2018 – Future-Proof Development

The Tragedy of Illegal Migration from Africa to Europe: What Really Happens and What Can Be Done About It?

Italy has become a destination of hope for people fleeing other countries; especially Africans seeking a better life and future for themselves and their families. Their endeavour is fueled by these hopes, despite the risk and horror associated with the migration process, which has become an ordeal for many in recent years. The journey is not a direct and straight one.

A Cut Away from Equality: Putting an End to Female Genital Mutilation

“To 8-year-old Nice, it seemed like a threat: She’d be held down by bigger, stronger women, and her clitoris would be cut. She’d bleed, a lot. Most girls fainted. Some died.”

The Essential Guide to Riding a Taxi in Yaoundé, Cameroon

I have traveled to Cameroon on several occasions to conduct field research and learned that getting around can be quite a challenge for newcomers. Catching a ride in the capital Yaoundé involves an intricate social proceeding that’s not for the faint of heart. There are no public city buses; and unlike Nairobi’s colourful matatus or Abidjan’s infamous gbakas, Yaoundé does not feature an improvised urban transit system made up of (more or less regulated) privately-owned minibuses. And although Uber now offers its ride-sharing concept in Lagos, Accra and Abuja, it has not (yet) extended its networks to any other urban centres in Central or West Africa. Instead, Yaoundé’s streets are dominated by a vast fleet of bright yellow share taxis.

From Akpeteshie to Waakeye: An Unromanticized Reflection of Food Choices in Accra, Ghana

I fondly reflect on my multiple times spent in West Africa (Togo, and most recently Ghana); however, I do not boldly state “Africa changed my life”. Do a quick Google search of those four words, and you will find hundreds of blogs and YouTube videos where those who have travelled to the continent convey “how Africa changed their lives”. I did not experience the personal epiphany many write about. Perhaps, I am travelling wrong. My life in Canada is largely the same upon return from West Africa. I am still the same person with the same interests, and same passions. Travelling to Africa does not change your life. It does, however, help shape your perceptions on international development issues. Development is contextual, and I believe the best way to understand development is to immerse yourself in the discomfort of the world.

In an Era of Increasing Human Mobility, Brazil Lags Behind

The social, political and economic crisis in Venezuela has led to one of the largest and most overlooked refugee catastrophes in the world. The Venezuelan economy is in free fall due to government-led mismanagement and corruption. The country is experiencing hyperinflation with the value of their currency plummeting and the costs of goods and services increasing drastically. The country’s GDP has declined by one third in five years, with a further 15% decrease expected this year.

Carving my Career in Development: 5 Insights from working with the UNDP

Contrary to popular belief, your undergraduate degree does not limit you to your field of study. As someone who completed a B.Comm. in Human Resource Management at the University of Guelph and is now working at UNICEF Canada, it has been my personal experience that it is a combination of our passion, experiences, and education that steer our career paths.

How to Lose Plastic in 10 Days

A guide to reducing your environmental footprint by Lucinda Barrett

10 Tips for a Successful Study Abroad

So, brave and adventurous student, you are considering going on a study abroad! Well done. You have decided on places you want to go, languages and cultures you want to learn more about, and have scripted the perfect airport goodbye speech to your family and friends.

Back to Iraq: Reflections on Studying Development as the Daughter of Refugees

So, what’s it like studying international development as the daughter of two refugee parents?

Could Development Funding Turn the Tide on Ocean Pollution?

“We’re being overwhelmed by our waste” is the daunting verdict on ocean plastic pollution by environmental engineer, Jenna Jambeck. Her statement is sustained by the recently discovered “plastic island”, an area covered in trash from around the world, as well as the existence of several garbage patches in the Pacific, including one larger than the country of Mexico. Despite these alarming statistics, very little has been done internationally to reduce the use of plastics or divert them from our waterways. This poses the question, if ocean plastic pollution is such a significant global issue, why is it not included as a development issue?