Resource Development
Making a Connection
by Chris Banman
My first month in the IDE office has been great, connecting with various people involved with IDE. In my first week, IDE founder Paul Polak came to Winnipeg for a couple of events. First a backyard event (graciously hosted by Bill and Margaret Fast) with the intended purpose of showcasing our technologies, and then a presentation at the Asper School of Business directed at engaging MBA students to develop a global perspective. Paul was an inspiration, drawing from his rich history with IDE. Our goal with these events was to inspire the next generation to embrace and spread the IDE message, continuing the successful growth we’ve experienced so far.
Connecting with the people already dedicated to the IDE organization has been rewarding. Be it the Board of Directors and their history with IDE, the group in BC taking on the Zambia project, or to the summer volunteers who recently ran in the Manitoba Marathon relay. All of these people are involved in raising IDE’s profile and making connections.
Thank you for your support and investment in the IDE vision to transform the lives of farmers living on less than a dollar day. The IDE approach is distinctive, alleviating poverty one family at a time by connecting farmers to appropriate technology and markets. The process of moving a family out of poverty is a connection that trains and equips a family, using an entrepreneurial approach that will put food on the table - not only tomorrow, but in the years to come.
Connecting is what we do!