Beating my own path...to fish pond development work

Most of you know that my dream job (besides being a hostess for Pilot Guides) was/is to work for the WorldFish Centre to develop integrated aquaculture projects for developing countries. I was bummed when I didn't secure the internship with them this year but I had to move ahead regardless. Then I got to thinking...why did I want to work with WFC? To help poverty stricken people develop fish ponds to improve their livelihoods and have food security. Well I am doing that right now. I guess I just got caught up in their mission statement and it seemed like for the longest time WFC was the only NGO that was doing this work. But I've learned that its not the only way to do this development work. When I took this internship in Malawi I was supposed to be doing livelihood recovery project impact assessments but when my supervisor took one look at my cv they reassigned me right away to their fish pond projects (which is why I'm in Dedza and not Lilongwe, my original posting). So in the end, I got to do the work that I really wanted to do. I just went out there and beat my own path. So I'm pretty proud of myself for taking the plunge into the unknown, into Malawi on my own, and actually doing the internship that I really wanted.

So what have I do so far? 1) I've completed needs assessments of 6 villages. 2) Nearly finished a proposal hoping to secure future project funding to develop more aquaculture projects. 3) Designed a training manual tailored to the local environment. 4) Going to hold 5 workshops over the next 2 weeks. I have not wasted a single day. Honestly, I feel like I've accomplished alot (not to sound cocky or anything). I can attest this to my amazing IPMP training at Humber College, a really supportive NGO workplace and my own determination.

The next hurdle I must overcome is finding my next job. Sadly, this internship ends in October and this is soooo much more I could do. I'm working on a few leads...Uniterra positions are opening up in early 2009 and they do work in my area, and I am also working on a meeting with Concern International who have ongoing fish farm projects here. The district fisheries officer (who happens to be co-facilitating my workshops) works with them and he said he can arrange it. I'm pitching it as a info gathering meeting for lessons learned to be used in future training and my proposal - I just might also inquire about future work opportunities at this meeting. I have to go and beat some more paths for myself. I also know that my fab IPMP network will forward me any jobs they come across in my sector.

Although I'm not actually working for WFC, I wanted to post a link to a video they have on YouTube. Although my projects are not tailored specifically to HIV/AIDS orphans (mine are community based ponds for poverty stricken households), the people, the songs they're singing, the environment and settings are almost identical to my workplace here in Malawi. It will give you a view into my work here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XodkPRULvMU&eurl=http://www.worldfishcenter.org/v2/ourwork-health-hiv-aq.html

This however is a pic of me at work with local fishfarmers in the village of Chamangwana. It was taken during a needs assessment in July. I will be holding a workshop with these villagers on Monday:

And these are the beneficaries of my project in the village of Magunditsa. I'll be holding their training workshop on Wednesday. These are also the people who gave me my Malawian name - Najere.