D-Lab I: Development

Practicing Poverty

For the next week, limit your spending to $2 per day. Try to minimize your reliance on pre-existing resources (such as using food that is in the pantry, eating your room-mates leftovers etc.).

Sector Paper

Write a five-page paper (double-spaced, not including figures, tables or pictures) describing the current state of affairs in your country in one of the sectors that we have studied in class:

Discussion Questions: Mastering the Machine 3

See [Smillie], pp. 44-66. Please answer the following questions (maximum 2 single-spaced pages), using examples from the book where applicable.

  1. According to the reading, what are some of the major reasons why NGOs and the Third Sector developed such an important role in what we call 'international development'?
  2. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of NGO organizational structure? Use some examples from the reading.
  3. What is meant by 'civil society'? In what ways might the concepts described by this term influenced the development of D-Lab philosophy?

Trip Project Proposal

This form will allow the D-Lab staff to provide feedback and help you prepare for your project. You should fill in a form for each project you are working on, but only one of them will be turned in to be graded. You should continue to refine the proposals throughout the semester.

 

Practical Photovoltaics Design

You are in charge of designing a solar panel installation for a rural health post. The requirements for the given location are as follows:

  • There is a 220W freezer that needs to run 24/7
  • The health post is open until 9pm, and, on average, they have to turn the lights on from 6pm until they close. Given their needs, it seems that the most adequate installation would be 2 fluorescent lights of 15W each.
  • They have an amateur radio to communicate with the clinic in the city, that consumes 40W, and it is usually on for two hours every day.
  • The health post is staffed every day of the year.

 

Personal Energy Consumption

Determine your average daily energy consumption (in kWh). For this assignment, you can take into account only the electricity that you use, though you should be aware that there are additional energy expenditures in terms of transportation, heating, manufacturing processes to make the products that you use, etc. You should submit this as a table showing your energy consumption (power x time) for a few days and then come up with an average value.

Current Events

Review both the national and international media to find a story that affects your D-Lab project country. Some sectors that might be of interest include: the environment, health and sanitation, agriculture, energy, education, humanitarian disaster, politics, economics and information technology. Each person on your D-Lab country team should select a different topic. Write a 2-page summary of the story making sure to comment on its implications for the nation, your D-Lab trip or another affected group. Make sure to properly cite all your sources.

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