A milk chiller, a nutcracker and an egg incubator

There are many scientists and engineers that have come from developing countries to the United States for a better life. Many of them find jobs and happiness here and typically do not go back to their own countries where conditions are relatively harsh. Of course no one can really blame them, they are looking out for their livelihoods and their families. However, conditions in their home countries persist in being poor. Do they have an obligation to help the people at home?

William Kissalita is a professor and tissue engineer at the University of Georgia who is driven by a desire to help the people of his home country of Uganda. By day he develops innovative bioengineering solutions, but his true vocation is to bring simple engineering solutions to the poor of Africa.

Kissalita finds problems affecting the poorest of people in communities throughout Africa and attempts to find feasible solutions. Through grants from the National Science Foundation and partnerships with U.S. and worldwide organizations, he and his students are "slowly revolutionizing the milk market in Uganda, guinea hen breeding in Burkina Faso and nut-oil cooperatives in Morocco."

Evidently, this is a great example of a drive and its resulting solutions to deliver basic human needs: Kissalita feels that he has an obligation, having been so successful in the U.S., to help his people. Making a real difference for very poor people will require many individuals such as Kissalita, who have come from developing countries to innovate and develop products. Obviously, those from developed countries have a role as well, but this need to help one's own country is a very strong driver. Such as examples are recently becoming more and more prevalent with people going back to their own countries and making a difference.

Do you think that immigrants from less developed countries have an obligation to help their people? What can we do to promote such work?