Engineers Without Borders

I presented my career trajectory, lessons learned from my work in Burkina Faso, and led some brainstorming for getting involved in international development work as a student to the UBC chapter of Engineers without Borders earlier this week.

In the end, I argued that cross – cultural communication is just as important any technical skill, and that students should seek out opportunities to immerse themselves in cross cultural environments.   From my, background this came across as an argument for joining the Peace Corps (PC), but as these were mostly Canadians, that answer was not enough. I looked up Canadian equivalents of PC, since I felt bad advertising a program that is not accessible to them.  While there isn’t really anything that is government driven, it looks like these organizations offer some interesting opportunities.  I really think that spending 2 years in an really different culture than your own results in maximum learning, but of course there are many many ways to achieve this. The key way that all alternatives to PC differ from PC is their funding, since PC money comes straight from the US government, for better or worse.

When making a choice, I would consider:

1. Cultural Exchange: will you get language training? live with a family? be “isolated” in a community, away from other volunteers?  Will you be there long enough to learn?
2. Project: Is there a long term vision?  Is it grass roots?  Has the government of the host-country bought into the project (this may indicate that it has a chance at success)?  Is there a technical component (Use your skills, get work experience using what you have studied and what you excellat).
3. Funding: Who funds it? Why? Do you agree?   Do you have to fundraise?  Does it cover all your travel, food, health, living, insurance needs?
4. Future: What opportunities can it open up for you & who can you network with through this organization?

 Volunteer opportunities: 

• WUSC
• CUSO
• Volunteer HQ
• Cross Cultural Solutions
• Projects Abroad
• Ashoka
• United Planted
• Go Abroad

Jobs,  intern, scholarship opportunities:  

• Idealist
• DIL UC Berkeley Newsletter
• Scholarships: I entered in Burkina Faso, and it gave me a whole list.   I think that many are for graduate students, but at least one has got to be useful for undergrads!
• Univ-Can

At UBC: 

• Go Global
• International Internships
• Internships – through Arts
• Great Advice
• Funding to go to EPFL and work on Schisto Project!

I know nothing about these organizations besides what the internet says, but I can recommend the experience of living (and contributing something small) to a community very different from ones own.

Please comment if you have personal experience with any of these opportunities!