About this blog

I have come to appreciate blogging as a way to verbalize by thoughts and to get myself to write. I have always enjoyed writing; yet I rarely seem to find time to write. As I start yet another blog, this time it is with the distinct objective of writing about whatever I feel passionate about. Whatever might be on my mind. And based on my varied interests, I expect to blog about some of the following:

• Agribusiness and Biofuels: My first introduction to the world of agribusiness and biofuels was through my work with Kijani Energy. While working on the project, I came to realize the potential of biofuels, not only in reducing GHGs and providing energy security, but also in poverty alleviation. If the poorer nations of the world can develop the right policies for the promotion of biofuels, they will see tremendous economic and social benefits down the road.

• Environment: From the European carbon markets to the pollution generated by industrializing nations, I have often found myself shaking my head in amazement and shock at how poorly so many of us understand the environment we live in. The road to safeguarding our world's future is long and tough, and it requires participation from all stakeholders. But have we done enough to understand every one's concerns and to bring everyone to the table with an open mind?

• Grassroots Development and Microfinance: I was first introduced to the study of grassroots development and impact of microfinance institutions at a class I took at Laurier with Dr. Farida Hewitt. But my first source of inspiration was reading about Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan and the Orangi project (Karachi, Pakistan) as a kid. Through Kijani Energy, we hope to undertake similar initiatives in southern Africa using an extensive community program.

• Community Activism: With humanity in despair and need all around us, it is easy to feel discouraged and powerless; it is human to start believing that there is nothing we can do that will make the least difference. I have learnt, however, that we all have a role to play. It is only through individual change that we can bring about global change. And it is only through helping humanity, one person at a time, that we can make this world a better place. From youth counseling to helping new immigrants adjust in Canada, I have been fortunate to have opportunities to give back to the communities that gave me so much and I hope to make this blog an avenue for sharing some of what has touched me. Changed me.

• Finance, Economics and Investments: I am an accountant by education and an economist by training. Working at Deloitte as an economist, and then with Kijani Energy looking for funds and developing a start-up business I have learnt how little I know about the world of finance, economics and investments. But what scares me is that people much smarter, much more educated than me, seem every bit as clueless as me nowadays.

• Governance: My interest in the developing nations goes beyond academic curiosity. My parents come from a developing country--one that I still find an odd attachment to--and I have been fortunate to visit a few developing countries myself. The experience of setting up a business in Mozambique and dealing with the lack of governance in most developing countries opened by eyes, not just to the economic problems faced by these countries, but also the social rifts that are often created by the powerful few taking advantage of the system.
  

As varied and random these topics seem, there is a common thread among all of them. And that thread is the desire to make a difference in my life through helping others realize their dreams.