The U2U program builds on current university-based efforts in a collaborative and targeted approach that forms interdisciplinary student teams to combine the strengths of the member universities and promote capacity-building and sustainable development through community-based research and participatory development.
In January of 2005, students and faculty from the MIT D-lab class traveled to Mwape to establish a relationship with the Chieftainess and begin conversations about a long-term project. During this short trip, students met key stakeholders (community leaders) and identified some community needs based on interviews and their own observations.
Between June and August of 2005, a multidisciplinary group of students and faculty from the MIT, University of Zambia (UNZA), and the Harvard Medical School (HMS), worked together in Zambia and traveled to Mwape where a multiphase project began. D-Lab Students and Faculty from MIT traveled to Mwape in January of 2006 to follow up on the work and re-assess needs. Based on their findings and the work of year 1, the following list was generated with the first 3 representing the main areas of focus for 2006:
- gallery Improving Agricultural Practices
- Increasing Health Care Capacity
- Improving Access and Transportation during Rainy Season
- Peppers for Elephants
- Lighting to school, health post
- Shock Chlorination of Water Sources
- Water Irrigation Kit
- Follow up on Bean Project
- Oil Press
- Asset Mapping and Needs Assessment for alternative source of protein (goat milk)
For questions, please contact u2u-staff@mit.edu.
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