Aeroplan “Beyond Miles Partnership” with EWB

Hello all!

First off I'd like to say how exciting it is that some of my fellow employees are currently in Kenya on another employee engagement trip! I cannot wait to hear all about their experience and to see what kind of impact they were left with. Jose and I have already spoke about having a Vancouver office presentation to represent 2 of the partner organizations from Beyond Miles.

As Minh described below, the annual EWB conference was absolutely amazing. The energy and passion throughout those few days is what is going to fuel the changes made in our world. To quote Parker in his and George's closing remarks, our goal is to "make the difference between where we want to be and where we are smaller." Right now that difference is in the extreme and it is up to us to narrow the gap. The most inspiring part is that is it possible. It will not be easy but it is possible. Over 500 students were at the conference, full of naive excitement, raw passion and endless innovation. They are the change we need. The few professionals that were there represent the interest taken by our capitalistic world in how we are to make our globe truly one that we are proud to be living on.

We attending panels about the MDGs, about CSR programs and heard from business owners, professionals, a member of the conservative party, professors, economists and many more. Each with their own unique way of tackling the problem of poverty. The debates were rich and endless and left everyone with a renewed sense of motivation and direction. I cannot count the amount of peopleI spoke to who said "wow I really needed to be here at this conference, I feel like I've just been completely re-charged."

It was also wonderful to be able to meet up with Jenn and all the other OVSs we had met while in Zambia. And that they treated us like family did nothing less than warm my heart.

It was overall an truly inspiring experience. It is people like those who were at that conference that are going to be the change we want to see in the world.

Picures are still to come!

Carissa




Folks,

The legacy of our blog continues... we had an amazing experience attending and presenting at the EWB 2009 National Conference.

Our trip to YYZ included a visit to Aeroplan's office in the Air Canada Centre, to present to our colleagues in the partnership group and meeting one of the next lucky "winners" who will travel to Kenya with SWB (School without Borders).

The support of Alden and her team in Community Investments, our managers at Aeroplan, and organizers at EWB to provide us the chance to share in this event deserve a great thanks!

See the link to learn more about the event: http://conference2009.ewb.ca/collaboration-day/schedule

With pictures and more commentary to come...

Back from Zambia

Folks,

We're back from Zambia... a recap will come shortly.

Meantime, we've loaded albums (bottom left hand side of the screen) for your viewing pleasure. By clicking on the thumbnail you can view the pictures in a larger size.

To wrap up our blog/trip chronicles, we're preparing a "roadshow" presentation to share the lessons learned, anecdotes about our travels, and hopefully inspire anyone who attends. More details to come. PS. Let us know what topics you would like to hear.

Slady & Carissa catch some zzz's

The ride out of Zimba

Last night in Zambia

Folks,

Our last night in Zambia was spent over dinner at the newly established EWB home in Lusaka. Trevor and Thulasy, EWB Overseas Volunteers, prepared a great pasta dinner... followed by a great conversation about our trip; our findings, understanding, and next steps upon returning home.

EWB Home in Lusaka

(Left to right): Slady, Jenn & Thulasy Balasubramaniam

(Left to right): Trevor Freeman, Minh, Carissa

Village life in Zimba... for the guys

As Carissa mentioned, we split between two households for the night in Kolomo, as Slady and I (Minh) stayed with Kenny’s family. Kenny is on the council of sorghum farmers, one of the first to join the program. Here are some of events that took place:
- Evening bathing: the family prepares my bathing water and as I set up, the son casually mentions, “don’t worry about the chicken in the corner.” I think I now had a slight paranoid disposition, hoping the chicken wouldn’t attack me or whatever while I tried to wash off the day’s grime.
- Next morning: at 5AM I joined the son to fetch water 2.5kms away on bicycle and carried a 20ltr jug on my bike, whereas the son carried 3x20 ltr jugs. Reaching the water hole, I discovered they were using a pit dug only metres from the dam. Perhaps not the best water planning/treatment prevention, as we learned during or Wat-San visit.

Water quality somewhat suspect


My return ride was not working out so well because the jug had a tipping effect as I tried to ride back. Thankfully a friend of the family was crossing our paths carrying a live chicken. He traded bikes with me and carried my water back, but somewhere on the journey back to the house the chicken jumped free, so I watched the friend first put the bike on the stand then chase the chicken and strap him to the jug of water… (this is somewhat funnier to see than write, kinda Keystone Cops scene)

Riding with 3 x 20 litre jugs


As the day continued, we toured Kenny’s property and discussed his sorghum crop. Among the highlights he addressed:
- Concern that weather forecasts have to be communicated in advance of seed planting season, otherwise rain could wash away seeds (a wasted effort).
- Other natural disaster, such as the elephants who recently walked through his field may ruin certain quantities of crops (you have to see the footprints to see the magnitude of damage)
- He has embraced a strategy to diversify his fields and rotate them between sorghum, maize, and garden veggies such as peas, sunflower, etc.
- Rotation should ensure that sorghum does not grow immediately after maize has grown in same field because the lack of fertilizer in the soil. Garden veggies however, do re-fertilize the soil.
- Maize should only be grown to feed his family, therefore leaving the remaining fields available to higher-profit margin crop.
- The fact Care is wrapping their program, he needs to gain all their knowledge before they leave.



Kenny (holding sorghum)

Kenny & Slady in the field

Care’s support of the farmers has encompassed the following:

- Provided free sorghum seed in 2006 as incentive to change crop (from maize)

- In 2007-08, they began charging 50% the price of seed, encouraging farmers to treat sorghum as part of their business plan

- In 2009, they will end their support of the program, believing that farmers will become self-sufficient by that time.

- The past year, they made an exceptional expenditure to help defray 50% the price to transport the sorghum that has been harvested. Higher than expected transport costs more than the value of the crop. Without profits, the farmers will be unable to purchase seeds or fertilizers (for maize)

- The council leaders have been held accountable by Care to present their business plan for the coming year. The meeting we attending showed a profit of 10M KW (KW = Zambian currency) off sales of 101M KW. This plan is being updated to include a risk management plan (costs of selling, price of crop in future) and needs to know how to effectively manage sales channels that account for 80% of their business, but 20% of client base (the pareto rule “80-20”)

Business Planning meeting with sorghum council leaders

Follow up to Minh

Carissa:
Hi everyone! So we're now back in Lusaka and Minh just posted his observations during our meeting in Livingstone...we don't have too much time tonight because we're having dinner with some EWB volunteers so I think we'll be back tomorrow. There is a lot that has happened between Livingstone and Lusaka so for now we'll try and catch up a little bit:

To elaborate on the meeting with Susan:

It was different because she was not in the wat-san or agriculture area, her specialty was in CARE’s HIV/AIDS division. It was interesting to talk to someone who’s involved with the health component of development. I learned that in Zambia, anti-retroviral drugs are actually now free but only at government institutions. A huge problem is access to these institutions for people that live far away ie rural areas. The CARE volunteers that work with the SCOPE and HIV/AIDS program cannot bring the meds as they are prescriptions, but they can help the patient formulate a regular schedule for administration. There are so just so many angles at which to approach development, so many that it almost seems like chaos at times.

Livingstone is the location of the CARE regional headquarters, so it was a great place to see an NGO in its operational stages. Everyone seemed very focused and well organized within their respective projects.

A topic we’ve been discussing to quite a great extent since we’ve been in Zambia is that of development and its effectiveness. Literature on the struggles of development can only begin to describe what is actually happening in the field. All the devastation and disease and poverty is there but its display is much different than I would have imagined. I was picturing people with their hands out, pleading, crying with all the hardships they are experiencing in their lives and instead we have encountered time after time silence. These hardships have been already engrained into their lives, their parents and their children’s lives. They face poverty, hunger, death and disease every single day, it’s almost like it has become a part of their routine. It just pretty much left me speechless at times.

Another side note about Livingstone is the difference that city possesses based on the tourism industry. The Victoria Falls and the Zambezi river off this world of adventure and excitement to people from all over the world. Upon arriving you feel different. It almost felt like we had stepped out of Zambia (or at least the Zambia we had seen up until then). It’s amazing the difference one industry can have on a region. Some people would argue that it is taking away from the real Zambian culture yet others argue that it is perfect to give great, profitable opportunities to locals. It’s hard to say. Something to think about…

But what a spectacular sight to see: the Victoria Falls. October is when the water levels are at their lowest so the falls were not crashing as you normally see in the classic videos and postcards, but it was so low that we actually could walk all over the rocks that the river usually crashes over. We walked all the way to the edge where the water pours off the top of the rocks and crashes with its huge sheets of mist. It was just breathtaking. The sky was blue, you felt like you were literally at the edge of the world, you’re standing in the Zambezi in Zambia and looking over to Zimbabwe just across the way. It really is a sight not to miss.

Next stop: Muzya and Kalomo

I believe Minh did talk about Livingstone also so I will proceed to Tuesday and our journey out of tourist Zambia and back into rural lands.

Side note: Zambia is hot in October. Unbelievably hot. Exponentially hotter than anything I’ve ever experienced. In Livingstone, as we searched for something to eat before embarking on our bus journey to Zimba, we were literally just darting from shaded area to shaded area because any place in the sun, even 10 seconds worth, was just stifling. So we had a bit to eat, and were pretty excited because the bus company had told us that the bus we were taking was “ business class” with A/C. Business class means 2 by 2 seats and A/C means the windows do not open. Departure time is 1330. I can’t wait to cool off for 2 hours so I’m all smiles as we get on the bus. It’s a little hot to begin with but I figure once we start moving the A/C will kick in and we’ll be comfortable. And then we start moving. And the AC does not come on. And then we find out it is broken. And the windows don’t open. So basically we were roasting like chicken. We arrived in Zimba to meet Jon, antoher EWB volunteer who is joined by Wysin, the CARE co-ordinator and practically fall out of the bus. It was quite a scene. We sat and drank water for about a half hour before any one of us felt remotely well enough to get into the CARE Toyota Land Cruiser and bump our way into the village.

Intro to Jon:

Like I said, he is an EWB volunteer working with CARE. He is involved with the agriculture side of operations. CARE has a program that is trying to get rural small scale famers to reintroduce sorghum as a profitable crop. Maize was pushed by the government to be the staple food across Zambia. A kind of “one country, one crop” unified slogan. Maize is what everyone grows, sells and eats. Farmers lives revolve around Maize A major problem with Maize is that is it very weather dependent. As seen last year, the rains wiped out a lot of crops and we have come to know that Maize also being quite susceptible to drought. Sorghum on the other hand is a very favourble crop given the growing conditions of Zambia’s Southern Province. It is quite drought resistant and provides quite an impressive yield.

Once we felt well enough, we piled in with our dusty luggage and rumbled our way through the dirt paths to Muzya area where we were split (me and Jenn, Slady and Minh) to stay the night in 2 different households. Minh I’m sure will describe quite accurately his experience as he and Slady had quite a different night and day from me and Jenn.

Jenn and I were dropped off at a household that we immediately named “the swank”. It was village living but with style. All 5 elements of sanitation, all sorts of animals, all kinds of huts for different purposes including ours which was just for us and had a bed were found a our swanky village. Our bed had a frame and a mattress and blankets! The main house had a TV that who’s battery had been charged at Zimba so even after dark we were still watching the news! There was white sugar! The latrine had a nice straw courtesy covering wall and a hand crafted cover! We were given a flashlight! For a few moments we both wondered if we really were in the village. But then the guinea fowls starting screaming (that’s what I call it because it’s terrible and illogical and goes on all night just so you ALWAYS know they’re there).

Our hosts were wonderful. The Mrs was very well spoken and articulate and we learnt much about her activity in the community and her role in her women’s group and their work with orphans and vulnerable children.

MORE TO COME INTERNET IS TOO SLOW!!! ALSO PICTURES TO COME AS WELL!!

HIV/Aids Home-Based-Care program

Folks,

Prior to leaving Livingstone we had the opportunity to meet Susan, Coordinator in Southern Region of Home-Based-Care (HIV/Aids program) with the Care Organization. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty by improving basic education, preventing the spread of HIV, increasing access to clean water and sanitation, expanding economic opportunity and protecting natural resources. This meeting allowed us to learn about the challenges Care faces in using home-based-care (HBC) volunteers to help HIV/Aids infected people. Here are some interesting highlights:
- 60% of HBC volunteers are male in the rural area, while 60% of HBC volunteers are female in urban areas. We believe one factor is that rural men have more “free” time to work than females in villages (recall workload of Mrs. Chilaw in Sinyendende).
- HBCs support an average of 5 patients each, working one hour each week per patient.

Incentives for volunteers (who are unpaid):
- keep their bicycles after two years in the roles
- provided surplus supplies i.e. chlorine, sanitation, etc, that they can sell to generate income
- bags, uniforms, and training that increases their skills capacity (for future employment elsewhere)


Susan, Coordinator in Southern Region of Home-Based-Care (HIV/Aids program) with the Care Organization

Because of the variety of challenges across the region, CARE is collecting data to show whether a bundle of services (Scope, C-Faarm, HBC, SCT, and/or SSCP) working together in a town or any combination of services leads to improved living conditions. It will provide invaluable information on what type of strategy will be needed to optimize their impact in respective communities.


Map of CARE cluster activities.

Mosi oa Tunya, R&R in the mecca of tourism

With Indian Peacekeeping Officers
Tandem Bungee Jumping
Mosi oa Tunya
Mosi oa Tunya
Setting up for our R&R stay

Folks,

Besides the blog, one method our team has used to build on this learning experience is a top-5 list (of anything) following a segment of the journey. Comparing our impressions, sharing them with Jenn, and then building conversation around them have been invaluable to the learning experience. We are always discussing why things work the way they do, are programs effectively helping, and identify areas for improvement.

EWB - Agriculture
After seeing the Wat-San half of EWB work, our journey will move south to a village in Kolomo, 200km south of Monze. That segment will focus on agriculture and the work EWB performs with Care, a multinational aid agency.

Capital for Tourism
Before reaching Kolomo, we continued on the bus 100km further south to the town of Livingstone. This was a much needed R&R break and allowed us to explore another side of Zambia, its capital for tourism. Having a natural attraction, Mosi oa Tunya, “the Smoke that Thunders”, aka Victoria Falls, has proven a boom to the towns economy.

The Congo
Staying at JollyBoys Backpackers Hostel gave us an opportunity to meet some wonderful people. Two people we wanted to focus particular attention on were Indian Army officers, David and Naveet, on their own R&R from UN Peacekeeping in the Congo. The chance to hear their thoughts half-way through their one-year posting was impressive. After their departure, we found an email from our colleague, Flore Lambelin that she decided in being a United Nations Volunteer for a peacekeeping operation in Congo. We only wish we had the chance to help with introductions, but I’m sure if they come across one another’s’ path, they would become fine friends. The Congo is geographically one of the most intense postings due to a lack of amenities, ie. heat, malaria, & Wat-San, that even the Indian Army takes precaution for its soldier’s health.

Fun – but Professional
Given the opportunity to visit in a town that has every imaginable amenity and service, we partook in a little sightseeing adventure… We began by walking through Mosi au Tunya’s dry river bed, peaking over the edge of a 100metre drop, and seeing the mist off the Zimbabwe side of falls. Always thinking of our safety, we took it upon ourselves to learn what a more than 75m drop feels like… So a professional organization with a first rate crew, safety tied us up for a tandem-bungee jump off a bridge that spans the Zambezi river gorge. The next day was felt the need to keep refreshed and feet closer to the ground… so we white water rafted 30km down the Zambezi.

As much as this was for R&R, we were able to think about other contrasts from Monze and their town living conditions. Livingstone is an example of a Zambian community that is able to profit due to geographic location…

More to come…