Definition please?...

So it’s 3:00am on a Sunday night/Monday morning and here I am attempting to write yet another blog post. You’re probably thinking “dedication much?” Nope. Just insomnia.

Alrighty, so the topic of the day is none other than international development. Before you decide to click away because this seems too informative to be interesting, let me promise you it’ll be worth it. For those of you who consider yourselves my close friends or family, I think it’s about time you understood what I was studying (don’t even pretend you have a clue... I’m well aware that most of you don’t).

Ok so, at this stage in life, the most basic conversation starter is asking someone what they’re studying. Whenever I get this question thrown my way, I proudly announce “International Development” and usually get an “oh cool” as a response - which obviously means the person has no idea what I’m talking about. A more inquisitive person will ask which faculty I'm in, hoping to get the general gist. The really courageous ones will ask for an explanation.

That, of course, is rare enough that I haven’t quite mastered my response. I’m not quite sure how to sum up an entire program (and, realistically, a lifestyle) within just a sentence or two. I usually start by throwing out some key phrases:

1. Alleviating poverty.                              2. Reducing vulnerability.
3. Protecting the environment.           4. Empowering communities.

If they manage to keep up, I end with freedom of choice (yupp, Amartya Sen reference!)

Most simply put, international development is improving the quality of life for all human beings. The one-sentence definition, of course, doesn’t quite do it justice… so I guess it’s about time I gave you the real play by play.

Development is one thing as a concept, and another as a program.  What does it mean to be studying international development? I think a good start is by telling you about my fellow developers, i.e. my one and only classmates. 

We may be a small bunch, but we sure as hell have pizzazz. We study international development because we don’t like the direction that the world is headed in, and we’re actually willing to do something about it. The latter is what really separates actual developers from other folk. Not only do we recognize the status quo, but we're also ready to challenge it.

International development is a multidisciplinary field, so, as much as we share the common goal of improving the world, each of us has a different focus. That’s sort of the beauty of our program – we are all so diverse in our passions. Some are focused on human rights, women, children, others on the environment, agriculture, climate change, natural disasters, water and sanitation, urban planning… the opportunities are endless. 

Anyway, this is longer than most of you are willing to read. I really tried to sum up 3 years of courses into one post, but it wasn't easy. The next time someone says they're studying International Development, I hope you'll have a clue!!