Tufts Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is a student group at Tufts University that designs and implements sustainable engineering projects in developing communities. EWB at Tufts is unique in that it includes liberal arts and engineering students who work together to integrate the conceptual and technical strengths of both schools and thereby strengthen our chapter's projects in the communities in which we work.
Tufts EWB works with professional and faculty mentors to design technologically sound projects in communities who express their desire to partner with us. To ensure the sustainability of our projects, we build robust relationships with our partner communities and use participatory methods to address their most pressing needs. Throughout the lifespan of our projects, the communities are highly involved in the assessing, designing, implementing, and monitoring phases.
Tufts EWB is currently working on projects in Nicaragua and Malawi that focus on clean water access. Each team travels at least once a year, performing assessments, monitoring, and implementing new designs. Throughout the year our teams meet to design structurally sound water solutions, communicate with non-government organizations in participating countries and community members, and communicate and collaborate with other EWB groups across the nation and groups with similar interest at Tufts. Group members gain experience writing and applying for grants as well as working with other students to apply what they have learned in the classrooms at Tufts to designs that can drastically impact the lives of individuals who need it the most.
Nicaragua
The Latin America group of Engineers Without Borders is currently working with the community of Silvio Mayorga in Nicaragua. They have been coordinating with an environmental conservation organization called La Reserva Silvestre Quelantaro located near the community, with the goal of improving water access in the community. In May 2017, three students and one professional mentor traveled to the community to assess the condition of the community pump and storage system, as well as to learn more about the health concerns relating to water quality and access. Using this information, the group will rebuild a water tower and design a water distribution system to implement in the community.
Malawi
The EWB Malawi Project is working with the Solomoni Community in Malawi to help the primary and secondary schools have access to clean water. The nearest reliable borehole is far away and many students have to miss large chunks of class time to wait in line at the local well. The group is working alongside Joshua Orphan and Child Care. This August, the Malawi group sent three students and an advisor to Solomoni to conduct initial interviews, examine the existing infrastructure and discuss with community leaders the goals for the project. After returning to the states, the group is designing and testing the possible system for pumping water to the schools, and plans to return next summer to begin the installation of the water distribution system.
Please learn more about Tufts EWB out in other places on the web:
Our website: http://sites.tufts.edu/ewb/
Our facebook
Watch a video from a past trip.
Read a Tufts Daily article on our trip.
In the past, Tufts EWB projects have focused on increased clean water access to communities. The first EWB project was located in Tibet, followed by projects in Haiti, Ecuador, Arada Vieja, El Salvador, Mbale, Uganda and Porvenir, and finally, our current project areas. Tufts EWB makes a strong effort to collaborate with other student groups on campus and across the nation. We have worked with students from Stanford, Brown, Northeastern, as well as the EWB Boston's Professional Chapter, and continue to look forward to reaching out to other groups.
Engineers Without Borders is currently devoting most of its time and energy into designing sustainable solutions for implementation when projects travel over winter and spring vacations. In the coming semesters, we hope to collaborate with other student groups to bring interesting speakers to Tufts that help bring awareness to our cause. In past years, we have partnered with Tufts Timmy to create an event called "1.4 Billion Reasons," in which we addressed issues of global poverty by bring speakers to campus. You can read more about the efforts here in an article written about the event by the Tufts Daily.
Get Involved
