Why EWB? Why Overseas?

So still working on the Oz Rundown but thought I would start posting about my journey to Ghana with Engineers Without Borders which is just around the corner!
Here’s a lil’ background info on why I decided to do it, who EWB is, my project, and how can help support me!

Being born and bred in Canada, I have had the fortunes of growing up with food on the table, a roof over my head, a great education, and endless opportunities. Before I could even drive I was able to fly a plane, was accepted into the Aerospace Engineering program at Ryerson University, was working in the Aerospace industry by my second year of university, and at this point, to me, the sky was truly the limit. However, in my third year of university, a friend introduced me to an organization known as Engineers Without Borders, where I slowly began to realize that this isn’t the case for many people around the world. Through various events, discussions, and public outreach events, I was exposed to the harsh reality of poverty overseas. In my travels to Thailand and India, I witnessed first-hand this upsetting reality, with children performing circus acts on the street to try to get food, families struggling for basic needs just to survive, and people living in slums which no person should ever have to call home. I started to think to myself, “What lucky lottery did I win to be born into a land full of opportunities?”

In January 2008 everything came together when I attended the EWB National Conference in Montreal. I was surrounded by over 700 young, passionate, and motivated individuals who were determined to make poverty history! It was during that weekend I was compelled to take action. After an intense application procedure, I was offered the opportunity to work with EWB in Ghana! I am now one month away from leaving, and have been faced with the biggest learning curve ever in my life as I prepare to create the most positive impact overseas I possibly can. My journey has begun, and I would like you to be a part of it…

A LITTLE ABOUT EWB
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is a non-profit organization that strongly believes poverty is not about weakness. For the 800 million people who go hungry each day and the one billion who lack access to clean water, poverty is an absence of opportunity. EWB is responding to this urgent need, helping people in developing communities gain access to technologies that will improve their lives. They believe that technology, when appropriately incorporated into each community’s social, cultural, economic and political context, can drive extraordinary change. EWB uses a people-first approach and work together work local partners to find sustainable solutions to root-cause problems.

MY PROJECT
On November 8th, 2008 I will be joining the fight against poverty with EWB where I will be working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana for a year. MoFA is the country’s government branch for the agriculture sector and part of the Ghanaian initiative to “champion African development”. I will be working on EWB’s Agriculture as a Business program, which involves working with MoFA field staff to help farmer groups make productive investments. This in turn will allow more security for farmers and their families and a significant reduction in overall vulnerability.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!
To make this vision a reality, EWB needs your support. Unlike most other charities, you will get to see your support in action! Your donation will directly support my project and I will send regular updates to show you the difference it is making in overseas! Donations towards the project can be made online using the following link:
https://www.ewb.ca/en/whatyoucando/donateonline/index.html?volunteer=ryancoelho
Interested in more ways to make a difference? Check out http://playyourpart.ca/ to see how you can use your consumer power to create change!

If you have questions or would like more information, my inbox is AWAYS open
Thanks for reading everyone!