If at first you don't succeed...

Ever since I last posted (merely hours ago) I was thinking....why haven't I participated in Kiva yet? I should practice what I preach, right? And I've actually been waiting to post about microcredit and Kiva for a while.

So here I go!

When you go to the website you can pick a business by deciding what you want in regards to "status" "gender" "sector" and "region." I was a little shocked to see North America as an option for region but hey, poverty is everywhere. When I clicked on it I realized that they were all for Mexico.

After browsing and browsing I've finally settled on my group that I will lend money too. I have chosen Lovina. Here are some bits from their blurb on the website and why I chose them:


This group consist of ladies who are raising pigs. Three ladies were already selected to administer the group by coordinating everything that are involved with the group from money management and other activities, like: as Chair person, as Secretary, and as Cashier. In the past, the ladies in this Lovina Group raised their animals the traditional way, since they did not know how to raise pig the right and effective way, so that the results were not maximal. For that matter DINARI took initiative to help this Lovina Group so that they could get ahead in their business. Besides guidance, DINARI is also giving capital loan to each member in the amount of Rp1,400,000 (about US$154)/member, that afterwards were used to buy feedstock and feed for 1 raising season. With that guidance, and assistance from DINARI, the Lovina Group improves in their Group Management and activities, so that they are convinced to obtain better results in every member's heart.

Okay so really I just cut out one sentence...The things I like the most are that it's for women, they coordinate everything they're involved with, they raise pigs effectively, and they will get better results. It seems very effective and like it addresses the core issues. I'm in.

I chose to donate 25 dollars (the minimum but you can donate as much as 325) and proceed to the check out. Here I register, pay with my paypal account (to which I conveniently forget my user name and password. **aside** I have to retrieve them by entering my name, zip code and phone number. No problem, easy as pie. However, I mistype my phone number and don't realize it until I've been denied a good three times and notice I put a 1 instead of an 8...so after that I forget my password because I have too many accounts and emails that I can barely keep my head straight. Agh!!)

Finally I've donated! Success! After confirming everything I'm lead to a very anti-climactic page. It just says "Your Transactions." It's a little disappointing.

I click around and go to "My portfolio," they have a section called "my impact" and list some loan information. That's some pretty powerful rhetoric.

Okay, so after a good 15 minutes of clicking around it seems that there was some sort of glitch in the system (?) and though paypal has charged me 25 dollars I have not lent money to anyone. I click on "my loans" and it's blank.

What?!

Argh. Sorry Lovina, you'll have to wait. I have an angry email to send...

If you try this I hope you have more success!

Small loans. Big changes.

Money money money. It's one of those big problems. Something you hate to be tied to but can't seem to survive without it unfortunately.

I'm one of the very few students who are not plagued with the typical student debt that one must incur when pursuing post secondary education. I'm pretty lucky.

I've definitely heard all the horror stories of OSAP though and what a pain it is. I've made the mistake of lending a friend money. I've also begged my parents for a few extra bucks for a "really important" purchase. I've overheard co-workers stories of loans from the bank. And I've seen that episode of the Office where Michael gets locked into a crazy mortgage for his condo.

Loans come in all shapes and sizes.

And loans were changed forever in the 1970s with the Grameen Bank.

The jist of the Grameen Bank (GB) is that it was founded by Prof Muhammad Yunus to give impoverished people loans so that they can use it- along with their entrepeneurial skills- to move out of poverty. The loan is usually small and must be paid back.

GB provides credit to the poorest of the poor in rural Bangladesh, without any collateral. At GB, credit is a cost effective weapon to fight poverty and it serves as a catalyst in the over all development of socio-economic conditions of the poor who have been kept outside the banking orbit on the ground that they are poor and hence not bankable.

Most people who borrow from the GB are women. Women are also the most impoverished.

Yunus notes "Most distinctive feature of Grameencredit is that it is not based on any collateral, or legally enforceable contracts. It is based on "trust", not on legal procedures and system."

The tem for loans are microcredit. It is small amounts of credit that can make a huge difference in someone's life. With these loans people can buy supplies to make pots to sell, rent a store to sell their goods, buy machinery, or anything else that they will need to start a business.

The loans are not for short term needs but for long term gain. Money used to buy a kiln to make pots is more beneficial than buying food for the rest of the week.

Yunus was also the recipient of the Nobel Pace Prize in 2006 "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below."

Now for the coolest thing...YOU can get involved in microcredit personally!!

Kiva.org gets you involved in microcredit by allowing you to sponsor an entrepeneur.

You can go to the website, pick out someone to sponsor, get journal updates, and "as loans are repaid, you get your loan money back."

Kiva is also pretty big on transparency and they want you to know what's going on.

Microcredit/Microfinance loans have a higher payback rate than regular loans.

While I don't have a Kiva account it does seem like a good way to get involved in microcredit and changing someone's life for the better. While it is not without it's flaws there is a huge possibility for change. And you get your money back. If you're feeling adventurous (or generous) give it a try, and let me know how it works!

Wining and dining your donors

One thing that has been on my mind lately (and will continue to be until the 23rd of this month) is Engineers Without Borders' Third Annual Wine and Cheese- Wine for Development. Cheese for Change.

The main goal of this event is to fundraise money so we can send a volunteer (a Junior Fellow) overseas in the summer months to complete a volunteer placement. This will enable them to experience the complexities of poverty and bring back that knowledge to Canada so that we can see how our actions in Canada affect those overseas.

The WC (wine and cheese) is an awesome night. The hall is decorated with photos from overseas placements, in Canada activities, and outreach events. There are tons of raffle and door prizes. And the wine and food abound! The wine is great, although there are some non-alcoholic beverages too. The desserts are mouth watering...



If that doesn't convince you then I don't know what will. I'm salivating just thinking about the delicious-ness.

Okay, enough dessert pictures...

(And here is my blog thank you to Canadian Bread Bakers who are phenomenal and donated this stuff.)

The night is pretty relaxed and fun. And educational! But not in the boring way.

We have a speaker who is a returned overseas volunteer. This year it's Holly, who was last year's JF (the summer student for whom most of the WC fundraises for). It's a nice look at the technical aspect of the project but also some fun cultural things. Holly will tell funny stories about the kids she met or a funny encounter at work. It's nice to see the human side of development and realize that people living in poverty are not miserable all the time.

We're also going to have Kimberly, an EWB National Office staff member. She'll talk about action and advocacy in Canada. It's nice when you can get both aspects (in Canada and overseas) to balance each other out. It makes the people attending feel like they really can do something.

So what does it take to make a successful event?

You should also have a team or committee that is working with you. Create a common goal, establish responsibilities, and keep in touch. Motivate and support each other for a good group dynamic and synergy.

It's also nice when you can get lots of your supplies donated. When the food, refreshments, door prizes, and/or raffle prizes are donated it eliminates a lot of stress (both mental and financial) on your team.

In my opinion the event needs to be fun. You can't have fundraising without fun! (Sorry that was really bad.)

You need to make people feel like they are contributing to something worthwhile. Make sure they know where the money is going and how it will be used. Also outline the benefits of the project/whatever you're fundraising for.

There should be good entertainment (whether the main speaker or not) and people should also be able to network and meet new people at the event or get some awesome food/refreshments to feel as if they are getting something out of it. Rarely will people give away money without hoping for something in return. Good refreshments, a great speaker, and some knowledge sharing is a great "thank you" for your donation and attendance at the event.

Fundraising events can also make people feel like they are contributing to a common goal. The people attending are donating money that will help be used in projects to alleviate poverty. They are directly contributing and that feeling can be just as sweet as the desserts.

This post has been more about fundraising for development than development itself. Sorry I've detracted a bit but I cannot get the WC off of my mind!

It's on Friday, Nov 23rd and should be an amazing night.

If you're inclined to attend tickets are $20 for students ($30 for professionals or $50 for a pair) and it will be held at the Masonic Temple on the corner of Erie and Ouellette at 7pm (doors at 630). Email me at uwindsor@ewb.ca for more details.

Use and abuse

Engineers Without Borders' mantra is "promoting human development through access to appropriate technology." Technology, when used in the right context, can help alleviate poverty by providing opportunities for an increased income and all the benefits that come along.

As I write this post I sit in Coffee Exchange, sipping a chai latte, listening to a Basia Bulat CD I burned from my friend, and write on my laptop. What technology did it take to get me in this situation? Was it all necessary? Was it appropriate? I could have biked. I could have gotten some ice water with a lemon. I could have stayed at home. It's not imperative that I'm here. I just felt like it and I happen to have the means.

What if everyone lived like I live? What if everyone lived up to the Western Standard? Laptop, cell phone, new clothes, new possessions, cars and the whole nine yards. Is it sustainable? Absolutely not.

If everyone lived "like this" we could not sustain ourselves and the earth would crumble. We hear so much about the detrimental effects of global warming and imagine if that was doubled. The effects would be horrible. The air would choke us. Water would be scarce. The soil would become infertile. Some countries/companies leave giant ecological footprints with their negative impact on the environment. (Find out your ecological footprint here.)

How do we have development without destroying the planet?

I guess it depends on what we mean by development. Is it possible that people can improve their economical situation without industrialization? The immediate response would likely be 'no.' But let me put on my rose coloured glasses and modify things...

What about grassroots development? Working with what people have, in terms of resources and livelihoods, and then build from that? We don't always need a top-down approach to things. What if we, as Westerners, didn't live as lavishly as we did? What if we didn't get a new car every five years, a new cell phone every two years, and a new wardrobe every 4 months? If we lived on subsistence instead of excess we would definitely be able to sustain ourselves and the planet while providing opportunities for other nations to alleviate poverty.

When I take off my rose coloured glasses I realize this is very unlikely. There is no way we will decrease our current rate of technological consumption in the West. We're too obsessed finding out how small we can make a computer, how much dye we can put in a product before it kills us, or what a new car will look like. What's hunger or preventable disease worth to someone who is not directly effected by it?

I don't want to sound bitter, but maybe I'm a little dejected. We can make a cell phone the size of a finger, and yet people die everyday from preventable causes like measles or diarrhea. It just makes me sad. I know I'm definitely susceptible to consumption and I like to eat out, get the occasional new pair of pants, and go to the movies. However, just because we have all of these things doesn't mean we need to consume excessively. We can also make ethical purchases that will make a difference (ie. sweat free or fair trade). Technology has made these products an available resource for us. We just need to live in moderation.

“Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.”

- Lao Tzu

All tied up

I have 100 dollars for you. It's my way of helping you out through some tough times. I know you haven't been able to go to school or afford your medical bills so here's something to make things a little easier.

There are a few conditions though.

Of that 100 dollars you have to spend it where I tell you to. You have to go to school at U Windsor and you can only take business classes. Also, the meds you need? You have to get them from Dr Nick and fill the prescription at a specific pharmacy- the one my family owns.

Nothing is free right? Right. We're all caught up in red tape.

Similar situations are found with foreign assistance. Often aid is tied and this creates stipulations for the country accepting the loan. Instead of spending the money locally (on local consulting firms, local machinery, and local companies) they are forced to spend it wherever the donor country sees fit. This is often in the country itself. As a result, the money is less effective and doesn't provide as much assistance as it potentially could.

It's kind of like those coupons you get in the mail that you can only use on certain days of the week, between certain hours, at certain locations, and it's expired.

I'm sure you could be thinking, "but what a great opportunity for the lending country." But really it isn't. The fraction of money the country receives is so small it doesn't make that much of a difference. 200 dollars will go a lot farther in a developing country like Namibia than in a developed country like Canada. Just compare their differing Gross Domestic Product(GDP) per Person; in Namibia it is $7,500 while in Canada it is $35,700. Who do you think will benefit more from the money?

How much money does Canada give to foreign assistance anyway?

According to Make Poverty History we are contributing 0.33% of our GDP. The ideal target with the United Nations' Millenium Development Goals is 0.7%.

So far Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, the United Kingdom, Finland, Spain and Belgium are either committing to 0.7% or have set a timetable to reach this goal. Canada has not even set an agenda.





It's almost as if the graphs are inverted. It's quite the shock.

When we think back to the 100 dollars example, really we're only giving other countries $0.33 dollars. And of that money we're making them spend about half of it in Canada.

Is it really assistance when the only people we seem to be helping are ourselves?

How it all began

I was recently told that it might be interesting to hear about how I got involved with "all of that stuff" (i.e. social justice issues and Engineers Without Borders). In retrospect this is something I should have dealt with right off the bat, but better late than never.

A few years ago I was wondering around the CAW Quad on Clubs Day looking for a group to join where I could do something valuable with my time and meet new people. I made my way over to an orange booth and noticed that it was "Engineers Without Borders" (EWB). I spoke to Kyle and Justin who were at the booth and I signed up, got some info and planned on heading to the next meeting.

Honestly, I was hesitant about becoming involved and not being an engineer. I wondered if they would talk about complex aspects of the technology or show some charts or something. To my surprise I did not feel like an outsider at all. It was great. Engineers Without Borders- not just for engineers!

I ran into a friend randomly a few days later and asked her if she was part of that "Engineers Without Borders thing" and she said yes. I told her I was considering going to a meeting and at her persuasion I actually applied to be on the Executive.

To my surprise I actually got the position.

I began to learn more about EWB. Their mandate is to "promote human development through access to appropriate technology." Basically this means working in developing countries (primarily in Western and Southern Africa) through projects in water and sanitation, rural energy and agriculture. They want to use technologies that are stable, help reduce poverty, and have positive long term effects. An example of such is a treadle pump. Picture a stairmaster and a hose. By stepping on the planks the water gets pumped from the water source to the field. Irrigation is faster and more effective. More can be yielded and the pump can be repaired locally. Sustainable, effective.

These projects (and many others) happen year round. Universities can send students for 4 months (during the summer) on a placement to work with a non gov't organisation/gov't organisation/local organisation. There's fundraising all year long for these placements. There's also 13 month + placements for students who have graduated.

One of the coolest things that happens every year (and one of my favourites) is the National Conference. It's held in January in a different location and 500+ EWBers from across the country get together for four awesome days and do workshops on leadership, advocacy, and skill building. There are guest speakers (past speakers have included Stephen Lewis, Romeo Dallaire and Michaelle Jean) and a fun banquet on the last night. It's also a little like a family reunion (but with no weird Aunt Sally).

Locally, Chapters (that's what the 27+ University based sections of EWB are called) engage in School Outreach, fundraising, public outreach and advocacy. School Outreach is something I was, and am, highly involved in. We will go to local (and sometimes not so local) High Schools and give interactive presentations on energy, food, and water issues. Students will have to either husk rice or make a water filter. It gets them thinking outside of their local bubble to the world at large and how their actions can impact others. It's awesome. The kids have great reactions to the presentations (did you know that Canada dumps 3 trillion litres of untreated sewage into the water each year? or that 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day?)

Public outreach and advocacy are year round but are at their biggest for Oct 17th- the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty- and the beginning of March for EWB Day. This is where we engage the public, on and off campus, about issues such as foreign aid, fair trade, or debt cancellation.

There's also Development Dish. This is a bi-weekly session that lasts about an hour where we will talk about poverty related issues. We explore case studies, past projects, have guest speakers, debates, and watch films about poverty and what's being done (and what more we can do). You learn a lot no matter how much you know going into it. And it's always nice to hear other people's opinions/ideas. And we usually have food which is always nice (I make killer mint chocolate chip cookies). Development Dish will actually be this Thursday at 5 if you're interested. It's in the Board Room of the CAW Centre (upstairs).

Some of the things I've done with EWB include: VP Communications (basically contacting the media), VP Education (facilitating bi-weekly meetings) and right now I'm President (basically a bit of everything and making sure everyone is on top of their game).

I've also interned at the EWB National Office in Toronto for the summer of '06. I was responsible for writing website content, fundraising documents, newsletter, articles of the week, volunteer coordination at the office, and co-coordinating a Massive Outreach Event. (They seemed to have really taken advantage of having an English student.)

The Massive Outreach Event was a day where 90 volunteers took downtown Toronto by storm. They were at 13 subway stations, Union Station, 3 malls and the Rogers Centre handing out 35, 000 newspapers about what we need to do to eradicate poverty. It was dated 2025 and read "G8 leaders declare end of extreme poverty" and inside there were events that happened that led to it (i.e. fair trade, end of subsidies, debt cancellation, etc). It was pretty exciting, a little stressful, and so much fun.

So I think I've gone on about what I've done and how I started doing it but I'm not sure I've fully addressed why.

I want to do something to promote social justice and end poverty because it is an injustice. There is no reason why I was born in Canada or white except by pure chance. There is no reason why I can have access to medical care, clean drinking water, and leisure time while other people struggle to make it through the day. There is so much we can do, in many capacities, that will make a better quality of life for people in poverty. They didn't do anything wrong. They aren't lazy. They just need an opportunity. And I want to help in any, and every, way I can.

"A man is but a product of his thoughts; what he thinks, that he becomes."
- Mohandas K. Gandhi

My response to a rant

I was actually in the progress of writing another blog but, honestly, it was pretty dry and boring. I wanted to write about debt relief of Highly Indebted Poor Countries but I just couldn't find anything cool or personal about. (Really though, I think that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund canceling billions of dollars is pretty cool but I'm not sure who else will. Maybe I'll try it later.)

I was Google-ing articles to make my original post more interesting when I found this article. In a nutshell here it is:
A student from Texas A& M is writing about why students should contribute to poverty relief programs. A student there, Ashley, is sponsoring a child, Cristian, from Piedra de Bolivar in Colombia. Ashley sends Cristian 32 dollars a month that will "help pull Cristian out of poverty. Along with sending him letters and praying, that much money will get him a sound education, personalized medical attention and nutritious food." He notes that Ashley has had to cut down on her expenses, "It's not always easy to scrounge up the money I need. I don't always get to buy that cup of coffee when I want," she told me...I just can't sit by and do nothing." The author later goes on about how it makes him sick and many people will ignore his article because "Coffee is just too damn tasty."

Here's what I don't like about this article...

The author is trying to make you feel bad. He is guilting you into doing something. Yeah, I get that your mad. I get mad too. I get upset and frustrated and feel so small and insignificant sometimes...but when you're writing in a medium that can influence dozens, maybe hundreds of people- don't be so bitter.

Offer hope. Give it a positive spin. Write about how Ashley is making a change and you can too. Give people options. Tell them to put their loose change in a jar on their fridge and to donate it. Don't make the people you want to change feel like idiots.

Okay, so Ashley is doing something- but money isn't the only way to make a difference. Make good purchases! Next time you buy that coffee make it a fair trade coffee. It's something small but it does have an overall effect. Better yet, next time you buy chocolate or sugar make that fair trade too.

Also, donate your time. It's just as valuable, maybe more so. Spend some time educating others, learning the facts, handing out information so that people can know what's going on. Write to your government. Yes, money makes the world go 'round but we are not consumers, we are human beings.

Another thing I don't like about this article is that it is throwing money at the problem. How much are Ashley's actions making a difference in the overall cause? Yes, she is helping someone. However, couldn't her money be more effective? What if she contributed to a medical fund? Or a school fund? Or a sustainable technology fund? Why can't she contribute to something that will effect the lives of many? I guess what I'm trying to say is I want a more long term solution that will get to the root causes of the issues. Why doesn't Cristian have money? Look at that and invest in that. Sure, it will take longer to do research and pick the right organisation. But she'll be getting more out of her money and better long-term results. We should strive for something sustainable.

I can't help but wonder what the author will do beyond writing this article? Will he sponsor a child or just chide his readers?

I don't think his goal is wrong, I just think there are more effective ways that he could go about it. I guess in ranting myself I am making myself no better than the author of the article I am critiquing but I believe my medium is more appropriate.

Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle.

Ken Hakuta