josephkocaj

About Joseph Kocaj

Hi! I am Joseph Kocaj, the Teaching Assistant to the 2018 Global Innovation Field School. As an alumni of the 2017 Global Innovation Field School I will do my best to aid this year's students in finding sustainable solutions for our friends here in Ileret, the Daasanach. I could not be more excited to be back with the ever-inspiring professor, Rodrigo Peña, and five new faces. My work improving communities through engineering based methodologies began when I co-founded CentriSeed Innovations, an organization which juggles developing students and communities much like the Global Innovation Field School. I recently graduated from Stony Brook University and will be working under H2M architects + engineers as a Water Engineer after my stay in Kenya! I am truly excited to work with the year's students and hope to teach them as much as I know they will teach me.

That’s a Wrap: Global Innovation 2018

This blog was written in collaboration with Natalie Lubaszka: On Monday June 18th we took a trip to see one of the hand pumps that was installed by a non-governmental organization. When we arrived there was a woman and a few children pumping out water. After speaking to them, with the help of our translator [...]

By |2018-07-05T10:07:18+03:00July 5th, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on That’s a Wrap: Global Innovation 2018

To Ethiopia and Beyond!

This blog was written in collaboration with Winnie Wang: Monday, June 11th marked the first day of the second class in the Global Innovation program, EAS 310: Global Design Engineering Innovation. Professor Rodrigo Peña introduced the class and the corresponding assignments. The students’ main responsibility for EAS 310 is to outline a long-term project to [...]

By |2018-06-27T13:02:41+03:00June 27th, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on To Ethiopia and Beyond!

Ileret Primary School Spotlight Teacher: Margaret Shuoro

Meet Margaret Shuoro! A teacher at Ileret's primary school. She became a teacher just a year ago but has already inspired many students. Spotlight Teacher: Margaret Shuoro Growing up Daasanach, Margaret experienced many difficulties. Battling through it all she became one of the few in her family to earn an education, going all [...]

By |2018-06-20T13:19:55+03:00June 20th, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on Ileret Primary School Spotlight Teacher: Margaret Shuoro

Short-Term Projects for Long-Term Memories

This blog was written in collaboration with Konnie Xu: Monday morning the team was energized for a week of finishing up their short-term projects, aimed at improving the daily lives of the Daasanach tangibly. This is to be completed within the two week period of the first course of the Global Innovation program, EAS 312: [...]

By |2018-06-18T04:49:36+03:00June 18th, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on Short-Term Projects for Long-Term Memories

Thrown in at the Deep End: Ileret

This blog was written in collaboration with Sam van der Poel: On the morning of our first full day in Ileret, we were fortunate enough to witness a revered local gathering: a post-wedding ceremony. Typically the day after a marriage family members, friends, and neighbors gather to socialize and enjoy a goat. Men and women [...]

By |2018-06-09T03:42:32+03:00June 9th, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on Thrown in at the Deep End: Ileret

Elephants and Lions and Students, Oh My!

This blog was written in collaboration with student Emily Aviles: Wednesday night the Global Innovation crew went to bed early after dinner and a game of Uno to prepare for a game drive Thursday morning. While animal sightings are never certain on a game drive, the animals were cooperative and did not shy away from [...]

By |2018-06-01T04:36:09+03:00June 1st, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on Elephants and Lions and Students, Oh My!

On the Road Again: Global Innovation 2018

This blog was written in collaboration with Professor Rodrigo Peña: The Global Innovation Field School is on the road again. As we arrived to the Nairobi Airport, on Tuesday May 22nd, unexpected rain with low temperature was waiting for us. Even though the commute was long (almost 24 hours) and made us all exhausted, the [...]

By |2018-06-20T13:36:51+03:00May 28th, 2018|Field Schools, Global Innovation 2018, Global Innovation Field School|Comments Off on On the Road Again: Global Innovation 2018
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