Globe-trotting, exploring new cultures, and helping people are common dreams of young college students. For a few ambitious individuals at Northeastern University, these dreams have become reality due to their involvement in Engineers Without Borders (EWB). A chapter of a global organization, their mission is to help communities around the world meet their basic needs by implementing sustainable projects.
The Northeastern Chapter of EWB receives guidance from the national organization on what communities they’ll assist. The various projects assigned are based on the nature of the land and the specific requests of its residents. Northeastern EWB has three branches: Panama, Uganda, and Guatemala. In both Panama and Uganda, the challenge most commonly identified is a lack of safe drinking water. At their relatively new Guatemala branch, they are building a school. These projects become integrated into the community, provide long-term solutions, and are entirely self-sustaining.
Once students know what project they will be spearheading, they are wholly responsible for designing, building, and implementing their solutions with help from a professional mentor.
Once students know what project they will be spearheading, they are wholly responsible for designing, building, and implementing their solutions with help from a professional mentor. The most common technology that they implement is a sand filtration system, which uses layers of increasingly small rocks and gravel to trap unwanted particles in water. The water is then collected and pumped to the entire community. Having safe drinking water is essential for disease prevention, and having safe water within a community also massively conserves resources and energy.
Once the designs are finalized and ready for implementation, four to six students travel to the target region with their mentor. Working directly with local residents, they get their project up and running. Most importantly, these projects need to be sustainable for success. Thus, the community will form something called a “Water Board,” which is responsible for the system’s maintenance once EWB leaves. This board allows the community to take ownership of the filtration system so they feel confident in its management and can preserve its longevity. These projects are incredibly rewarding for everyone, says recruitment officer Sarah Condon: “At the end of the day, you’re helping people, and you directly see how your project has an impact on their lives.”
When asked what she loves about EWB, Condon said, “It really pushes me to ask the hard questions, and now I know that I can’t be afraid to find those answers.”
To get involved, email Sarah at recruitment.ewbneu@gmail.com and visit ewb.neu.edu for information regarding meeting locations and times.
Image source: Pixabay