On 3rd August I start work with Mass Design Group in Kigali, Rwanda as an Engineers Without Borders placement volunteer.

I will be working with the engineering team assisting as a structural engineer on all current projects both in the design office and on site.

Mass have recently partnered with the African Wildlife Foundation to design and implement a network of conservation schools throughout Africa to mitigate conflicts between people and wildlife and facilitate environmental stewardship. I will be heavily involved with one of these schools: the ACS Primary School, located in the Virunga Mountains in the Musanze District of Northern Rwanda, on the border of the national park and mountain gorilla habitat. The school community and mountain gorillas are often in conflict as their proximity to each other creates a shared demand of land and resources. As the population of the Musanze District continues to grow, so too will the need for a conservation program.

Engineers Without Borders:

The Engineers Without Borders UK Placements Program develops lasting solutions to challenges of poverty around the world. By placing the best young engineers and technical professionals with poverty-fighting local organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America we are at the forefront of the race to a more sustainable world where everyone can live well and in freedom.

For more info: http://www.ewb-uk.org/

MASS Design Group:

MASS Design Group is a nonprofit design firm based in Boston, MA and Kigali, Rwanda.  MASS’s work seeks to leverage design to improve lives through a variety of mediums, from architecture and construction to policy and research. Across every project, MASS strives to employ local labor and materials, work with local experts in material innovation and development, and ensure every space we create is beautiful, uniquely catered to specific needs, and transfers dignity to communities. MASS works across Africa in Rwanda, Liberia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, and also in Haiti. 

For more info and snazzy videos: http://www.massdesigngroup.org/

My Fundraising:

Every EWB Placement Volunteer is required to fundraise a certain amount. Being terrible at fundraising and not wanting you all to feel that you are giving money to fund my job, I have personally donated the total amount I am required to raise. What I am asking you to do is to give to EWB, to help them continue to grow and sustain the incredible work they do - in particular, supporting the amazing work of MASS Design Group.

To make it easier for you to part with your hard earned pennies, I have devised the following incentives:

£5 and above: A LINK TO MY BLOG

£25 and above: A link to my blog AND A POSTCARD FROM RWANDA

£50 and above: A link to my blog, a postcard AND A (small!) CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM RWANDA

£100 and above:  A link to my blog, a postcard, a (small!) Christmas present AND A RWANDAN TAILORED ITEM OF CLOTHING

To anyone hoping to visit me while I'm there, please note your visitors fees will be a minimum £20 donation!

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.