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CHAPTER: Please read, and please straighten up those ballin' thinking caps you have.
This is short.
Instead of the standard 80 page JF reports that are written each year by every JF and then so often forgotten, Melissa is switching it up this year. She wants each of us to design a "tool" that our chapter can use in the future. Is it a workshop, a presentation, a case study.... I don't know. It's super open-ended, and I really want to think outside the box (ie. not just another case study)
What I want to know is: What does the chapter want to learn? Want do we want to know? Where can a new "tool" fit into our plan for the year? Where is the link between overseas and in-Canada work and how do I build a tool to feed off of that connection? What are some outside-the-box ideas for a tool? WHAT IS THIS TOOL?
I need some ideas big time, the due date for a proposal is coming up quick. My good friend Aubrey...
WANTS YOU!
Take er easy,
Ian
It seems everyone has pretty great ideas; what I'd really like to see in whatever you choose to do, is some focus on the actual lives of people living in Africa. Talking about the day to day activities of people that you have met really helps nuture our connection to Africa. Stories like the one where you cooked for your host family are awesome anecdotes that not only tell us about the culture in rural Africa but also shows that there is a lighter side to development.
Just a quick thought from the retreat - we are really lacking on curriculum enhancement materials. Maybe this could be the goal of the tool that you create. How can we more effectively integrate human development into the engineering curriculum?
Tristan
Indeeeeed. this is what I was thinking.
Right now, my idea lies somewhere in DESIGNING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE... perhaps a CE assignment where engineering design principles are looked at through a new lens of designing for social change, instead of for more profit. Taking into account the new variables, new consequences, and new obstacles that are so huge in designing a system or project in the development sector. Contrasting this kind of design with the typical engineering routine might be a neat way to get those first-year brains turning! (and joining the chapter)
What do you think?
It could involve profiles of people, groups, organizations, and technologies (with pictures) that serve as ingredients for the students to use in their own design. (the assignment)
But what to design? Naturally I'm thinking about a waterpoint monitoring system - because it's what I know - I would just need to ensure it's really interesting and colorful.... as soon as ppl hear the words "monitoring system" they might fall asleep... but it's really interesting, I promise!
Dan, if you're reading this, toss me some feedback. I know you were planning to champion CE this year, so we shall collaborate. I will also email you soon though.
Peace
Ian
***My math question this time was 1 + 0 !!!
I like the idea of contrasting running a project in the development sector with the routine of a first year engineering student. Definitely need to make the curriculum more personal.
I think its certainly worth setting out the variables and challenges that one might encounter working in that kind of environment and having students design a solution. The more comprehensive the solution, the better the assignment mark or something like that (even though ENGG 100/101 is pass/fail).
What about expanding this out to a more general Wat/San problem. I was chatting with a past OVS at the retreat about all the problems with implementing latrines. Having students come up with solutions to "shit" management (in say a district of villages) might catch their attention.
Tristan
PS. Glad you could figure out the math question!
I was thinking about ways people in Canada can better connect with people all the way in Africa. Having volunteers over there is pretty much our only real link, and we should find ways to save that connection. This has probably been done before, but I like the idea of taking portraits of individuals/families and recording who they are, what their daily life is, what their aspirations are, and how EWB volunteers/NGOs are impacting them. This can be used in future presentation, events, or fundraising. Perhaps we can even publish a book if you get a lot of pictures. Something like this would require you to know the locals well, and I suppose it depends on how much time you have.
Yeah I was totally thinking of this! I've met so many cool people that I'd like to talk about. I was thinking about the future of my life in EWBland, and being in Canada and what I can bring. We lack a connection to Africa! Whether it's Africans doing the development or us Northerners (hah..), it's just so hard to learn what Africa is like, from Canada.
Mike H had the idea of a 'cookbook' of all the income-generating activities people do. I love that idea. It's just so random but good to understand the 'informal sector' that employs most Zambians (Malawians?).
I really want to make profiles of at least the 4 people I regularly work with. But then there's the random family members, family, other people I interact with via work, and FARMERS.
Yeah dude. Connection. What's it gonna be?
Hey Jessica! yeah I feel like whatever I end up doing will somehow involve some portaits of ppl... they're a nice snapshot of overseas-ness. This year's EWB calendar is all about people portaits though! Every OVS and JF is required to submit a profile of someone in their lives with pictures, and NO is going to choose 12 of them for the caly I guess. Thanks for the input!
Hey Ian,
How about turning your report into more of a story than a case study or report. You could use all of the great photos I'm sure you've taken to create a comic book or graphic novel approach to it or even draw stuff in. It would end up being a super accessible form to friends/family/archenemies etc. and pretty unique too! If you can find a balance between photo album/scrapbook and report I think it would be awesome. And besides you could be the start of a comic strip!
Oh and bring back some music too!
Tom
Legit idea indeed. BUUUUT the SA JF's are already putting together a "JF storybook" with experiences from each of us over the course of the whole process... It will be published and distributed to chapters for anyone to read and enjoy... should be a good way for incoming JFs to find out what it's all about too