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Ronan MacParland, 1T0"At Trinity College, I have been able to connect with very intelligent, active youth who have helped immensely with the development project in Kenya."
In May 2007, he led a team of eight Trinity College students to Kigama, Kenya, to work on a variety of development projects in association with the Kenyan government. The Trinity team members – all representatives of Students for International Development (SID), a Trinity-based group that researches and works on global development programs – helped dig wells, ran educational programs about reforestation, and set up a new health centre in the village. MacParland's connection to Kigama predates his arrival at Trinity; for nine months between high school and university, he lived in Kenya working with schoolchildren through the international NGO United World Colleges. While there, he worked with local and international development groups to build a community resource centre, that today houses a substantial library, computer services, and training facilities. "The resource centre has really been a shining example of Harambe," MacParland says. "Harambe is a key Swahili term which means 'coming together.' And that's basically the idea that the tribal structure in Africa is built upon, the concept that the good of one is the good of everyone." MacParland, who is going into his second year at Trinity in September 2007, majoring in Economics, says that "you have to look at development in terms of the big picture." The summer development projects in Kigama and the surrounding area were a combination of international donations, local fundraising, government support and microfinance investment, an area which MacParland studies in Economics. In the spring of 2007, MacParland was named one of Canada's Top 20 Under 20 by the national nonprofit organization Youth In Motion, an honour he shares with another SID member, Jasmeet Sidhu. “At Trinity College, I have been able to connect with very intelligent, active youth who have helped immensely with the development project in Kenya.” he says. The Kigama venture incorporated students working in medicine, environmental science, peace and conflict studies, and international relations. "It's really an opportunity for people to expand their interest," says MacParland. "The varied nature of this project just blows my mind." – Graham F. Scott |
SEPTEMBER 2007 - Ronan MacParland started his first business at age 12, cutting grass and doing other yard chores around his neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland. When he left high school in 2005, his small company had three part-time employees. Now MacParland is bringing that same entrepreneurial drive to international development, and the results are even more impressive.