Beyond Borderline
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Paul Slomp, ’03 BSc (Eng), is used to getting by for an entire month on what his friends back home might spend in one night for dinner and a movie. “Paulo,” as he is called by the Ngoni people in Zambia makes ends meet on about $80 (CDN) a month. “This is the equivalent salary of general labourers who enjoy steady employment in this region,” writes Slomp a field volunteer with Engineers Without Borders (EWB).
Originally from Rimbey, Alberta, Slomp is now a long, long way from his home — and its comforts. Stationed in the poverty-stricken village of Pashame, Zambia, Slomp is working with small-hold farmers to implement low-cost irrigation techniques to increase efficiency.
In order to fully grasp the challenges of those he is helping and to gain their trust, Slomp decided to experience life as they do, which includes a meagre salary. “This allowance breaks down to $32 for food, $5.33 for bicycle costs, $21.33 for communication (Internet, this letter), $5.33 for clothing and personal care (medicine), $8.00 for donations (beggars and people in need) and $8.00 for miscellaneous,” he explains.
This is not Slomp’s first experience with EWB, a charitable organization that works to support people in developing countries. Before moving to Zambia, he spent five months working in rural Ghana, where he headed a project to refurbish a derelict rice mill in Worawora and designed a waster water treatment system to minimize the environmental impact of effluent from Juaban’s palm oil mill. During his time in Ghana, Slomp had few resources, however, he was successful because of his ability to connect with the local people.
In a journal entry from Zambia on the EWB website (www.ewb.ca), Slomp writes: "You realize how naive you were at the beginning and you are now able to piece together everything that you fully understand into the puzzle that is your purpose. You start to develop a realistic picture of what is desired and what is doable within the time and budget constraints of the project. I've been through the major valley, and I'm happy to say that the only way to go from here is up."
A champion of humanitarian issues as both a volunteer and an engineer, Slomp serves as a role model for all young professionals who want to make a mark in their profession. In recognition of Slomp’s achievements early in his career, the University of Alberta Alumni Association will honour him with an Alumni Horizon Award on 29 September. To read more about recent graduates of the University of Alberta who are on the fast track to success — be it in research, sport, or the arts — visit www.ualberta.ca/alumni
- Jodeen Litwin