Canada has been a whirlwind of preparation. The last 6 months have definitely changed me and I have learned more about myself and this globe than 3 years of

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-35364341729597070842009-05-08T18:08:00.000-07:002009-05-18T23:32:51.093-07:00

Day 2 of pre-departure sessions. The last few days are quickly blurring together and I expect that the 6 days in Toronto are going to become a mash of learning and excitement and challenges and enthusiasm like national conference. Good vibes are flowing!Our JF house is packed with the 23 JFs (10 Burkina Faso, 7 Zambia, and 6 Malawi) as well as a couple guests. Sharing the utilities (1 shower, two

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-91706288653463493332009-04-12T13:39:00.000-07:002009-04-12T14:06:43.572-07:00

Here is my booklist of items related to global society, poverty, international development, or Africa, in no particular order:a long way gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldierishmael beahPretty wild account of experiences as a child soldier. The brutality and horrors in Sierra Leone of the 90's is described with a blunt honesty that really drew me in.Out of Poverty, What Works When Traditional Approaches

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488871600064723853.post-89313309491027140752009-04-10T16:13:00.000-07:002009-04-10T16:58:11.974-07:00

Hi there! Welcome to my first foray into the blogosphere!I've dabbled with a few personal websites for previous interests - a few remnants exist at http://mangospoon.com. I guess I was keeping a weblog before they were cool, but there wasn't much content, enthusiasm, purpose, or interest. Kinda like what I've seen of Twitter..You can see my profile in the page for more details about me. Right now

Degnan Hembroffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02090125124022548002noreply@blogger.com