This month, we are delighted to recognize the contribution of the wonderful Mora Camplair, African Road transitional team member. Mora brought her organizational skill set to preparation and follow up for the gala in May. Here, we asked her to tell us more about her background, her experience of working for African Road, and her hopes for the future.
Tell us a little about your background.
I grew up in Portland and love to spend time outside, hiking and playing ultimate frisbee, In December 2018, I finished a degree in Ecological Engineering & also Sustainability from Oregon State University. Since then I’ve done several internships that combine those two degrees in monitoring organizational greenhouse gas emissions.
What most excites you about the work of African Road?
The approach that African Road uses to focus on self-sustaining solutions from local changemakers is most exciting to me. It’s necessary to have people who are established and connected in the local community to reach long lasting change rather than a simple band-aid solution.
What challenges you about the work of African Road?
For me personally, it was challenging to enter this field of community development with little direct experience in it. I was helped so much by everyone though that there wasn’t any moment that seemed too difficult.
About the work of African Road in general, the work of African Road is culturally sensitive since it involves humanitarian development internationally. I could see how challenging it can be, but with such care that African Road took to respect their partners and promote self-sustaining communities.
What was the nature of your work for African Road?
I spent most of my time reviewing guest, host, and volunteer lists to ensure that Gala attendees registrations were completed correctly. I also helped in calling guests after the Gala to both thank and receive feedback about the event.
How did you feel about the work?
I really enjoyed doing this work because it was a huge personal learning experience. I have a background in engineering and have done some research into the intersections of community development and engineering principles. That’s why working with African Road was both meaningful and interesting- too often engineers will design solutions that don’t consider the entire cultural context, but in African Road’s work they do.
Is there one particular story of a Changemaker that has struck you?
This year Pastor Steven visited during the African Road Gala and spent time helping us in the office. I was able to meet him there and hear his story at the Gala too. Steven was connected to his community through his Church and also welcomed orphans and others into his home, which eventually formed the Togetherness Cooperative. It is so empowering to hear how intuitive these children and Steven were to develop a safe and supportive community for each other.
What’s next for you?
I just started a position at Friends of Trees doing neighbourhood outreach about increasing urban tree canopy. I hope to go to graduate school in a few years for water resource engineering or climate change policy. I plan to stay involved with African Road by volunteering and stay in touch with folks who are going on the learning trip this year in hopes to join one later.
Please complete this sentence, “ AR is…
… one of the most welcoming global families!
Many thanks to Mora for her enthusiasm and contribution. The work of African Road in partnering with East African Changemakers, is made possible by the work of permanent and temporary staff, as well as an army of volunteers. To find out more, drop us an email to info@africanroad.org.