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About Us |
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Engineers Without Borders – The University of Toledo Imagine a small, remote village where women still have to carry drinking water in pots on their heads, where they lack adequate sanitation to prevent debilitating or life threatening diseases, where babies are born in the dark at night or where they have difficulty storing their scant food supplies to prevent spoilage. Conditions like this exist in villages and communities throughout the developing world. Many times all that is needed is a group of caring individuals who can study their needs and obtain the resources to assist them. There is an organization that has been established to assist students so they can participate in sustainability projects, Engineers Without Borders – U.S.A. (EWB-USA). Engineers Without Borders – U.S.A. Engineers Without Borders is an international organization that was founded in order to assist communities throughout the world to improve their quality of life through sustainable engineering projects. EWB-USA provides opportunities for students to become involved in service learning activities while helping to meet the needs of communities in developing countries and in disaster areas. For more information on EWB-USA, see http://www.ewb-usa.org/index.php . Examples of EWB Projects Kenya, Transmara Project Mvua wishes to increase the potable water supply for 330 children and extended family members at Oloosinon Primary School by making water available to them in both the rainy and dry seasons. Madagascar, Sainte Luce Clean water, renewable energy, and technical knowledge are needed in Sainte Luce, Madagascar. The project will focus on solar energy, but will also consider biomass, water transportation and storage, mini-hydroelectric systems, and wind power. Note: Some funding is already available for this project. Types of Projects Available With EWB Open projects are projects that have been approved by EWB-USA after a community requests assistance from EWB. They are posted on the EWB-USA website. New projects are projects that are identified by local chapters and approved by EWB-USA for those chapters. Other Opportunities Available Through EWB EWB projects can be completed as a part of required Senior Design Projects courses or independent study courses. Students can also participate in research by investigating a problem and developing a solution. Research topics that have been identified by EWB-USA are available on their website. Student Chapter of EWB At UT The student chapter of Engineers Without Borders at The University of Toledo (EWB-UTOL) was established in 2007. http://www.eng.utoledo.edu/~ewob/home.htm Membership in EWB-UTOL There are also non-engineering aspects to our projects, so volunteers with backgrounds in business, journalism, science, health and education can also become involved. Any UT student can become a member of EWB-UTOL! The best way to find out about and to become involved with EWB-UTOL is to contact our president, Ben Hoff at Benjamin.Hoff@utoledo.edu or the faculty advisor at Andrew.Heydinger@utoledo.edu. The EWB Process For Completing Projects The EWB process includes one site assessment trip and then implementations trips to complete projects. Ideal Project Timeline http://www.ewb-usa.org/ProjectProcess2.php: Requirements For A EWB Project Team Each project team consists of students with technical and nontechnical capabilities required for the specific project. A professional with applicable technical expertise serves as the lead mentor and a project advisor assists with the project. A licensed public health professional is required to serve as the health point person. In addition, teams are required to learn about the culture of the specific community and may need to have a person fluent in the local language. One professional and one health point person is required for each travel team. Very often medical students serve as the health point person when traveling. Fundraising For These Projects Student chapters of EWB not only participate in the design and implementation of sustainability projects but they also have to obtain support from organizations and private companies. That’s a part of the challenge of EWB. What Are EWB-UT Plans? Presently, the EWB-UT is bidding on open projects that are posted on the EWB-USA website and exploring fundraising opportunities. If the EWB-USA awards a project to us, then we will immediately begin planning an assessment trip to the project site and begin raising funds for the project. The assessment trip could happen as soon as May, 2008. The implementation trip would occur late Summer, 2008 or after. |
