Learn More About EWB
Join us on Thursday, January 26, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm to learn more about EWB’s vision, objectives and operations. We will be highlighting ways to get involved in various capacities in Calgary, and on national distributed teams. The presentation will take place at the MEC Community Room (830 – 10th Ave SW). All are welcome.
Professional Fellowship Q&A
Applications for the 2012 Professional Fellowship Program are now open. Join us for an information session on Thursday, January 26, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm (immediately following the EWB 101 session) at the MEC Community Room (830 – 10th Ave SW) to learn more about what the application and selection process and what to expect overseas. See below for application details.
Byuela Byuela Wine & Cheese and Silent Auction – Tickets On-Sale Now
February 15th, 2012
6:30 to 9:30 at the Art Gallery of Calgary (117 8 Avenue SW)
Tickets $35 / $20 (students) – Purchase online
Byuela Byuela means small small in Dagbani – a dialect spoken in Ghana, West Africa, in a village where four Calgary volunteers worked during 2011. EWB believes in long term changes that can’t happen overnight. Our work in Africa is about investing in people and building capacity within local organizations that are committed to their communities. EWB’s grassroots approach involves thousands of individuals across Canada that through their everyday choices and contributions create change. We believe development is about uncovering the root causes of the problem and it can be the small thoughtful changes that create a lasting impact.
Each year, with the support of individuals and companies in Calgary, our chapters are able to send one or two volunteers overseas to contribute to EWB international development efforts through our volunteer Fellowship Program. This year the University and City chapters are collaborating to host a Wine and Cheese Fundraiser for sending four volunteers overseas.
Returned overseas volunteers from Ghana will share their experiences through brief presentations throughout the evening. These volunteers, as well as volunteers from our Malawi and Zambia programs will be in your midst to answer all of your questions about how EWB is having impact in Africa.
The Keynote speaker will be Donna Kennedy-Glans. Donna is an internationally respected lawyer, businesswoman, author and speaker with over 25 years of experience working with organizations in over 30 countries to reach their potential. As the first female vice-president of Nexen Inc., her responsibilities included managing the country’s relationships with host governments and communities around the world. Among the social and youth development organizations she has worked with, Donna founded Integrity Bridges Inc., which works with organizations seeking to imbed their values in practice, moving beyond just public relations platforms. Donna was awarded a Global Woman of Vision aware in 2007, and was named a Compelling Calgarian in 2010. We are pleased to have Donna at our event, and look forward to hearing her perspectives.
More info: www.ucalgary.ewb.ca/ewbwc
Applications for the 2012 Professional Fellowship are now open!
Are you looking to push your boundaries? Are you looking for opportunities to enhance your career? Are you interested in learning more about international development and helping to solve systemic problems stopping Africans from overcoming poverty? Look no further.
Engineers Without Borders Calgary is currently taking applications for the 2012 Professional Fellowship Program, consisting of a four-month placement in one of the following African countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Zambia and Malawi.
The application is due on February 17th. Please join us this Thursday, January 26 at 7:30 pm at the MEC Community Room (Upstairs) to learn more or visit our website for additional resources.
You don’t have to be an engineer to apply.
Date: August to December 2012
Location: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Zambia, or Malawi
Language: French and English placements are available, however the interview will be in English
Sectors: Agriculture and Agribusiness, Waterpoint Functionality, Governance and Rural Infrastructure, Business Development Service
Download Application Form
Additional Information
Make Your Voice Heard – Advocacy Opportunities
Federal Budget
At less than 2% of the annual federal budget, Canadian foreign aid is achieving real results in the lives of the world’s poor. From providing life-saving vaccines and treatment for deadly diseases to investing in agriculture and farming to fight poverty, it is making a massive difference. Canada’s spending on international development has been frozen for some time, and there are now discussions to cut that budget as the government looks for ways to reduce the deficit. We understand that the world continues to face tough economic times, but now not the time to slay our deficit on the backs of the world’s neediest. Please join us in calling on the Canadian government to protect critical international development funding. Sign the online petition.
World Bank Spending Commitment on Education
RESULTS Canada has asked EWB Members to consider supporting their action for January; to build momentum to force the World Bank to actually invest the money it committed in 2010 for basic education in order to reach the Millennium Development Goals. To learn more about this topic, visit their monthly action summary and show your support by signing their online petition.
Non-EWB Events
True Vision Ghana Book Club
- “The Challenge for Africa” by Wangari Maathai
Saturday, February 25, 2012, 5:30pm
EWB Members are invited to join TVG at their book club for a book discussion & local-ingredient potluck
Please RSVP to Evelyn Tanaka to receive the address (held at a private residence).
Waterlution Hub Events
Waterlution’s purpose is to inspire pattern-making and pattern-breaking change towards a healthy and sustainable relationship with water. We develop and nurture dynamic communities of action around water by hosting leadership development and multi-stakeholder dialogue opportunities. Our vision is for the next generation of decision-makers – across all sectors and stakeholder groups – to be informed, passionate leaders with a commitment to healthy watersheds. Events are held in and around Calgary, visit their website for additional details.
EWB 2011 Failure Report Now Available
EWB believes that success in development is not possible without taking risks and innovating – which inevitably means failing sometimes. We also believe that it’s important to publicly celebrate these failures, which allows us to share the lessons more broadly and create a culture that encourages creativity and calculated risk taking. This is a culture we value within EWB, and also try to to work with our partners in Africa to create in their organizations. We are excited to be able to share these Failure Reports from our program and staff and volunteers.