Introducing your 2008 Learning Partner Mary Roach

Dear Learning Team, I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a first time LP OV and I am not really sure how this whole thing works! But I thought it would be good to start things off by sharing some things about myself so we can get better acquainted. I hope that I can be an asset to your chapter as you strive to learn more about development. I hope that your chapter can act as a source of support for me as I try to have positive impact while surfing the ups and downs of being an overseas volunteer. I welcome any and all questions so please don’t hesitate to contact me! -Mary

Overview Vital Statistics Previous EWB experience Things I really like My placement, Ghana and my partner

Vital Statistics Full Name: Mary-Catherine Roach Hometown: Montreal (born in the suburb of Pointe-Claire) Birth Date: May 16, 1978 (proud Taurus) Parents: Roddy Roach (born in Buckingham, Quebec) & Sole Kruger (born in Lima, Peru) Siblings: 1 (Bernie), 3 years older University: McGill, December 2001, Chem Eng, Minor in Mgmt

EWB Experience Was not a member of an EWB Chapter during university Went to the 1 st National Conference in January 2002 EWB OV from April-Sept 2002, Cameroon, water and sanitation Have attend 6 national conferences Mentored JFs from Started Montreal Professional Chapter January 2006

Things I really like Playing Twister Dark chocolate (the higher the percentage the better!) Dancing Going to concerts Learning Energy! I am fascinated by energy management both in Canada and here in Ghana Business. I spent 5 years working in the private sector and it has rubbed off on me. I feel passionate about the importance of growing developing countries private sector and supporting small and medium enterprises

My Placement I am based in Accra, the capital of Ghana I work with the Kumasi Institute of Technology Energy and Environment (KITE). KITE specializes in energy development and energy policy work. I was supposed to support the scale-up of the Multi Functional Platform (MFP) program but the scale-up funding got cut. I have been supporting KITE with the closure of the MFP Pilot Project (still not done yet), with finding funding for other projects, with internal processes and procedures and I have been conducting research on support for entrepreneurs

My Placement-Facts about Ghana HDI of 135 of 177 (’05 date published in ’07) Population of 23 million GDP per capita $690 Official language: English 44.8% of population lives on less than 1$/day 10 regions The Northern, Brong-Ahafo, Upper East and Upper West Regions are the most impoverished The MFP project has platforms in the Northern and Brong-Ahafo regions

The Multi-Functional Platform The Multifunctional Platform 10 hp diesel engine Mounted on a steel chassis powers Grinding mills, de-huskers, battery chargers and water pumps Can also generate electricity for lighting, refrigeration and water pumping Saves time and energy Increases income

The Multi-Functional Platform The Multi Functional Platform VideoVideo From the EWB Canada website