Latest News
5 October 2005: Overseas Volunteer Program for Summer 2006 Application Now Available
NOTE: Applications have now closed. Please try again next year!
Are you thinking about going overseas on a volunteer placement with EWB in Summer 2006? Download the program details and application here.
The Junior Fellowship Program in International Development is a 4 month overseas internship from May to August, 2006. The majority of placements will be in sub-Saharan Africa. Through intensive training the program's Junior Fellows will develop the skills and approach required to be successful development fieldworkers and to create change here in Canada. While overseas they will use these skills to help EWB's partner organizations and ultimately people and communities living in poverty. Once the Junior Fellow returns to Canada, he or she will help foster development in Canada by taking a formal or informal leadership role within the chapter.
All applicants must meet the following mandatory requirements:
- Be a canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 19 years of age as of May 1st, 2006
- Will be returning as an SFU student in September 2006
- Available to work overseas from May 1st, 2006 to August 31st, 2006
- Available to attend the EWB National Conference in Ottawa from January 18-21, 2006 (transportation and registration costs will be partly covered by EWB-SFU)
The program is open to engineers and non-engineers. Technical skills are not a priority. Though our partnership with SFU International Co-op and the Engineering Science Co-op Office, this volunteer program can be counted as a 4-month co-op placement.
Download the program details and application here.
Application deadline is THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005, 4:30pm.
Please submit all applications and any questions electronically to Tommy Chiu, President, SFU Chapter, tchiub@sfu.ca
5 September 2005: Overseas Volunteer Tracey Mann Returns From Ghana
Our overseas volunteer, Tracey Mann, has just returned from Ghana, Africe, from her 4-month EWB overseas placement. As both our Vice President and overseas volunteer of the SFU Chapter, she will be leading the chapter in its activities, as well as doing presentations throughout the campus and to the public on her experiences working overseas as a development worker.19 July 2005: EWB-SFU Featured in the July
2005 Sustainable
Successes Newsletter
The SFU Sustainable Campus Coalition (SCC) July 2005 newsletter features SFU Engineers
Without Borders. Read about the interview with Tommy Chiu, current president of
the SFU Chapter, and Robin Prest, former president, below, or visit the SCC website
here.Community Newsletter
SFU Engineers Without Borders - Using Simple Solutions To Better Lives - July 2005
What does 'technology' mean to you?
Perhaps you think of high-definition plasma televisions or mp3 players. Living in an urbanized region of North America we naturally have a narrow vision of what technology is: elaborate devices needing millions of dollars and years of scientific research to develop. After all, this is the age of exponential progress and infinite possibilities; advances in technology occur each day that optimistically make our lives richer.
As a high-tech society, our stereotypical view of the world can sometimes leads us to believe problems in the developing world are easily solvable with a sharp influx of new age solutions.
This could not be farther than the truth.
SFU Engineers Without Borders (EWB), the local chapter of the national organization, are in fact proud proponents of low-tech solutions, consciously encouraging socially and culturally sensitive answers to systemic problems facing poverty stricken countries. Who would have thought a collective of bright engineers (though I am reminded the typecasting is not warranted) would be so driven to solve problems in the simplest of forms.
Sitting down with current president, Tommy Chiu, and past president, Robin Prest, one can understand the passionate yet humble souls that drive the endeavour along.
Why?
Going to meet the two EWB members I had no idea what to expect. Until you've interacted at length with an individual it's difficult to anticipate how a first meeting will go. You just have to be sure you've prepared enough to not make yourself look foolish. Like showing up for class late and facing the first Q&A of the day, it can become painfully obvious when an interviewer hasn't done their homework.
As I met Tommy and Robin, we instantly began our discussion. Before I knew it, an hour and a half had flown by, and I hadn't even gotten to my massive list of questions.
During the time we casually conversed about certain prevalent issues. Injustice in the media was a reoccurring theme. Sadly to say, this is something I rarely do. It is uplifting, though, to meet such an enlightened pair. Both Tommy and Robin are intelligent and engaging to chat with. If it hadn't been for a quick time check, I may have gotten lost in the moment for hours.
I asked the two to explain what is so rewarding about what they do; how does it make them feel to be making a difference; and simply "why?"
"When ... I get to talk to students," Tommy begins, "When [I] can get a sense that they're actually thinking about these issues...[and] they ask questions and they actually show a genuine interest ... [like] 'What's going on in Africa?' or 'poverty' -- that to me feels most rewarding."
Robin considers "feelings of empowerment" guide him: "Working to promote as apposed to just passively sitting back and saying change should happen ... it helps me in some ways define my place in the world."
In many respects EWB is about creating a sense of responsibility. Closing the gap that occurs between school and industry -- all the technical skills, knowledge and projects -- and what is occurring globally. EWB allows individuals to use their ability for positive change.
Sustainable Technology
While reading all about EWB and discovering their programs, I spent notable time on their website. I worked my way through most of what is on display: message from the president, bulletins of past events, their mission and letters from volunteers overseas. Along my path I landed on the term "sustainable technology." Curious, I had to delve deeper.
Robin helps me out by describing an interesting point -- one he warms up to as "the quintessential example." He speaks on how a seemingly easy decision about moving a well can have unforeseen ramifications.
Say, for example, that a well currently lives 10km out of town. Women walk miles each day to gather water. By our logic, it is common sense to move the well to a central location. It becomes more convenient, creating a wealth of time for the women to spend with their families or get an education. It might be the case, however, that the well goes unused. In certain cultures the journey to gather water acts as a time to socialize or a chance to escape from "the men" for a while.
Outsiders can potentially overlook this important facet of the community unless they spend time within and fully indulge the local norms.
For technology to serve as a benefit it must confine to the natural limits of the community it drops into -- this being socially, culturally, environmentally and economically. If the technology does not meet all the community's needs, it can become obtrusive, ineffective and even destructive.
Sustainable technology is about studying the long-term effects, not the short-term fix. It means customizing solutions and opting out of the "one-size-fits-all" mindset. Tommy explains that technical capacity is also important: "If you have a really complicated piece of machinery, and it breaks down and nobody can fix it, then it's not sustainable."
"You need to start with technology that can be locally fabricated that [members of the community] can build and repair," Robin adds.
'Hi! I'm developed. You should look like me!'
Throughout the time spent with Tommy and Robin, I learned an incredible amount. It is a euphoric experience to dig deep into one's mind, garnering their knowledge through the act of basic questions.
In an average of my own days I usually spend at least one or two moments fighting with myself, having a philosophical, ethical or reasoning episode. It can come to the point where I become wholly consumed, forcing my entire being to halt until I've reached a solution. It is great for a short moment to sit back and soak up what others are pondering.
Robin, again, opens himself up on a philosophical level. He speaks well and likes to go deep.
What I found in our discussion is that while talking 'technology' it is hard to veer far from the term 'development.' Technology and development coincide with each other in many regards. To create modern machinery a certain pre-existing amount of progress must be present. The same is true conversely.
Each part of the world, however, has different views on what technology and development mean. Some focus on community and self, while others are steadfast on material gains. Economic background plays a role in this.
Often, our technological frame of reference can form our view of what development is altogether. EWB works hard to submerse into other cultures and not dictate what development to them should be. In all honesty, Robin goes on that monumental growth in every corner of the globe is not sustainable in its own right, anyway.
"I kind of define development ... for myself as choice. Having choice of how you live your life, your [living] environment and how you're effected by the elements," Robin says. "Development will give people choice and hopefully that choice is used in a wise manner."
Food For Thought
Back in high school I was an average teenager in many ways and not so in others. The ways I was similar had to do with my apathy towards any civic or global issue. It was not until a couple years ago that I started to shed the old values that I grew up in, becoming more radical in my beliefs. Until that point I didn't give any advocacy campaign the time of day.
In grassroots initiatives, one of the biggest mountains to overcome is grabbing the attention of young minds. Deep down, I believe everyone cares -- or at least has an opinion. Heavily consuming mainstream ideals, however, can condition teenagers to fixate on their own problems, pushing background issues aside.
It brings up an important ethical question: How far do you simplify a topic, or how far do you plunge into the popular culture to bring attention to pressing subject matter?
An integral part of EWB is their high school outreach program. The chapter has two presentations. One devoted to food and the other for water. Currently, Food for Thought, a hands-on, interactive presentation about world hunger and the root causes of poverty, is their primary means of reaching teenagers.
When EWB speak, kids are inviting and positive. The presenters always get many questions and, as one would expect, there is usually at least one or two real keeners in the room. The most exciting part of the session is -- hands-down -- the activity.
Tommy explains how the class is divided into groups and each assigned a different country. All groups are doled out whole rice, complete with the hull. They are then handed sand paper and a wooden block. Their job: process the rice (or remove the hull).
Depending on the country, students receive different quality of both rice and tools. Certain rice comes mixed with rocks or dirt. Some of the sandpaper comes worn down.
EWB use this simple exercise to form an analogy that brings awareness to economic disparities between rich and poor nations.
Putting Words Into Action
On the day of our meeting, I was in my usual clothes: shorts and a t-shirt. So were Tommy and Robin. There was a clear difference in our outfits, however. Robin had on, as he describes in an e-mail, his "bright orange" Make Poverty History t-shirt. And the two together wore silicone bracelets with messages on them. Tommy's was white and said -- you guessed it -- "Make Poverty History." In some ways, I felt kind of left out.
One of the most admirable qualities of the two campaigners is they back their words and beliefs up with action. They are both enthusiastically involved with EWB, visibly enjoying every moment of it.
As president, it is Tommy's job to guide the main direction of the club. He helps executives coordinate, playing a slight administrative role. He notes, though, the collective usually reaches consensus together, deciding issues such as where to focus their time and where to spend their money.
Robin has been the president for the past two years, his second mandate ending in March. Last summer he spent a semester abroad in the Philippines. Robin aligned with other EWB members working on a computer literacy program called Scala. Scala's main object is to educate disadvantaged Filipinos to help stimulate a poor economy. Robin cooperated with government officials, setting up technology centres on Luzon Island.
For four months in Kumasi, Ghana, Tracey Mann, the current vice-present of EWB-SFU, is joining a local NGO on a project named "Multi-Functional Platform." In Ghana, the program's aim is to supply diesel motors to families with no access to electricity. An alternative source of power provides families with a faster means of processing food.
EWB plans to continue sending members overseas. They hope in future to create a stronger working partnership with long-term volunteers, allowing the organization to support specific projects longer (one to two years).
The group will concentrate, though, on creating a well-rounded organization, where its members are all equally involved and educated. EWB has previously spent hours on hours fundraising to send Tracey and Robin abroad, a commitment that can run down even the most enthusiastic supporter. EWB wants to be more than just a fundraising machine.
The club has plans to expand their education programs. Up on campus they organize a seminar called International Development Cafe (ID Cafe). Each ID Cafe focuses on a specific issue, whether human development, fair trade, economics, politics or aids. The group has ambitions of attracting larger audiences; they want to expand the ID Cafe university wide, escaping the misconception that EWB is an engineers-only zone.
That said, Tommy does want to increase volunteerism within the engineering department. He aspires to "try and get every single engineering student at SFU at least aware of some of the issues in Africa and [get them] to take action."
No Longer An Exclusive Club
Two hours after first shaking hands, it was time to close the conversation. I had not planned on spending anymore than a half hour with the duo, so saying "time to wrap-up" is an understatement. In true poetic fashion we ended on a positive note, dreaming about the future. I would go on but I think Tommy does a fine job of it himself:
When you look at the environmental movement in Vancouver or Canada, it's been pretty successful. People recycle now. People talk about environmental law, about pollution and [about] global warming. In the past it's been an activist thing and now it's so common. If we can make [problems facing the developing world] as common as environmental issues then that would be awesome. If every Vancouver person would talk about "Oh, what's going on in Africa?" and what they can do to change some of these things -- that is the long-term goal.
11 July 2005: Making Poverty History in The Peak
Tommy Chiu, President of the SFU Chapter of EWB, responds to an article in the July 4, 2005 issue of The Peak. Read his response below, or read it on The Peak's website here:speak out: Making poverty history
Tommy Chiu, President, Engineers Without Borders SFU Chapter
I would like to respond to some of the concerns raised in last week's article "Engineers Without Borders want to make poverty history" [July 4, 2005]. Firstly, the main reason why the Student Development and Programming Centre declined to include white Make Poverty History wristbands in their orientation packages was because the university needs to be politically neutral - a position which I respect and understand.
In response to Karma Lacoff's comment that wristbands would be better received if they were bought and not given out for free, I have thought about how the Simon Fraser Student Society approaches its own campaigns.
The Make Poverty History campaign is endorsed by the SFSS, and the SFSS' mandate is to serve students. Giving out campaign materials and other goodies free of charge to benefit students is something the SFSS has done in the past, and I hope to do the same. I would love to have enough wristbands to give to every student on campus, but funds are limited, so while wristbands will be given out during orientation, we will be selling the wristbands to students and the public afterwards.
There is, however, a more important reason for the free wristbands. One must look at what the objective of the campaign is: "We want your voice, not your money." This campaign is not about charity.
It is not about feeling good for a good cause. It is not about being pitiful towards those poor people on the other side of the world. This campaign is about social justice. It is about working hand in hand with Africans and those who work to alleviate poverty in Canada and abroad. And it is about telling the leaders of the developed world that it's time to stop the years of negligence and wrongdoing, and take a step in the right direction to solve Africa's problems.
Through the Make Poverty History campaign, we are reaching out to those who have not yet thought about issues of poverty and hunger in Africa. If we were to just sell them, those who buy them would most likely be those who were already aware of such issues. In other words, we would be reaching out to those who don't need reaching out to. By giving out wristbands free of charge to orientation students that sign on to the campaign, we are giving them a first step.
Wristbands alone will not end poverty. Simply being concerned about poverty issues will not end poverty. It is our voice and our actions that make a difference, and by making students aware of those issues, and the fact that their voice can influence our government and the livelihoods of people overseas, we are bringing them one step closer to action. What issues will be on the minds of the new first years when they vote in the next federal election? The white wristbands will serve as a reminder of what issues they care about, and to spread the word that their actions do matter.
The Canadian Federation of Students, Oxfam Canada, World University Service Canada, and Engineers Without Borders Canada are all on the national steering committee of the Make Poverty History campaign. Incidentally, all four of these organisations have a presence on-campus. This is why it is so crucial for the SFU community to show its support for the campaign and what it calls for. As Nelson Mandela put it, "It is not kings and generals who make history, but the masses of the people."
Find out more about the Make Poverty History Campaign at www.makepovertyhistory.ca.
4 June 2005: Executive Team for 2005/2006
The executive team for 2005/2006 have been formed! Visit our people section to see who are new team is!25 May 2005: Letter From the Field
Hello Everyone,I hope all is going well with you and are enjoying the summer. I just got back from a week out in the field. It was an amazing experience to be in a more remote part of Ghana. We first began our journey late at night or early in the morning as we left at 3:00am. We left Accra on a luxury bus to Kumasi. The bus was furnished with A/C a bathroom and leather seats. It was such a contrast to the next mode of transport we embarked on - the tro-tro.
We left Kumasi on a tro-tro crammed with 17 people. Our driver- young, inexperienced and temperamental pulled out of the station and then within a matter of minutes had hit another vehicle resulting in a minor dent. The drivers both stopped in a busy round about and began to fight. Soon a crowd of 10 people - "the jury" as I like to call them, surrounded the drivers and attempted, in true Ghanaian fashion, to mediate the brawl. The jury attempted get to the root of the problem and the verdict was against our driver. Just as things appeared to settle down more wrestling and shirt pulling ensued after our driver attempted to get back in to the vehicle. After about 25 minutes of shenanigans the police came to the rescue. I forgot to mention that the police station was just across the street from the accident!
Well we continued on our journey in a new and highly superior tro-tro with a very experienced driver. We changed tro-tro's three times more and each was successively worse than the first. Our final ride was with 15 people on a tro-tro that was the size of a mini-mini- van. I didn't think that they could fit so many people into a vehicle. The ride was lovely except it was on a red dirt road that was in complete disrepair. We spent more time on the wrong side of the road trying to avoid potholes. Soon our hair was covered in a fine dust and our skin masked in a mud of perspiration and dirt.
Once we arrived to Yeji we settled into the first of many hotels that had no electricity and running water. It was only the next morning that I realized the water I bathed in was actually muddier than my skin was before entering the shower. Two young boys- no more than 14 years of age proceeded to act as our tour guides and took us to the edge of Lake Volta. The region is dangerous especially at night. One of the boys, Solomon, had just got the word that his father and mother had been robbed on the highway at night. Both had disappeared and they were uncertain if his parents were in some random hospital up north. All the evidence that remained was the tro-tro that they were traveling in at night. Solo was particularly concerned as his mother was carrying a large quantity of money that was to be used for his school fees.
The next day we continued on to various villages throughout the region conversing with various government officials in the air conditioned offices while neighboring villages did not even have running water or electricity. I found the more important the man the bigger his air conditioner was! In each village we would go to would result in dozens of children crowding around us with bright eyes and interest in the obrunis (whites) that have come to their village. I am often referred to as obrunis obibini (while-black) and get confused looks when I wear Ghanaian attire. Many Ghanaians take a special interest in persons with brown skin. The attention is overwhelming at times but the excitement and joy with which we are greeted is amazing.
The last night of our travels we stayed in a guest house, the building was furnished with proper toilets and showers but it had no electricity or running water. The building was new and had a very colonial feel. At night the halls and courtyard were lit with kerosene lanterns casting dramatic shadows throughout the hotel. The courtyard had large trees providing refuge from the fierce rays of the afternoon sun.
I sat in the courtyard as the sun set, and listened to the sounds of nature come alive. The concert of crickets, frogs and birds echoed in the background as fireflies sparkled between the blades of grass. The leaves of trees clapped a dry rhythm in the wind and the air gently cooled as the village prepared for night.
After night fall we walked into the village and the streets were alive with hawkers and children playing football (soccer). We sat to have deep fired yams that were garnished with a chili paste and this has become my new favorite street food. Women came and held their kerosene lamps up to my face and a quick smile emerged on their faces and exclaimed their desire for me to be their obruni friend. Many came to touch my hand and my heart filled with warmth from their kindness.
The people here never cease to amaze me. Even those with so little do anything they can to assist me. I do not know how to return this type of kindness and it seems so foreign to the social relations in Canada. Recently a co-worker has located a place for me to stay. I have been staying with another Canadian named Melissa who is also a part of EWB. This new place I will be moving to is in a home with a family of 8. I will be sharing a room with a girl who is 21. They have refused to accept any rent from me and all I have to do is pay for the gas and water that I use. I asked why they would offer to take in a complete stranger and they said it would be wrong of them not to help a person in need.
I am enjoying my stay here and I feel I am learning so much about the human condition. There are so many complex reasons for the poverty in Africa. The issues range from residual effects of 600 years of oppression, high rates of inflation and a lack of social value as many Ghanaians and other Africans feel that they are less capable than obrunis. It is this last view that breaks my heart. I cannot let go of how wonderful the people here are and feel so pained that they look down upon themselves. I wish they could see the beauty of their culture and understand their humanity in some way exceeds that which exists in Canadian society.
Well, I have written a small book so I should run but please keep in touch and keep me updated about life in Canada. It makes me happy to hear about even the smallest of stories
Lots of Love,
Tracey Mann
11 May 2005: Letter From the Field
By Tracey MannMatche! (Good Morning)
It is actually afternoon here but I think that many of you will receive this in the morning. I arrived in Ghana on the 8th late at night. The airport was actually quite nice and air-conditioned! flying into the city it appeared to be glowing with lights.
The roads are fairly well developed and the drivers are quite safe. The mode of transport that is most common are tro-tro's which are a series of dilapidated vans and small buses that act as the major transport system for the city. The first tro-tro I was on seemed to be held together by the linoleum on the roof. With every turn and motion the it appears the rusting vehicles are squeaking to proclaim their impending demise.
As soon as I walked out of the airport a blanket of humidity and heat wraps my body and permeated my pores.I spent my first night in Ghana in a hotel that was fairly nice. There was a fan in the room so the heat was bearable. However first thing in the morning as I was brushing my teeth a cockroach the size of a golf ball ran up my pant leg. There was definitely no need for any coffee that morning.
After my first day we accompanied some other volunteers to help them settle in the Volta region in a city called Ho. The drive out was on another non-air conditioned tro-tro. The ride out was beautiful. The area is lush and green. Small villages are scattered alongside the hwy and speed bumps of dirt slows the traffic down in each village and the local vendors use this as an opportunity to sell their local wares.
Upon our arrival in HO the people who operate the NGO were gracious enough to offer their home to us. They made us a local meal and then we walked throughout the village. People are excited by foreigners- especially the children.
Everyone here is extremely friendly, especially those who I work with. I was surprised by the level of development in Ghana. I had anticipated that there would be far less infrastructure however most of the roads are well developed and there are a high number of luxury vehicles in the city.
I have yet to find a place to stay. It is difficult to find accommodations for only four months so I am currently staying with another girl from Canada who volunteers with Engineers Without Borders. We are trying to live as the average person in Ghana does but as a foreigner the expectations that you have placed on you are quite different and people's perceptions as to what types of accommodations you should stay in are quite different.
I am very excited as I have the opportunity to spend a lot of time out in the field. I am going to the Northern Region next week to find a community that is suitable to implement a multi-functional platform. Our project aim is to assist communities that do not have access to electricity to obtain a diesel operated motor that has modified attachments that allow for food processing to be completed in a shorter time span.I am working on a team that is starting from ground up so currently I am drafting the surveys that will be used to assess the viability of the project for various communities.
After next week we will head to Tamale (in the north) for a training session hosted by the UN DP who will teach us how to use the platforms and how to implement the project in various communities. So until then I will not have a permanent place to stay but Melissa (who I am staying with now) has offered her place to me in the mean time.
I am very exacted about being here. I think that this will be an amazing learning experience and I hope that I will have more opportunities to travel with this project.
While I am in the office I have access to Internet so please email me and keep me updated as to how you are doing and the new and exciting things that are going on at home.
I hope all of you are well and I miss you lots.
I will be in touch soon!
Love,
Tracey
29 April 2005: Overseas Volunteer Tracey Mann Leaves for Four-Month Placement in Ghana
Overseas Volunteer Tracey Mann, an Economics and Geography student at SFU, has left today for Toronto for her week-long pre-departure training. She will head to Kumasi, Ghana for her four-month placement, working with a local NGO and several EWB long-term volunteers on a project called the Multi-Functional Platform (MFP).Tracey will be writing a journal while on her placement in Ghana, so stay tuned for updates from our overseas volunteer!
29 March 2005: EWB will "Make Poverty History" at the U2 Vertigo 2005 World Tour Concert in Vancouver
Volunteers from EWB Chapters in BC will be volunteering at the two U2 concerts held at GM Place on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29, 2005 to promote the "Make Poverty History" campaign to call for more and better aid, trade justice, cancel the debt, and end child poverty in Canada. EWB will be working in collaboration with Bono, the lead singer of U2, to introduce the campaign to the thousands of concert go-ers. Bono is a strong supporter of the "Make Poverty History" campaign. More more information, please visit www.makepovertyhistory.ca.27 March 2005: Results of Save-on-Foods Grocery Raffle Announced
On Saturday, March 26, 2005, a grocery raffle was held at Save-On-Foods Madison and Save-On-Foods Metrotown. Winners of the raffle are as follows.Grand Prize: $125 Save-On-Foods Gift Certificate
Dan Komori of Burnaby
Secondary Prize: Save-On-Foods Gift Basket
J. Wong of Burnaby
Secondary Prize: Starbucks Gift Basket
M. Panton of New Westminster
Congratulations to all the winners, and we thank all of you for supporting development work overseas!
Winners will be contacted by phone or e-mail. Prizes can be picked up at their respective Save-On-Food locations at which they participated in the raffle.
16 March 2005: New President for 2005/2006
Third year engineering student Tommy Chiu has been elected as the new president for 2005/2006. Elections were held today, and e-mail votes were accepted for those who were not able to make it to the elections meeting. Since there was only one candidate for President, a yes/no vote was done instead. Results were unanimous.Here is Tommy's statement of intent:
"I have been involved with the SFU Chapter for the past two years and I am currently the Vice President. Now, I am determined to bring the chapter to the next level. This means not just doing more activities, but also improving on the quality and effectiveness of our programs and making sure the chapter has the impact we seek to achieve. The next year will bring a new and improved executive team, stronger educational programs for members and the public, and more stable funding for the chapter to support students doing overseas development work. This means we will need a lot more support from you, the EWB member! I look forward to working with you all in the coming year, and together, we can do our part in making the world a bit better."
23 February 2005: Call for Self-Nomination of President DEADLINE MARCH 3
This is a call for self nominations for the position of President for Engineers Without Border SFU for the 05/06 term. Elections will take place on Wednesday March 16 during the weekly exec meeting, or by email ballot if members are unable to attend.The candidate must satisfy ALL of the following:
- Be a current or past executive
- Be a regular member
- Be an SFU student
- Be a member of good standing
- Have notified the CRO the intention to be a candidate before the end of the nomination period.
The Chief Returning Officer (CRO) will be outgoing President Robin Prest, and can be contacted for self-nominations until the deadline of MIDNIGHT, THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2005.
Voter elligability is limited to those registered on our email list. You have met this criteria if you are receiving this message directly.
23 October 2004: Operation 21 Overseas Volunteer Announced!
The Operation 21 application deadline is over, and the selection and interview process have been completed. We are pleased to announce that our overseas volunteer for this year is Tracey Mann! Tracey will be on a 4-month placement over summer 2005 to implement development projects in a developing country. Congratulations Tracey!20 September 2004: Overseas volunteer featured in ENSC Co-op News
Robin Prest shares his experiences as an overseas volunteer for the Scala Program in the Fall 2004 issue of ENSC Co-op News. Here is an excerpt:"This past summer, I had an eye-opening experience as a volunteer for Engineers Without Borders. My journey began in Toronto, where I was trained for the Scala Project, a computer literacy initiative. Many other volunteers were trained for work around the world, on projects ranging from water and sanitation to food processing. When training finally came to an end, I was sad to leave but excited about the journey ahead."
The full article can be downloaded here.
24 August 2004: Scala Chapter Update 6 - The End of the Road
We have been on the edge of a typhoon for the last two days, meaning that the rain has been fading in and out randomly but relentlessly. The outer villages have been flooded, and here in Alaminos everything carries a sort of damp odor to it. It was to this backdrop that my partner Harish and I launched our second computer centre yesterday, marking the end of our stay in the Philippines.Weather aside, the launching went well. The electricity was cut all day, but the speaker system was run off of a car battery, and we managed to print the documents for the signing ceremony using a chain of several UPS's, whose batteries thankfully held out just long enough. Both launching ceremonies I've witnessed in the Philippines have been quite similar. After the opening ribbon ceremony, a priest will usually lead a candle-lit blessing, which is a reflection of the deep Catholic nature of this country. Then, after holy water has been dashed throughout the room (which, thankfully, appears to have fewer negative consequences for computers than water of the non-holy variety), the ceremony progresses to a sequence of multiple (and all quite similar) speeches. Then there is the food. On average, people in the Philippines tend to rise quite early, but it was exceptional even here that the chef began to roast at 2:30am to have the food ready for the coming day. Needless to say, it was a feast.
The experience here in Alaminos has been quite unique from that of San Jose Del Monte. The government bureaucracy runs much more smoothly, so there has not been the same frantic effort to follow up other people's work that existed at my first centre. Our linkages with other agencies have progressed much more smoothly as well, undoubtedly because the resources available here are much greater than what existed in San Jose. For instance, the agency responsible for certifying our graduates has agreed to waive the examination fee, and our students will receive four days of entrepreneurship training from another agency before they graduate.
Employment has been one of the largest problems with a skills training program such as ours. Our pilot centres last year have found that their post-graduation employment rate is approximately one third, with another one sixth of the students returning to school after training. These numbers are actually fairly positive in the context of the economy here, where the quantity of unemployment is only rivaled by a pervasive underemployment problem. Duplicate services exist everywhere here, from canteens, to watch repair, to transportation. The end result is that more people have jobs than would otherwise, but everyone just manages to scrape by. It is our hope that by providing entrepreneurship training and by keeping the centre open in the evenings for the printing of flyers, the making of business cards, and the encoding of essays, our students will at least have the option of joining this more informal economy in the absence of landing a full time job.
On Saturday, we will be flying back to Canada after three and a half months abroad. To those of you who have helped make this happen, I'd like to send out a big thank you on behalf of both myself, and our beneficiaries, the out of school youth. To those of you who have simply subscribed to these messages out of curiosity or interest, it has been a pleasure to share my experiences with so many people.
See you soon :-)
Robin
10 August 2004: Scala Program Featured in Burnaby Now and Vancouver Courier
The Scala Program was previously featured in both the Burnaby Now and the Vancouver Courier back in April 2004. Here are the links to those news stories:Making global connections, Burnaby Now, 24 April 2004
Volunteers hope to engineer change in Philippines, Vancouver Courier, 22 April 2004
28 July 2004: Scala Chapter Update 5 - From San Jose to Alaminos
So much has happened in the last few weeks, it's tough to know where to start. To give the ending away, I am now in Alaminos, Pangasinan on the island of Luzon,and have just started to set up my second ICT centre there. But the adventure is in the story, not the ending, so here's how San Jose finished off for us:Working with the government is both the strongest and weakest point of the Scala program. I doubt that our computer education centres would be sustainable without government involvement, but the bureaucracy involved can be ridiculous at times. First, our training time with the instructors was reduced because there is a 30 day freeze on job transfers after an election. Next, the accountant who had to sign for the purchase of UPSs and AVRs was sick, meaning that no one could purchase anything and that the first two days of computer training had to be done without computers. Most ridiculous, almost half of city workers are temporary employees, meaning that they don't get paid for the month after an election until the mayor decides to rehire them. Of course, he may decide to let them volunteer for a month and then replace them with his own people, as almost happened at our centre to several staff. Between our own letter to the mayor and other political maneuvering that was above our heads, I think everyone's job is secure, but I also think that my knowledge of the politics involved is just a tip of the iceberg.
Because of all of the above reasons, the last few weeks at San Jose were pretty intense. Last minute training, curriculum programming, and inter-agency meetings took up the bulk of the time, not to mention unexpected computer repairs (who send that VGA monitor anyhow?) As corny as it sounds, the effort was obviously worth it once the students arrived. Somehow in my mind, I had gotten the mental image that an Out-of-School Youth (OSY) would be troubled, difficult to teach, and maybe have a bit of an attitude. I don't know how this stereotype crept into my head, but it was quickly vanquished by the smiling faces of our students. The sheer enthusiasm of the kids was overwhelming, and brought with it the realization that, for the most part, these kids weren't OSY because *they* were a problem, as one might expect in Canada (or not). The reason they were OSY was because there simply weren't opportunities for them to pursue, making them more of a product of the system than anything else.
Our team has now lost the privilege of having a laptop due to another team needing it more, so it's been difficult doing all of my paperwork and updates at an internet cafe. I'll do my best to write again soon to let everyone know about Alaminos. It's hard to believe there are less than five weeks left in my placement.
All the best,
Robin
16 June 2004: CLEO Program Wins 2004 PCRS Recognition Award
The EWB-SFU Chapter's CLEO Program has been awarded the 2004 Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) Recognition Award in response to our efforts to teach computer literacy and basic training to those in need in the lower mainland. Nominated by the Vancouver Outreach Employment Program (VOEP), this award also marks the 20th anniversary of the PCRS. Information about our CLEO program can be found here.14 June 2004: Scala Chapter Update 4 - A City by Name
Mabuhay!As I write this, the wall next to me is being assaulted from the other side with hammers. As difficult as they make it to do any work, their sound is golden to my ears-work has finally begun to repair the computer room, meaning that we'll be able to set up the computers some time next week. Of course, that's assuming they arrive by then. After getting caught up in Hong Kong for a week, they are now being held up at customs, which is only a minor annoyance now, but could turn into a full blown problem if they aren't here for the opening ceremonies next Friday.
So what have we been doing for three weeks without computers? It turns out that setting up a computer literacy training centre involves a lot more than floppy disk drives and peer-to-peer networks. First comes all of the formalities, including meeting with civil servants, the outgoing mayor, the incoming mayor, government councilors, local NGOs, as well as other charitable organizations. It sounds like a lot of fluff, but these are the people who will influence funding and recruitment for the San Jose centre, so these meetings are actually quite important. For instance, during our meeting with the incoming mayor, we discussed ways of hooking the centre up to the internet (San Jose lacks land lines), and ways of subsidizing the travel costs of the most disadvantaged out-of-school youth. From these meetings, we've come to find many of the people involved in our project to be quite exceptional, and it's nice to know that the centre will be in good hands when we leave in three weeks.
Another chunk of our time has gone to planning, which involves everything from scheduling room repairs, to finding out what skills are most appropriate to teach in San Jose. Although we have a pre-packaged curriculum, teaching typing, Windows, all of MS Office, the Internet, etc, we are trying to tailor what is taught at each centre to the needs of the community itself. So, for instance, instead of running a full 240-hour course here, the centre manger and ourselves have decided to run an abbreviated course of 160 hours. This is to accommodate the fact that the longer the course runs for, the more difficult it is for an OSY to participate, as well as a desire to teach an increased number of students in a year.
So just what is San Jose like? It is a city in the making; the type of place that I wouldn't recognize to return to in five years time, so fast is its growth. Although the population is around 400,000, there is no real city centre, just a collection of residential communities. Part of its quick growth can be explained by the fact that San Jose acts as a resettlement area for squatters from metro Mania, which is only an hour's drive away without traffic.
Perhaps because of its under-developed state, the city is quite beautiful. A lot of the roads run along lush, tropical farm land, and the streets in residential neighbourhoods are always packed with children playing games or shooting hoops. Basketball is THE sport here, and many of the local kids spend their entire day playing street ball, which Ali and I have joined in occasionally. The sense of community that one feels in seeing all of the activity on the streets is quite vibrant. True, people likely spend their days there because they have nowhere else to go, but people seem to know each other and greet each other far more than back home, and there is a distinctly friendly atmosphere. Every day as we're walking to the main road, kids yell at us the few English sentences they've learned at school or on TV, like "what's your name", or "hey man, what's up?" Sometimes it's difficult to be the obvious outsider, with no possibility of anonymity, but it never fails to prompt a smile when you answer the children and their faces light up, as if they had pulled the string on some novel windup toy and received a performance in return.
That's my update for now. I'll try to be more prompt in sending my next one out, which will probably wrap up our centre in San Jose.
Until then,
Robin
3 June 2004: Scala Chapter Update 3 - Justifying the Use of Computers in Development
Hi folks! The project is chugging along, but is running a bit slowly towards the end of the week because of delays in the computer shipment. In the mean time, I've had some time to reflect upon and respond to some concerns I've heard over the past year relating to the use of computers in development.Many westerns feel uncomfortable with the thought of computers being used in development, a sentiment that is quite justifiable in many cases. Development projects of a technological nature often have unclear objectives, and in many cases are implemented more for their "wow" factor than for their practical purpose. On a more theoretical level, there are also deep implications of bringing giant technological leaps onto an unsuspecting population, since the combination of western wealth and western technology often work together to act as ambassadors for western culture, thus acting to erode pre-existing culture and value structures. Because of our relative wealth, a citizen of Ghana with satellite television might watch MTV, whereas an American with cable TV learns little about Ghana, and what little information that is available is likely from an American perspective. It is because of this one-way nature of information exchange that a development worker needs to think twice about the technologies he or she introduces and what their effect will be.
In tension with the theoretical perspective given above is a more pragmatic view. Whereas the application of advanced technologies in rural areas often has little practical purpose and maximum negative consequences, there are often real, tangible benefits to be had in urban settings. In contrast to urban poverty, rural poverty is in some ways a privilege, where poverty remains a somewhat private experience; where the structures of community are still intact; where life may be hard, but some connection still exists between the villagers and their natural environment. With urban poverty comes a different sort of deprivation, where whole families subsist in crude structures built under overpasses and exposed to every passing eye; where shanty towns line the roads; where the air is choked with the exhaust of passing cars; where the only form of sustenance is to be reliant on others for employment. This is in some ways the ultimate manifestation of poverty, because all control of environment is removed. The only exit from this sort of squalor is through education and skills, yet so many of these families cannot afford the transportation and materials necessary to send their children to school. And it is in this environment that the poor are robbed of the most basic of commodities: hope.
As a development volunteer, it troubles me that the children who are trained through Scala will probably surf more American web sites than Filipino. It bothers me that for practical purposes, the curriculum needs to be English and not Tagalog (English was introduced during the American occupation, and is widely known but rarely spoken at home). But who am I to impose these concerns on our beneficiaries? Computer education is something that is in high demand from the out-of-school youth we target, as well as Filipinos in general. It would be highly contradictory to decry the imbalance of influence that exists between the western and developing world, only to impose my own ideals by labelling computer training to be culturally predatory and therefore inappropriate. The longer I stay here, the more I realise that there is a balance between idealism and pragmatism. It is a delicate balance, to be sure, but one that needs to be acknowledged and reconciled.
So what will I do to balance these two competing principles? I will search for as many Tagalog websites as I can, and make sure that they are book marked on each of our computers. I will look to see if Tagalog dictionaries are available for MS Word. And I will build computer education centres, because there is a genuine need for the skills they teach, because there is a clear project outcome of employable skills, because we are targeting one of the most disadvantaged groups in Filipino society, and because the project is highly sustainable through our partner organization, the Department of Social Welfare and Development. If the project is successful, by this time next year there will be 2000 additional Filipino youth with skills with which to find employment and work their way out of the cycle of poverty. And that's a result I can live with.
All the best,
Robin
1 June 2004: Scala Chapter Update 2 - The History and Direction of Scala
Mabuhay!As promised, I'd like to give everyone an update on my first few weeks in Philippines, including my first impressions of my temporary homeland.
Arriving in Manila was quite overwhelming, mostly because of the gross poverty that exists along the roadways. Whole shanty towns sit beside the highway, and families live in shacks under overpasses where they constantly inhale smoke from the passing cars. It was a shame that this was our first introduction, because since then I have seen a beautiful side of Philippines that is quite different from that initial shock of squalor. The predominant characteristic that Filipinos pride themselves on is their hospitality and friendliness, two attributes that I can readily attest to after being here for two weeks. The countryside is very lush and beautiful, tropical fruits dotting the countryside, and water buffalo wandering the rice paddies that border the roadways. I was especially surprised to find out that our summer is actually the coolest time of year in Philippines due to the fact that it is the rainy season, and despite the fact that Philippines is also in the northern hemisphere.
The Philippines is at an economic crossroads, with one foot solidly in the developed world, and another slightly larger foot lagging behind. Although the income per capita is around $4000 PPP, that wealth is highly concentrated, meaning that the typical yearly family income is much, much less. A huge frustration exists amongst the population, as education does not necessary guarantee good employment. For this reason, approximately 10% of the Filipino population lives abroad, sending money back to support their families and relatives. The family unit is extremely cohesive, and it is not unusual to support members outside the immediate family, which itself can be quite large. Yet at the same time, a definite middle class exists, with all the amenities of the western world. Above each squatter settlement is a billboard advertising McDonalds Big Macs, and for every out-of-school youth, there seems to be another in possession of cell phones and computers. It is, in short, a world in limbo and in paradox.
It is in this context that Scala began two years ago, when the McGill chapter of EWB created their first computer education center in northern Luzon. The motivation for the center was to give disadvantaged people access to education that would lead them to meaningful employment. Since only the richer classes of Filipinos can currently afford such education, the project was intended to close this gulf of opportunity by giving those in need practical opportunities. Philippines has a growing technological sector, so computer skills are in high demand.
The program was expanded the following year to four new centers, building upon the lessons learned from the original experience. The largest problem identified was one of transferring ownership of the original center to its operators, which is incredibly important to ensure sustainability. The four centers built last year acted as a pilot project, mixing different class schedules, center sizes, and target audiences so as to find the best practices for an expanded project. Most importantly, Scala gained an extremely strong partner in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which is now the agency in charge of running and maintaining our new centers. With the DSWD, it was decided to target out-of-school youth exclusively with the next set of centers, and to expand the training curriculum to include life skills (foods and nutrition, self-esteem, entrepreneurship, sex-education, etc.) in order to increase the students' chances for success. Phase three (the current operation) has now expanded to creating 12 new centers with these goals in mind, and will serve to ultimately provide a template for the replication of future centers. EWB and the DSWD will be jointly developing a guide for this process over the next year based on our experiences, and the ultimate goal is for the DSWD to be able to continue expanding the project well after EWB's departure. Therefore, EWB's work will pay off with exponential returns due to this transfer of capacity and know-how to the DSWD.
It has taken a while for phase three to get going, mostly because Philippines is in the middle of a large government turnover due to the recent elections, which were both municipal and federal. Therefore, during our first few weeks, my partner Ali and I went north to Vigan, where we were charged with adapting to the Filipino life style and looking for volunteer work at local high schools. We were nervous about approaching a school without prior introduction, but the principal was quite pleased to see us, and really appreciated our offer to help with any computer problems. The school's computer lab was over-run with viruses, so we spent three days updating virus software and reinstalling software on the computers to make them virus-free.
The computers there had been donated from an unmentioned aid agency and a large computer manufacturer, and I will end with a small rant about how frustrating it was working with the mess they had left. Although the computers in the lab were quite new (850 MHz), they lacked CD ROM drives, except for one external CD drive that could not be booted from. Moreover, the restoration CD that the school was given didn't work, and there was little support available if anything was to go wrong with the computers. Finally, and most disturbing, the teacher was very nervous about having us reinstall the computers, because we couldn't figure out how to preserve the start-up screen, which displayed the name of the donor. The situation was appalling; for fear of incurring donor wrath, the recipients were afraid to make the computers work properly. Thinking about the situation still makes me angry.
Next time, I will try to share some details about our center location, San Jose Del Monte, and also to give some more information about the philosophical considerations behind technology and development. Until then, have some pancakes for me, and keep the griddle warm for my return.
All the best,
Robin
21 May 2004: Scala Chapter Update 1 - Training and First Week in the Philippines
A big hello to everyone back home!.The last three weeks have been full of new things, and it's difficult to know exactly where to start. For the first two weeks, I was in Toronto for training at the EWB head office, while for the past week I have been in the Philippines, waiting for our project to begin.
Training was busy but interesting, with 28 volunteers there for the first week, and then only us 12 Scala volunteers for the second. There is a stimulating mix of people going overseas this summer, heading everywhere from Indonesia to Ghana, but mostly concentrating on sub-Saharan Africa. During the first week, we went over general lessons on development methodology, history, and other important considerations, such as cultural sensitivity.
The second week was completely dedicated to Scala, meaning we got to learn more about the project itself and where it is heading. We also got to duplicate the computer refurbishing experience we recently had in Vancouver, which involved three days of working 9am-11pm, reformating computers and fixing hardware problems. During this time, we also got to find out where our first centres would be, and who our partners were. I'm working with a volunteer from Guelph named Ali, and we will soon be heading to San Jose in central Luzon island, just outside of Mania. On the day we found out our partners, we went on a scavenger hunt across Toronto for team building--Ali's and my triumph being getting into skydome to get a picture of us standing on the field--ask for details later :-).
Despite leaving on Sunday, we have been in the Phlippines only since Tuesday, a result of us skipping past the Interational Date Line. Things have progressed slowly so far, mostly because the Philippines is currently counting results from its recent elections, and so our municipal partners are not yet ready to receive us. We did manage to meet with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which was very welcoming in the orientation they gave us. We will be working with DSWD national to create a replicable model through which they can continue to develop ICT centres after we leave based on our experience and results.
The last few days have mainly been spent in transit and growing accustomed to our new surroundings. On Monday, the group will be stopping by near-by public
schools to see if we can help with any computer equipment while we wait for the real project to begin. It is not until Thursday that we will be introduced to our local government officials, at which point protocal will allow us to move into our communities and begin work. Each of our six pairs will be working in different locations across Luzon for six weeks at that point, after which we will change locations and begin again.
I have so much more to say, but I will wait until my next email so that this doesn't get too long. In my next few emails, I will try to give a better overview of Scala and its future, and some impressions of the Philippines and its warm and welcoming people.
Take care and paalam,
Robin
1 March 2004: EWB Featured in Last Word of The Peak, Vol. 116 Issue 9
We recently wrote an article for this week's issue of The Peak. The article discussed issues and solutions in international development, as well as what EWB is doing to alleviate world poverty. The article can be read here.27 February 2004: Engineers Without Borders-SFU Hosts Benefit Concert in Support of International Development
Media AdvisoryFebruary 27, 2004
Burnaby, BC – SFU will be transformed into a concert venue on Friday March 5 for the Rock Without Borders benefit concert, featuring Means to an End and Electric Blues Euphoria.
Despite having taken quite different roads to success, both Vancouver bands have managed to garnish a reputation that most local bands would envy. Formed in 1999, Means to an End recently played in the 2003 Van Warped Tour, in addition to previously performing on the same stage as Bif Naked and The Matthew Good Band. Electric Blues Euphoria, on the other hand, has more than eight years experience as a band, and can list among its accomplishments three consecutive wins at the Tri-Cities Battle of the Bands.
It isn’t often that the words “punk” and “melodic” are used in the same sentence to describe a band’s style, but that’s exactly how Means to an End bills itself. Their unique style has earned the band airtime on 99.3 The Fox, speaking volumes about their popular appeal.
Electric Blues Euphoria also considers their style to be distinctive, calling it a hybridization of rock, funk, and blues. Their style has evolved over time, especially since a change in bass guitar players three years ago, which led the band in new creative directions. Electric Blues Euphoria has also received airtime on The Fox, and keeps an active presence on the local music scene.
Rock Without Borders will take place in the convocation mall at SFU on Friday March 5 at 5:30pm. Tickets are on sale for $7.00 at SFU Enchant, with a free drink for the first 100 tickets. The show will be beer gardened, but remains open to all ages. Money raised from the event will go to support the activities of Engineers Without Borders SFU and the Scala Program, a development project focusing on poverty reduction for out-of-school youths in the Philippines.
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Contact: Robin Prest, EWB-SFU, 604.422.0555, rjprest@sfu.ca
Engineers Without Borders – SFU
Department of Engineering Science
Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6 sfu.ewb.ca
About EWB: Engineers Without Borders (www.ewb.ca) is a registered Canadian charity that promotes human development through access to technology. By undertaking projects in the areas like water and sanitation, food production, health and hygiene, and communications and information technology, EWB has lasting impact with those who are most in need. In the past four years, more than 70 EWB volunteers have made a difference in over 20 countries around the world.
14 February 2004: Our Thoughts From This Year's National Conference
A week has passed since the EWB national conference in Toronto, and I'm still riding high off the euphoria. For the majority of you who have never gone to an EWB national conference, it is something to behold. The 2004 conference was not only graced with the appearances of Stephen Lewis (Special Envoy to UN Secretary General on AIDS in Africa), Sakiko Fukuda-Parr (Director of UN Human Development Report), John Ralston Saul (author and Governor General's husband), and Aileen Carroll (minister in charge of CIDA), but it was also billed as the largest conference on international development in Canada. Wow -- EWB's definitely come a long way in four short years.There are several ongoing themes and messages that came out of the conference, and I'd like to share a few of them with you that affected me the most:
- The world is so very big, but with a little help from each of us,
it can change. One of EWB's greatest assets is its young membership
base, with all the energy and vision that comes along with it.
- On a more tangible note, there is a lot we can do to instigate change
right here at SFU. The conference featured workshops on member education,
community outreach, high school outreach, university curriculum change,
and raising money for overseas volunteers: all concrete examples of
how we can make a difference. EWB-SFU has been striving to fill all
these categories with guest speakers, the HIV Positive AIDS awareness
display, and the Scala project. One area that I think we need more focus
in is member education, and I will be working hard to improve that aspect
next fall. Another exciting prospect is the idea of curriculum change.
SFU will be bringing in an international development program over the
next year or two, and our chapter has begun to look for more information
regarding how we can maximize the benefits of such a program.
- There
are some really neat people involved in EWB. The friendly, enthusiastic
people involved at our chapter are just a scratch on the surface of
all the talent and energy that exists across the country. For those
of you who missed this chance to meet them, there will be another chance
this summer during the Western Chapters' Retreat, likely on one of the
Gulf Islands during the July or August long weekend. Stay tuned for
more information.
- Knowledge is the key in instigating change. How many of you knew who Stephen Lewis was before I mentioned it in this e-mail? Not only is he one of the most powerful speakers I have ever heard; not only was he Maclean's Man of the Year; but he is one of the most important men in the fight against one of the largest obstacles facing the developing world, HIV/AIDS. If we don't even know his name, then what chance is there to know that Canada has only committed half the money he has asked for to fight this pandemic? What is the chance of us knowing that infection rates have climbed to approximately 40% of the adult population in such countries as Botswana and Zimbabwe? And what is the chance that our government will choose to prioritize mitigating the desperate plight of such countries when it feels no pressure from its electorate on such matters, because the electorate simply doesn't know that such matters exist?
Robin Prest
Interested in what happened at this year's national conference? Click here.
25 January 2004: VP Administration Kevin Wong Wins Bronze at WECC
Kevin recently won bronze in this year's Western Engineering Conference and Competition (WECC), hosted by the University of Manitoba. His editorial presentation on EWB's Scala Project incorporated a discussion of the causes of poverty with a focus on the Philippines, and was quoted as “extremely passionate” by WECC judges.A second year engineering student, Kevin is a prominent leader in various community activities. He is the team leader of the "Echopine" team in the provincial Junior Achievement Business Competition which ranked in the top ten percent in the Hewlett Packard Global Business Competition. Kevin is also Chair of the CIBC Youth Piano Competition, an associate volunteer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S., and a volunteer in the Canadian Cancer Society Diamond Ball Office. At SFU, Kevin is a Co-op Focus Group committee member and an undergraduate researcher in gold film preparation and fabrication methods for the Department of Physics. He is currently project manager for the EWB-CFES partnership.
28 November 2003: EWB-SFU to be Featured in the Spring Issue of ENSCquire
EWB-SFU has been invited to write an article in the Engineering Undergraduate Student Society's newletter, The ENSCquire. The draft of the article can be downloaded here.20 October 2003: SFU Chapter Wins Bid to Participate in the Scala Program
After submitting a join bid with UBC to particpate in the Scala Prgram, SFU, along with seven other universities across Canada, will become part of the implementation team to set up and run twelve ICT centres in the Philippines. We are extremely excited about this opportunity, and information about the National Scala Program can be found here.22 January 2003: Data Logger Project Highlighted at WECC
Eric Hennessey's presentation, "A Little Hope", a data logger project focused on energy efficiency, water conservation, and fostering kindness receives gold at the Western Engineering Conference and Competition in Edmonton. The project also received silver and The Social Awareness Award at The Canadian Engineering Competition in St. John's.If you would like to receive e-mail updates regarding our chapter, you are welcome to join our mailing list. Click here for instructions.