Josephine Tsui

Letter of support from Tyler Algeo - Junior Fellow 2007

Posted by admin under Testimonials, Zambia

Tyler Algeo at Victoria Falls, Livingstone Zambia.

February 14th 2009

To the Selection Committee of Sauve Scholars,

Moving to Zambia for four months for an Engineers Without Border’s development fellowship carried a lot of risks. Health concerns aside, I was 21 years old, and passionately wanted to make a difference in the world. I was well aware that this idealism was not unique to me, especially at this age in my life, and was determined to act with the pragmatism and realism that development requires – and not become one of the jaded cynics who return from overseas volunteering. But my work would have been for not without Josephine Tsui.

Moving to a new country can be extremely difficult, but with Josephine’s help I was able to settle into my community in Livingstone, Zambia, with ease. As soon as my in-country training was over she took me to stay with another volunteer who had been living in Zambia for several years and I found myself, on my first weekend in Zambia, and welcomed into a local family and be allowed to help them with their harvest from that year. I could not imagine a better introduction to the country that would be my home for four months.
Josephine had taken a lot of initiative before I arrived in Zambia. She had gone to different neighbourhoods and asked the teachers of the schools in these areas if anyone was willing to rent a room to a young Canadian volunteer. In this way she made my arrival in Zambia very smooth, as I was able to meet four different possible host families and choose the family that I was most comfortable with. Many volunteers I have known struggled finding a good home arrangement in Zambia. It is such a major part of your life overseas that it could have had a devastating effect. But with Josephine’s help I found the Shabenzus. This family truly became my family, and I am still in contact with them to this day. I am forever indebted to
Josephine for introducing me to my family.

Josephine had built many relationships around Livingstone, and she made sure to introduce me to everyone. I immediately felt at home because I knew people all over town. Their love for Josephine was evident, and they treated me like a close friend as soon as Josephine introduced me.

Helping me in was only the beginning of four months of incredible assistance. Never discouraging, Josephine helped me overcome the challenges I faced at my work with the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. She continually gave me new ideas and inspiration throughout our time together in Livingstone, and her strong critical mind helped me avoid several mistakes. Our conversations ranged over every possible subject, and she has inspired me on many levels. To this day I remain moved by her passion for women’s issues in development as well as all sectors of society. I learned innumerable things from her than I can find the words to express.

Since returning from Zambia in 2007, I have continued with my Bachelor’s degree in Civil Environmental Engineering, but little else has remained the same. My focus in Engineering has shifted away from buildings to water and sanitation, a more urgent need in many parts of the world. My degree has been extended so I can do self-directed studies in international development to help prepare me for a life of living in developing communities and offering what skills I have to the community. Before going to Zambia I did not foresee a life in development, but rather saw a more indirect role in building a better world. I now wish to dedicate all my activities to ceaselessly working on building a better world, and have no doubt that Josephine was a large part of that. She is an inspiration, and champion of the new world so many of us strive for.

~Tyler Algeo
University of British Columbia

Letter of support from Tyler Algeo - Junior Fellow 2007

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