Joshua's World of Opportunity

Walking through Mbeluma, Malawi with Bennett and the Group Village Headman Robert Chandawila.

Friends, family, and colleagues –

This year I am helping Engineers Without Borders build a World of Opportunity for rural Africans.

This is my first year working for the National Office, and I believe in the work we are doing. I know that through supporting Canada's youth to think critically, imagine opportunity and work hard to create change we will create unimaginable opportunities for the people we are working for in Africa.

In communities across Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Burkina Faso there are millions of hardworking and innovative people seeking the chance to improve their lives. Yet, all too often they are stuck - unable to move forward because they lack the same opportunities that you and I have here in Canada.

I know that there is untapped potential for us to increase our connections and contributions to Africa. I dream of revolutionizing our connections whether through Fair Trade or some other new ideas!

This summer while I was visiting Malawi I had a chance to meet our partners and overseas volunteers. I was blown away! These folks are hard working, critical thinking, entrepreneurial and passionate about creating change.

I spent four days living with a family growing Fair Trade coffee in northern Malawi (look up Mzuzu Coffee). The Nkitas, the family I lived with, worked hard to grow the coffee that sent their children to school. The father Moses was passionate about education and had sent all of his oldest kids to high school and one to university. This is a far cry from the other community I stayed in where only one person in the community had been to high school. This is not from a lack of desire but a lack of access to opportunities. EWB works to build those opportunities so that farmers can send their children to school.

Contributing to my campaign is a simple and easy way that we can connect and contribute to the improvement. As a supporter of EWB's work, I feel passionately that generous, hardworking and resilient Africans should have the same opportunities that we have here at home.

EWB is dedicated to transforming the common perception that Africa is impoverished and helpless into a picture of hope and ingenuity. By exposing Canadians to this view, I believe it will help them make impactful choices such as buying Fair Trade or making ethical investments, that will contribute to African prosperity.

This is why I am asking you to support EWB’s work this holiday season. I believe that EWB is a powerful vehicle for creating positive change. EWB is seeking to increase its impact – by doubling its volunteer capacity and flexibility to innovate. I know that we will use your donation effectively, and continue to make great things happen.

This holiday season please donate to my World of Opportunity campaign and support my passion and commitment to EWB. Together, we can help increase the opportunities for rural Africans to thrive.