Innovation and Design in Zambia
A$4,100
of $4,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 9th Jul 2013 at 6:34AM.
I’m excited to be one of 48 people worldwide selected to participate in a project in Zambia. But first I need a little bit of help to get there.
I am a recent mechanical engineering graduate and beyond study I’ve spent time traveling in countries and areas less privileged than my own. While traveling I challenged my ideas about an engineers’ role in society and am working toward using my skills to create the change that I’d like to see. So I'm currently volunteer with Engineers Without Borders - an amazing Melbourne based NGO working hard to facilitate meaningful and lasting change.
Zambia will host the 2013 International Design Development Summit (IDDS) in Lusaka this July. With the common vision of finding solutions that give hope to some of the world’s poor communities. IDDS recognises that there are people with ideas for solutions to problems that affect the communities they live in. Due to limited support and sometimes lacking self-confidence to push these ideas forward the world has missed some key solutions to pressing challenges. IDDS 2013 will focus on working with these people, to produce technologies that not only will improve lives but will also offer opportunities for social entrepreneurship.
Under the theme "Better Living through Collaborative Innovations," the summit will identify prospective founders of solutions as a start point for the projects. These founders will then work in design teams of people from diverse backgrounds to develop and improve the design of their technologies.
As a design team member I’ve been selected for my skills as an engineer, experience with Engineers Without Borders and positive, inquisitive and open nature. I’ll be there to contribute to support an individual, team and community who otherwise wouldn’t have been given the opportunity. Participating in the International Development Design Summit is a dream opportunity to take action to use my skills and education to support others.
IDDS continues to contribute positively to the community long after the initial 4 week summit has dispersed and teams continue to work together. As a passionate volunteer and graduate jobseeker - like many others - I’m in a less than inspiring financial position. So I’m fundraising and seeking generous support and a collaborative effort from my community to attend. I’m aiming to raise $4,000 to cover return flights to Zambia from Melbourne, board and lodging for the duration of the summit, vaccinations, visa and impact greater than it’s worth in cash.
Once upon my travels I thought that if you fight to live your passion then you can inspire others to do the same. I’ll be sharing stories, musings and photos from the summit via my blog http://iddszambia.blogspot.com/ I’ll also be contributing to the Journal of Humanitarian Engineering - sharing the outcomes of my project with the development world. I’d love to show my appreciation for your support by thanking you on my supporters page, sending you a little postcard and a hi-five!
I’ve always been amazed at the generosity of people and am eternally grateful for the support I’ve received so far. Contributions of any size will help to make my involvement in this project a reality and make a positive impact on the lives of others.
The biggest thank you in advance from a little lady trying to make a big difference.
With love.
Bianca
“Life’s short. Live passionately.” - Marc A. Pitman
Other causes I support:
Awesome! Thank you for ‘paying-it-forward.' Your name will be added to my supporters page as a ’Supporter' and I’ll send you a personalised thank-you by email.
8 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 13
A huge thank-you! Your name will be added to my supporters page as a 'Supporter' and I’d love to send you a personalised postcard thank-you direct from Zambia.
12 chosen
Est. delivery is Aug 13
Thank you very much for an amazing contribution! I’d love to link you from my supporters page as a ‘Good Samaritan’ and acknowledge you as a Sponsor on my webpage. I’d also love to send you a postcard thank-you direct from Zambia.
4 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 13
Thank-you isn’t sufficient to show my gratitude for you generosity. I’d love to link you from my supporters page as a ‘Philanthropist’ and acknowledge you as a minor Sponsor on my webpage. As an accomplished speaker, facilitator and presenter I’d love for you to draw on my skills and experiences on my return. I can offer a presentation to your staff/community group, development workshops or speak as an ambassador.
3 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is Aug 13