Page 34 - Engineering Career Guide, 4th Edition
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GOING
GLOBAL
Engineers Without Borders sends teams of students all over the world to help communities solve problems.
Engineering offers a rewarding career that combines engaging work with making a positive impact. The best part? You can start making a difference even before you graduate. Engineers With- out Borders (EWB) student chapters are at the forefront of this move- ment, sending teams worldwide to assist communities in tackling real challenges related to water, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Take the EWB chapter at the University of Minnesota Duluth, for example. They embarked on a journey to Nyansakia, Kenya, where locals often traveled up to six hours round-trip for
Kenya
Students shoulder various responsibilities on university teams, from securing funding through grant proposals to engaging with lo- cals to identify needs and survey potential construction sites. Impor- tantly, this process doesn’t involve imposing solutions from above.
Instead, it begins by understanding the community’s perspective on what’s needed. This is achieved through collaboration with local non-governmental organizations and conversations with residents.
Nuevo Loreto, Peru
water, facing water scarcity during certain times. The students aimed to provide a sustainable clean water solution year-round. Their solution involved creating a gravity-fed water distribution system. Through a
borehole and pump connected to a tank, water will flow to strategically placed tap stands around the com-
munity, enabling residents to access water within just 30 minutes. Construction started in early 2023.
Across 160 universities nationwide, EWB chapters collaborate with communities in 45 countries. At its core, EWB prioritizes community engagement and skill development. By actively involving engineering students and professionals, chapter activities foster a sense of social responsibility while providing hands-on experience. This approach benefits both the communities they serve and the budding engineers they cultivate, creating a reciprocal impact that empowers all parties involved.
Bolivia
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