ToT Manuals

Hi Team :-),

Hope you're all well. Most of you are probably super excited and anxious about your internships - whether you are already there or just about to head out. Congratulations again to all of you!

I think we'll be sharing many similar experiences and feelings - and I thank those who have kept in contact - it's great to share the frustrations and joys (although it seems that the beginning had a lot of frustrations). I hope we can all lean on each other for support in the coming days and onwards :-)!

On a "professional" note - Can anyone tell me where the ToT manuals are? Did anyone get the chance to put it up anywhere? I think it would probably be a great tool to access, so if anyone can please let me know where I can find it, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks and take care.
Jean

Ai is now a Blogger!

Hey Everyone,

I, too, have started a blog. I cleverly called it Ai Yai Yai: Adventures in Argentina. Is that too geeky? Anyway, here's the link:

http://aiadventures.blogspot.com/

I also want to say that I really enjoy reading all your blog entries! Keep posting!

Lots of love,
Ai :o)

Anna's new blog

Hi Friends,

Please check out my new blog!

www.awarmheartinafrica.blogspot.com

I'm still in Canada, so the blog is not too exciting yet but it will be, come August 1st when I move to Lilongwe!

Miss you all,
-A

IPMP Google Map

Hello everyone, Barbara was kind enough to create a Google Map for us to post where we are in the world. If you are interested in adding your location to the map email Barbara, Matt D, or myself and we will get you set up. Hope everyone is surviving the IPMP withdrawal!

Humphrey in Nigeria

Hi great ipmpers,

I arrived Abuja, Nigeria's capital last night after 14hrs flight. It was raining heavily and no electricity but i am pretty much used to it. This is Friday morning and I just arrived at CRP office to meet my boss and lo and behold everybody thought I am a lawyer because the majority of the staff members are legal experts. They also have an intern from Yale law school, and they asked me to hold a briefing, though i am not a lawyer, but I realized that I have something that they are all craving for. By this I mean project management and proposal expertise, and now they want me to teach them. So far so good, I will keep you guys updated and, for you Tyler, I am gonna bother u a lot for some info.

jah guide.

Signing on

Thanks Corey,

Have just signed on.

Look forward to lots of bloggers and ongoing issues, news, supports, peer ideas.

best
Bill.

KellyB's personal blog

For those so inclined to read it - here is my personal blog: http://kellybarringtoninmalawi.blogspot.com/

Khartoum-bound

Hello friends,

I am very happy to tell you that both Emily and I have been hired on with FAR (Fellowship for African Relief) in Sudan. I will be working as the "Monitoring & Evaluation Manager" and Emily's role is the "Communications Officer". These positions are for 2 years, based in Khartoum. Both positions require extensive travel within the country. We are scheduled to head to Sudan for mid-August, but this is dependent on visas, work permits, residency permits, internal travel permits and all that other stuff we learned in the Ops class.

One of IPMP's grads from last year has just been hired on as a Food Security Manager with FAR as well. Melanie Murphy will be starting in August, and will be based in one of the field offices. They love the IPMP-ers, I guess.

We are very excited for this opportunity and somewhat daunted by the prospect of a move to Africa. I will be sure to keep in touch with updates of our adventures and where we end up.

Tim.

WUSC Humber Kiva Portfolio

Remember the "Make Poverty History" white band sale last September? Well, WUSC Humber raised $50 thanks to IPMPers! With the funds, we lent out $25 to two entrepreneurs on the kiva.org site. Those two entrepreneurs paid us back in full and now we are re-lending! Check out our portfolio:

http://www.kiva.org/lender/wusc9479

The link can also be found under "Links of Interest."

Missing...

Hi there…

I can’t believe how much time has passed since I’ve seen you all. I have honestly missed you guys! I’ve often wondered about the amazing conversations I’ve missed out on or the opinions that I never got a chance to hear that would only come from such incredible people…I have learned such a great deal from you all and am very excited to hear that placements are coming through…

It’s been difficult to keep up with the e-mails (as I’d always been horrible at it) and work, but perhaps if you’re going to use this blogger (since I’m still not on Facebook), you can keep me in the loop with what’s happening with everyone. How was the last week of classes? Any pictures to share (hopefully I can upload the photo album from the simulation from the end of the second term)? What did you all get up to?

As for life here in Chennai, India – it’s been very busy. Work, work, work, work. It’s been great though…lots to do – finally went to the field last week (for the week). I must confess, there was a brief moment when I questioned partnering with corporations when this corporate guy came with us to a village. He seemed to have dollar signs in his eyes thinking about the potential in the rural market. I think it burst when it was explained that the goal wasn’t to drive the villagers further into debt and that no matter how beneficial the product is for them, a cost too high is a cost too high.

Other than that, I wrote a communication strategy all by myself! I wish I had some help from you lovely folks as I’m sure it would have been a trillion times better! I also helped whip up a log frame – on the fly for that matter – for an emergency proposal (thanks to Tim and Matt M. for our lovely Goma “template.”) – which by the way got funding! Have also trained a few of the guys on some computer based stuff and am working on trying to build the department’s capacity…but how is India, you might ask?

Admittedly, it took a lot longer than I anticipated to get settled in. The main reason being that things were a bit disorganized when I got here (shocker, I know)…the work itself was set before I left, so there was never any question about that, but as far as accommodation, INTERNET (you don’t realize how much you love it – REALLY love it – til it’s gone), phone and eating at the same place morning, noon and night for the first week goes…it did drive me a little crazy. But now that I’ve settled into my place (which is quite spacious – fully furnished 2 A/C bedrooms with its own bathroom, washing machine, balcony - and it’s a 2 minute walk from the office) I’ve had a chance to venture a bit and I have to say…I’m falling in love with this place. Perhaps one day I can find the words to explain it…but for those of you who have already been here, you know what I’m talking about. It’s got that, deep breath kind of feel when you think about it (in a good way) – peaceful, beautiful and yet so chaotic. And what makes it that much more is the people…they are absolutely wonderful…truly, truly beautiful! There’s still so much to discover and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance to fully discover all its secrets…has anyone about any country though?

Anyhow, would love to hear about your side of the world…please continue to use this blogger. And Matt D. put me in that little database of yours please J…can’t remember all the details you want, but I think it goes something like this:

Name: Jean Capili
E-mail: jeancapili@gmail.com
Country : India (city of Chennai/Madras)
Organization: World Vision Canada/India

Again, I miss you guys! I really wish I had the opportunity to get to know some of you more…perhaps now is the time…?

Take care.

Jean