October 29, 2008 - 7:40am
Lindsay Kruit and Mike Boomer see the world through different eyes.
That’s because they lived and worked in south west Uganda, learning about the challenges faced by individuals and organizations in an underdeveloped, poverty-stricken rural region.
“The experience was unequivocally life changing,” said Kruit, a fourth year student in Vancouver Island University's (VIU) Economics and Global Studies departments. “On both personal and academic levels, I continue to see changes in my perspective, opinions and objectives. Thanks to this amazing experience, I’m a more understanding and grounded individual.”
Kruit and Boomer, also a Global Studies student at VIU, each received $10,000 grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to complete three month internships in Uganda. They will discuss their experiences during two free public lectures Nov. 3 and 6 at VIU, along with other students who enriched their education through VIU's Study Abroad program.
“Our goal is to spread the word to current and prospective students about the amazing international opportunities available at VIU,” said Audrey Hansen, Study Abroad coordinator. “Students will speak about their experiences in Uganda, Brazil, Ghana and Indonesia.”
While in Uganda, Kruit and Boomer were part of a team of three Canadian interns responsible for the formation and implementation of a small-scale microfinance program for the Aimembabazi (Ah.nem.ba.ba.zee) Children’s Project.
“Aimembabazi is a small non-governmental organization based out of Edmonton, Alberta and Mbarara, Uganda,” explained Boomer. “Their work primarily concerns access to education and sexual health awareness, but they wanted to branch into microlending.”
Kruit and Boomer helped develop the Ainembabazi Lending Project from the ground up. The program facilitates the provision of small-scale loans to rural community members, mostly women, who would be denied access to credit through a traditional bank, due to their lack of collateral. The small loans serve to finance the women’s entrepreneurial initiatives and help them lift themselves out of poverty.
“By the time our three month stay was finished in Mbarara, the Ainembabazi Lending Project had gone from dream and vision to a functioning reality,” said Boomer. “The manager of the program had been hired and was in the process of being trained.”
Kruit said the opportunity to apply her classroom learning in Uganda was an exceptional benefit of the trip. “To live and work in a developing country provided the opportunity to gain a realistic perspective toward international development as a whole,” she said.
For Boomer, highlights of the internship included living life as a local in a developing country, and building new relationships with people whose life was a stark contrast to his own in Canada.
“I had an overwhelming sense that I was involved in something that’s going to make a huge difference in people’s lives,” he said. “The experience has changed me in many ways. I’m more appreciative of almost every aspect of life in Canada, and I am content with my life’s circumstances. I have even more resolve to help shape the future of my country and developing countries abroad to help those who most need it.”
Boomer and Kruit are in their final year at VIU. Boomer plans to pursue a policy and research job with the BC government, and eventually return to a developing country to start another microfinance project.
Kruit continues her examination into microfinance and international economic development through a senior project with the Economics department. She hopes to further her research at a graduate school which fosters a progressive, humanistic approach to economics and international development.
You can hear more about VIU’s Study Abroad program and first-hand experiences of students at two free public lectures Nov. 3 (12:30 to 1:15 pm) and November 6 (7 to 8:30 pm) in Building 356 Room 109 (Lecture Theatre), at VIU’s Nanaimo Campus, 900 Fifth Street.
For further information, contact Audrey Hansen at studyabroad@viu.ca .
Tags: In the Community
