The G8: No promise to make poverty history, but a step in the right direction

Never before had a G8 summit received so much attention. When leaders from the eight wealthiest countries met in Scotland earlier this month, an unprecedented call to action resonated from around the globe. And these calls did not go unheard; the G8 delivered some welcomed pledges, hopefully marking the start of a new commitment to poverty reduction.

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EWB volunteers energize Canadians to Make Poverty History

In near silence, millions of people in nine countries snapped their fingers every three seconds, a striking reminder of how frequently a child dies as a result of poverty. Prominent buildings in even more countries were draped in large white bands, the symbol of the Make Poverty History campaign. And billions of people, watching TV, heard from Nelson Mandela that "Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice."

It has been coined the day that rocked the world and EWB volunteers were apart of it, energizing Canadians to Make Poverty History.

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Simon Bédard: Closing the energy gap in Burkina Faso

Throughout July, millions of Canadians were asked to reduce their energy consumption in the wake of record high temperatures. For most, the threat of brownouts and energy shortages meant little more than an inconvenience. But Simon Bédard, currently volunteering in Burkina Faso, has realized that energy shortages in Africa are far more than inconvenient, they are limiting people's ability to emerge out of poverty.

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A summer update from the national office

Between training five new volunteers for overseas placements, running four leadership retreats for chapter executives, and welcoming a new member to the EWB national office, this summer has certainly been busy.

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Jenn Dysart: Preparing for a year in Zambia

When Jenn Dysart found out she had been selected to spend a year in Africa as an EWB volunteer, she was thrilled. She was greeted by a slew of questions from her family and friends upon the announcement: 'why are you going to Africa?'; 'what will you be doing?'; and 'why would a newly minted chemical engineer opt to live on $10 a day?'. But for Jenn the answer to these questions was simple: "I have always wanted to help people." And she hopes to do just that when she leaves for Zambia next week.

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