Making a mark on the world

Laura Payne and Spencer Fowlie are volunteers with Engineers Without Borders. (Danny Abriel Photo)

During his first two years as an environmental science and international development studies student, Spencer Fowlie started to believe he was powerless to alleviate the despair of the world.

“In the process of learning how the world works, you get a bit depressed about the injustices going on,” says Mr. Fowlie, who was born in Saskatchewan but has lived in Canada, Switzerland and the United States. “I now feel I can help make a difference.”

His feelings changed upon discovering Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a non-profit organization that sends volunteers to less economically developed countries. Through EWB, Mr. Fowlie will head to Northern Ghana, from May to August, to work with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

“I’ve been spoon-fed all my life,” says Mr. Fowlie. “I want to get a sense of the vulnerabilities most people in the world experience and apply it to what I’ve learned in the classroom to impact my own community, educating them about the issues faced by many groups in developing communities.”

Last week, Mr. Fowlie participated in Leave Your Mark, an event organized by Laura Payne, incoming president of the Dalhousie EWB chapter. To raise money and awareness for EWB, people could impress their handprint on a map of the world, painted on a vacant wall. They hope others will be inspired to join EWB.

“Through Leave Your Mark and EWB, hopefully students will be more cognizant of their impact on society,” says Ms. Payne, third-year chemical engineering student and native of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. “EWB has done this for me.”

Engineers Without Borders is open to people from any academic background. It encourages Canadians to engage in international development and work with local organizations to bring appropriate solutions to less developed communities.

“It focuses on people, their struggles and how technology can help,” says Mr. Fowlie. “It’s about bringing appropriate technology to developing communities,” adds Ms. Payne. “You wouldn’t bring a farmer a tractor because he doesn’t have the means to repair it, so you help them build something they can sustain.”

Traveling to Zambia with a Christian Mission school, Ms. Payne will teach children Sunday school, sports, swimming and piano. “I’ve heard great stories and want to create my own,” she says.

Upon returning, each EWB volunteer is required to educate Canadians on their experience. For more information on EWB visit www.ewb.ca or contact dal@ewb.ca. You can also follow Spencer Fowlie on his blog, goinggoingghana.blogspot.com.