3: Interview with Cal Poly student

Q: What did you learn from the project?

A: Whew, that’s a big one. I learned so much in every step of the process. I could go on and on about all the cultural things I learned but I’ll stick to more of the project based stuff. Starting with just the technical aspects of the project I learned quite a bit. It was my first big exposure to using photovoltaics so I learned quite a bit about the actual installation of solar panels as well as programming/learning how a charge controller works depending on systems loads (power outputs) and panel sizing (power inputs). It was a really cool way to combine my previous knowledge in electrical engineering with more mechanical knowledge in the refrigeration area. It was also a really interesting experience to work with construction management students and understand where strengths and weaknesses fall between us. Again I learned a lot about teamwork, (lots of drama and how to deal with very opposite personalities, but again you probably don’t care about that as much). I was exposed to a lot of practical construction methodologies and hands on building work that I hadn’t previously known. I also learned how much goes into such a (relatively) small project like this. I’m talking lists upon lists of materials, parts, fittings, hardware, god our team leader [name] did a lot of this and that kid worked his [butt] off.  I guess I’ll switch over to the second question since most of what I learned in Ghana was about international development. 

Q: What did the project teach you about international development?

A: It is really hard. You think you have everything, you think you know everything you need to know, you give yourself contingency, and it all goes to [explicit]. There were so many times we thought the project was going to just be [done] because shipping wouldn’t arrive in time. That was the biggest stressor of all. I spent an entire day traveling to some town in the middle of nowhere by boat, taxi, bus, foot to go transfer money to our import agent for our supplies. The culture is so different from what we are used to, thank god we had Nate on our team so he could talk, understand, and work with the Ghanaian people. Their value of time versus money is so different than ours it was really hard to get quality work out of people during the project. Obviously a big part of developing something like this is getting community backing and support but when most of the villagers work for 30 minutes then sit down because they’re tired and don’t want to work anymore but want to get paid it’s impossible to get anything done. Nate wound up hiring a crew of masons to work with us and they were super helpful, yet it was imperative to keep a close eye on them so they did things correctly and efficiently (and safely). These are all things you really just wouldn’t plan for beforehand. Also if you’ve ever heard the term the million dollar nail, it’s true. You forget one thing you have to get in a boat, then a taxi, then wander around an unorganized city trying to find this one part, just to get back that night and realize you’ve got to do the same thing the next day. This is a huuuuge time consumer in an international project like this unfortunately. As much as you try to get everything you need, you’ll always forget something.

Q: Do you think that the project will be used by the community long term? Why or why not?

A: This leads into the last question I guess which is I really don’t think so. I hate to say it, I think it will bring some benefit but nothing like we were expecting. Despite the community being so tightly knit, they culturally lack the ability to share with other community members. For example, when we tried to hand out ice cream and soft drinks to them they were completely unable to form a line so that everyone could get some. We made it clear we had enough for everyone but they had to be in the front and we’re pushing and shoving and wound up fighting as well. I say this is a cultural thing because even at the airport everyone was pushing and shoving and no one was able to form lines. Nate mentioned much later in our project that he also thought that the sharing aspect would be difficult. Our model was based off of a shared ice room where everyone would be able to get a bit of ice for their catches and the community would maintain the room and add water when necessary. I just don’t think that culturally fits with them, so they’ll have to figure something else out. (Sorta question 3 answer). I think they appointed one person to maintain the room and sell the ice? It’s really difficult to get reliable information from our contacts there. I tried to ask the chiefs daughter and a fisherman one time how much they would benefit from having ice and being able to sell their catches fresh and that thought had never even crossed their mind. They had no idea how much more they would make despite fresh fish clearly costing more at the market than their dried fish did. I think the fresh water system will help if it works but the instructions they left were quite complicated and it requires maintenance that that team really didn’t know about so I have hesitations. Their system has a bit more moving pieces so I have a feeling it will stop working soon-ish and need repair.