VEGA Volunteer Awardees, David and Florence Wagner, have used their retirement to travel the globe as volunteers sharing their knowledge and expertise. They made a significant impact in Southern Sudan as business development consultants and contributed to the advancement of women empowerment associations.

Notably, David and his family were one of the first to enter the Peace Corps in Ghana in 1971 and helped to pioneer the program. With an entrepreneurial sprit, David Wagner spent 30 years developing his own successful international companies. He has since lent his business expertise to people in Ukraine, Russia, Namibia, Ethiopia, Thailand, Cambodia and South Sudan.

David recently published Unpaved Roads, a book about his experience in South East Asia and is working on A Different Road, the story of entering the Peace Corps as a family and the struggles and accomplishments in West Africa. David Wagner is currently planning to release a book in early 2009 detailing all of the USAID assignments that he and Florence have worked on.

Visit UnpavedRoads.com to learn more about the Wagners, David’s books and read their notes from the field.

Women Business Association of Wau

Florence “Flo” Wagner generated enthusiasm among women to form the Women’s Business Association in Wau and provide direction for implementing and sustaining their association. By the second day of her time with the founders of the association, they had democratically elected their Chairlady and four other leadership positions. A mission statement and goals were formulated, and all members agreed on a registration fee and monthly membership contribution. Ways to increase women members were discussed and a fundraiser was immediately undertaken to purchase a van to offer transport services to the business members. Florence Wagner also had the foresight to recommend ways the association could enhance itself by stressing the importance of regular meetings, proper record keeping, and creating a strong link with the Wau Chamber of Commerce.

Western Bahr el Ghazal State Chamber of Commerce

David Wagner assisted small businesses in basic skills training and went beyond the requested tasks of the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Chamber of Commerce by conducting an in-depth report on his recommendations to the Chamber of Commerce on how they can improve the facilitation of their clients. He also made recommendations to VEGA/IESC on how they could support the Chamber.

Gondokoro Women Association (GOWA) and Central Equatoria Women Widow Association (CEWWA)

Both David and Flo Wagner contributed substantially by assisting one another in simultaneous projects for the AMED program. Together they addressed problems and created solutions for establishing micro and small business enterprises for income generation; acted on ideas to expand CEWWA and advance community development; held an HIV/AIDS/STD work shop, conducted trainings on basic business procedures, and edified the importance of women in small business.