Today’s guest post comes from Rob Gradoville, a current Kiva Fellow, Rotary Scholar, and Fulbright Fellow in Cusco, Peru. Since 2005, Rob has been thinking about the best way to provide the basic services that rural folks in the developing world want and need most: clean water and electricity. During his undergraduate days he designed a water pumping system for a coffee cooperative in Nicaragua, and was hooked by every aspect of the work. He later worked with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, bringing water, improved sanitation, and electricity to a mountain village over the course of his stay. Returning to graduate school he focused on environmental sustainability of service provision, and managed an Engineers Without Borders water pumping and distribution project for a village in Ecuador. Given his myriad experiences in international development work and his familiarity with some of the best-known programs for working and volunteering abroad, his post today seeks to inform would-be-do-gooder’s just what to expect from working and living la vida Idealist.
Should I become a Kiva Fellow? I imagine some La Vida Idealist readers have considered applying to the Fellowship, or have wondered what the comparison is between the Kiva Fellows Program to similar volunteer or development programs abroad. This may include the Peace Corps, overseas research grants, overseas workshops on topics in development, Fulbright Fellowships, Rotary Scholarships, and possibly service-learning trips if you are currently students. The list goes on and on. And it can seem like a big and slightly mystifying list for anyone who just wants to make a decision and do something!
There are a lot of similar experiences out there, and it can be tough narrowing down the right choice for you. Here is my perspective as a Kiva Fellow in Peru who is currently doing or has done those projects listed above. This series of posts will compare and contrast “what it’s like” to be a Kiva Fellow to the myriad other programs out there. If you are thinking about “doing something different,” “getting out of a work rut,” or “finally being one of those people who GOES and DOES something,” I hope this post helps you make a decision about what exactly to do.
To that end I will categorize each of the above experience based on five criteria.
1) What it’s Like and What is was Like for Me
2) Level of Freedom or Structure
3) Was I Useful? Did I make a ‘Difference’?
4) Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all
5) Was it Worth it?
‘Nuff talk. Enjoy!
Overseas Service Learning
College students working on clean water project in Ecuador, '11.
1) What it’s Like and What It was Like for Me
I designed community water projects in Nicaragua as a student and have directed service learning projects for students to do the same in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador(and will do the same in Peru this coming spring).
Service-learning is really close to my heart because it is how I got pulled out of the sometimes dry world of engineering and into the colorful, inspired, much more complicated world of international development.. As a fourth-year undergraduate engineering student I designed a water pumping and delivery system for a village in Nicaragua. In order to implement this project, I wrote out a proposal and was granted $10,000 bucks from the Davis “Projects for Peace” Foundation. This service learning experience showed me for the first time how useful my skills could be in the world. I have never been as challenged on a daily basis as I was during that project, nor have I have I been as ecstatic to get up every day and work. My work included engineering design, studying Nicaraguan history and politics, trying to communicate with NGOs overseas and in the states, and learning as much Spanish as possible. Occasionally I would talk with people in the village itself through skype, and my heartbeat literally doubled from excitement. That personal connection was something extremely knew and exciting.
Service learning may exist at your university, and may not. If it does, be proactive and get involved, then make it your own. If it doesn’t exist, make it happen! I found like-minded students and professors, and was allowed to work on the first service-learning engineering project at my university. My last year at college I learned more than I did in the previous three, thanks to this service-learning project.
2) Level of Freedom or Structure
Usually these are fairly structured, for good reason. It is part of a class and you have to finish SOMETHING. Small, bite-sized projects are typical for service-learning experiences. So, don’t get involved in this if you want to have the freedom to do exactly what you want or possibly scrap your original idea half-way through. That said, these projects typically are more open to creativity than standard theoretical projects and/or reports.
3) Was I Useful? Did I make a ‘Difference’?
My experience was great, and I think I did help. My service-learning team (engineers and environmental science students) was lucky enough to successfully pair up with NGOs that had follow-through capabilities. This was very important, as we were new to the work. Looking back, we were a group of young students trying to change the lives of 350 Nicaraguans. That is powerful stuff, and if we were alone on the project, I think we would have had little impact or worse, would have set them back. Make sure you have a good mentor capable of picking up the pieces if you decide to start up a new service-learning project.
4) Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all
This stuff usually costs some dough. I would expect it to be around $1000-$3000 extra to do one of these for a semester rather than typical coursework. It is possibly included in your course fees or can tack on an additional couple grand. Every experience is different. BUT the good news is that you can dip in the educational funds money-bucket. Educational grant funds are huuuuuge. You can probably apply for scholarships, grants, etc. and get away doing this kind of thing almost for free. If your “project” costs money to implement, that’s another thing. It will probably be much harder to find funds within your university to go and implement, but look! Mission programs, international study offices, and outside foundations like the one mentioned above are a good start.
5) Was it Worth it?
As a foot in the door, DEFINITELY.
That said, service-learning is a mixed bag, because it is usually attached to an educational institution (universities) where there is a focus on the educational component for students. That is great, but sometimes leaves the person/group you were serving a little disappointed. As service-learning is a partnership between a student-group and clients (overseas or not), there is much time and effort invested on both sides. The student group will be expected to do more than simply write a final report, in many cases. Be wary of the impact you are having on the project beneficiaries, and make sure that when you leave they also think it was worth it. But at the end of the day, if I had not done this I would probably be a much wealthier but much more depressed engineer, sitting in a cubicle somewhere, making calculations. Therefore I am a huge fan of service learning as a tool to show young people how to engage their community and world, and try to help. To read an article I published on service-learning click here.
Overseas Workshops
The author soldering together individual solar cells in Nicaragua, 2007
1) What it’s Like and What it was Like for Me
I participated in a workshop on Appropriate Technologies in Nicaragua with the National Engineering University of Managua, which entailed some basic classes on the physics behind appropriate technologies like solar panels, solar water pumps, biodigestors, solar ovens, rope pumps, composting latrines etc. We also built our own solar panels, solar cookers, helped construct an adobe building, and practiced our intercultural skills with a “homestay” with a humble Nicaraguan family. I have also participated in a course on Globalization, Leadership, and Technology that culminated in an overseas conference in Vietnam and Taiwan. The conference encompassed some very high level, involved visits with CEOs of large corporations and, in my opinion, was very much an outsiders view of a local culture. The former was a bottom-up approach.
These experiences are similar to service-learning projects being that you are really only expected to learn. They are also a great foot in the door or a refresher course on field work in a specific part of the world.
2) Level of Freedom or Structure
These are very structured. There will probably be a schedule for everything you do, from the time you land on the runway to the time you are swooped back up. They are usually pretty jam-packed and don’t leave much freedom to “do what you want” if it isn’t the specific goal of the workshop.
3) Was I Useful? Did I make a ‘Difference’?
The goal of these courses isn’t to ‘make a difference’ at all, or at least directly. You pay to participate in these courses, and some of those funds may go towards the efforts of an NGO or social movement, but don’t expect to directly have a huge impact on anyone. I didn’t leave Nicaragua thinking I had helped much, but I was more equipped to do so in the future. I knew leaving Asia that I hadn’t done anything, but the experience might contribute to my future path in life.
4) Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all
Pricey. I have seen these offered anywhere from $500-$1500 for a week! That adds up. Outside funding is probably harder because of what I said in #3. These courses are similar in price to overseas vacation tours. The only difference is that on vacation tours you typically sit on a beach, get a tan, and enjoy relaxing. For those short on time, this is probably a good option.
5) Was it Worth it?
In terms of professional development, for sure. It is a very unique experience and might inspire you to do more, learn more, etc. These are typically more serious about transferring knowledge to you than service-learning trips, so in terms of personal bang for your buck they might about the same, even though service learning experiences might be much longer. Nevertheless, the personal connection to the experience developed over a longer period of time like a service-learning project is unlikely in these shorter trips.
Stay tuned for Parts II and III, which will cover Fulbright Grants, Rotary Scholarships, Kiva Fellowships, and the Peace Corps.
Latest posts by Guest
- Top 10 Things to do Ecuador - February 6th, 2012
- Guest Post: To Kiva Fellow or not to Kiva Fellow, Eso e’ la pregunta. (Part III of III) - November 24th, 2011
- Guest Post: To Kiva Fellow or not to Kiva Fellow, Eso e’ la pregunta. (Part II of III) - November 23rd, 2011
- The Adventure Illusion or: how I learned to stop thinking and just ride a bike - November 12th, 2011
- Connecting the Least Connected (with people who can help!) - November 11th, 2011
- Quetzaltrekkers: Into the Clouds, Part 3 - July 5th, 2011
- Quetzaltrekkers: Into the Clouds, Part 2 - June 27th, 2011
- Quetzaltrekkers: Into the Clouds, Part 1 - June 20th, 2011
- A Guest Post by Carolyn Chuong: Mucu-what? - June 17th, 2011
- ¿Did You Know Idealist Also Blogs En Español? - September 6th, 2010
