Biography

Posted by Matthew Exell on August 26th, 2010

My name is Matthew Exell, and I am a graduating commerce student at the University of Manitoba. I am actually skipping my convocation ceremony, which would take place in October, in order to participate in the Students Without Borders program.

I spend the majority of my free time playing guitar in my band Tsumegah and volunteering in my local community. You might also find me often out running, watching movies, and reading up on the financial markets. I am excited for the opportunity to experience a new culture, as I am a born and raised Winnipegger who has never left home for more than a couple weeks at a time.

In recent years volunteering has become a passion of mine, and I was turned on to the idea of volunteering overseas upon reading an article in the newspaper on “voluntourism” – the act of volunteering while travelling for pleasure. The article sparked my interest about the possibilities of lending a hand elsewhere, while simultaneously getting the travelling bug out of my system after University. I began my search for an organization that I felt would connect me with a placement that best fit my skill-set, and where I felt a relevant difference could be accomplished.

That connection was made through Students Without Borders, who introduced me to the position volunteering as a finance officer for the Action for Economic Empowerment Trust (AEET) in Gaborone, Botswana. The finance officer position appeals to me, as I believe it will give me a chance to apply the knowledge I acquired in University (I majored in accounting and finance) in a meaningful way before I start down my own career path.

The position itself consists of determining the economic viability and sustainability of micro and small sized businesses operating with grant funds supplied by AEET, as well as assisting AEET with the development of their own accounting and financial framework. The list of responsibilities provided is fairly extensive, but I hope to try my hand at each individual task to the best of my abilities in order to help AEET grow as an organization and myself as a world citizen.

Signing off for now,

Matt

Posted in SWB