A Newsworthy Commitment

4 January, 2010 @ 13:43

Megan Putnam has only been in Ghana as an EWB volunteer since November, but she is already getting noticed in her hometown of Montreal for her impressive commitment to development.

The Montreal Gazette profiled Megan yesterday – among two other recent Quebec university graduates now volunteering overseas for various international organizations.

“More and more, today's university students and recent graduates travel the globe in search of adventure and experiences that allow them to broaden their perspectives and find meaning beyond the confines of a traditional classroom.” says Peggy Curran, from the Montreal Gazette.

This is certainly true, as a placement with EWB offers a chance like no other to experience a new – and often challenging – culture. Yet for our volunteers like Megan, it is so much more than that.

“I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live the life they want.” she says. “Everyone deserves to have access to healthy food and clean water, along with healthcare and education, and to experience happiness.”

Her work in Ghana is a big part of making this a reality. Megan is working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the Bawku West region of Ghana, to support the expansion of the Agriculture as a Business program. The program, developed and piloted by EWB in 2008, is an important part of helping rural farmers shift from subsistence farming, to farming as a lasting way to earn an income.

With proven impact, the Agriculture as a Business program is now being rolled-out more widely in Ghana, which Megan is an important part of. Her work is empowering thousands of farmers to run their farms more effectively, and lead prosperous and fulfilling lives free from the cycle of poverty.

“Global food security is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, so successful farms are key to reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. Those farmers who consider agriculture as a business see that it is possible to provide sustainability for their families.” she notes.

Our overseas volunteers like Megan are working incredibly hard in Ghana, Malawi, Burkina Faso and Zambia to create the opportunity for rural Africans to thrive. Without a doubt, the experiences they have are life changing – but it is the changes that they are creating for rural communities that will truly endure.

Find out more about the work of EWB volunteers do overseas here: ewb.ca/en/whatwedo/overseas