What can I do for you?

After spending the past weekend at the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Ontario Retreat, I have 1 main question to ask: what can I do for you?
I have realized that, specifically within EWB but even more so in Canadian society in general, there is a disconnect between Canada and Africa and I hope to do a little something about that.. one of the impacts I am aiming for.
I have also made certain commitments to myself. I commit to recognizing that being an Overseas Volunteer Staff for EWB is both a great privilege and RESPONSIBILITY.
One way I can feel positive about my being in Africa is knowing that some people in Canada have learned something new about "Africa", "Development", social change..

So in order to help me, please let me know what I can do for you. What types of things would you like to read/watch/learn about? Are you more interested in the culture, my work, my challenges, my reflections, funny stories, pictures, questions, videos,..?

Please feel free to comment, but if you would rather send me a private email, go for it: robinstratas@ewb.ca and you can also follow me on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/Robinstratas
Thanks so much,
love Robin

EWB Lingo

Impact and Dorothy are probably the two most frequently used EWB buzz words; so lets clear those up as soon as possible so we can all speak the same language! (please let me know if I refer to something that you do not understand, use an acronym, etc). :)

Having a commitment to impact is having a commitment to "Dorothy"; the rural poor and the ultimate changes they will see. Being addicted to impact is constantly searching for ways, new and challenging, to create impact.

So who is Dorothy anyway? Dorothy is our boss. She is the one to whom we ultimately report, and she is the one with whom we partner and work beside. Our commitment to her is enshrined in our charter: "Notwithstanding the various stakeholders – members, donors, management, board, the engineering profession, partners and others – there is one stakeholder who must always come first: the people in the developing communities with whom and for whom we work." The name ‘Dorothy’ personifies the “stakeholder who must always come first and is a reminder to us of those caught in a cycle of poverty.” Dorothy was a real woman, that one of the Co-CEO's/Founders met while overseas. She now represents for us someone we can keep in mind as we make decisions.

Okay, so what does creating impact really mean? "The difference is a shift from thinking about what we want to do, to thinking about what we want to achieve." Impact focused is being outcome driven. It also means being willing to be critical of yourself, of EWB’s, and other people’s, work. This is challenging, because everyone who is doing development work is trying to “do good,” and one naturally doesn’t want to criticize them. But focusing on impact means moving away from the feel-good story, and asking the difficult questions. In the end all of these questions return not to what you’ve done but what has changed (the impact). All of your planning should start with your goals (impact) and move backwards to your activities.

Still unclear? Feel free to email me and we can chat!

Cheers; to having impact for Dorothy! :)

WELCOME!

Hello, and welcome to my blog!
As you may or may not know, I am going to be an Overseas Volunteer Staff (OVS) for Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Canada, which means that starting this August I will be living and working in Africa (Ghana, Malawi or Zambia) for a minimum of 1 year, trying to create positive social change in the lives of rural Africans.
Why am I doing this? Basically, I envision a world that is free from extreme poverty; where all people have the freedom to live the lives that they value, and feel I have something to contribute in making this a reality.

I really do believe in the work that EWB does in Canada and in Africa to improve our world, which is why I am honoured to be able to contribute to EWB's work in Africa. After a few years of volunteering at the EWB Windsor chapter with some amazing people, I knew that this was an organization I could really believe in, with my head and my heart. Not to mention my experiences last summer in Ghana with WUSC, which definitely opened up my eyes, and passion, for working with people across cultures, working in development, being taken out of my comfort zone, and diving into life in Ghana; which is simultaneously very different from my life in Canada, and yet strangely similar at times.

I embark on this experience with the recognition that I have a huge responsibility. I look at the overall cost of this placement, roughly $18,000 (flights, training, living stipend, health insurance, vaccinations etc) and think WOW: what else could that money be used for?- something I asked myself when I was in Ghana. With this in mind, I take this opportunity very seriously, and am trying my best to be well prepared prior to our month of intensive training in Toronto in August.

I recognize that the work I am embarking on is very complex. I will not build a well, distribute mosquito nets or teach English, and no I am not an Engineer. EWB focuses on long term, sustainable development which is a lot messier; we aim to utilize the amazing resources that dwell in Africa, and hope to help preexisting African development organizations do what they do, better (capacity development). There is no "EWB Office" in Africa that I will be working in; we partner with African organizations, attempt to humbly learn from them, and provide creative insight whenever possible to unlock potential. Although our successes and impacts may be less tangible than a physical structure, we believe that the work we are doing is having a lasting impact in peoples' lives, and that in order for our work to be culturally sensitive and sustainable, this is the best way to operate at this point.

I sincerely hope that as I partake in this learning and giving opportunity, you too will join me for the ride; I hope that through this experience I will begin a ripple effect to my broader community of friends, family and colleagues; to help people to think twice about what "AFRICA" is like, and delve into the complexities of International Development work.

If you feel you are able to contribute financially to my placement, please see my page at http://volunteers.ewb.ca/robinstratas to donate online. Any amount of money is greatly appreciated. I hope that you can find a way to contribute in some small way, and take the first step in my direction towards Africa; a beautifully diverse continent I have come to love and admire.

Please follow my learning, questions, hard times, and triumphs and feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or comments, robinstratas@ewb.ca (please do: it can be a bit lonely overseas sometimes).

Thank you once again,
With sincerity and love,

Robin Stratas
www.ewb.ca