The Process

You might read on here all about the trips, projects, outreach and other phenomenal things we do throughout the world. That is all notable and we would not succeed without that outward image - I mean, pursuing these projects is the entire reason we exist. But, unless you talk to the members, it is difficult to comprehend what we, as individuals, contribute to each of these projects.

If you didn't already know, EWB-UC is a chapter of a national organization (EWB-USA). Being students, EWB- USA recognizes that we do not have the technical know-how or skills to design and manage project installations independently. They put in place systems to ensure that what is installed will not fall apart, stop working, or fail from any fault in the design.

The process begins at the community level, wherever in the world it may be. The community submits an application to EWB-USA in order to be adopted by a chapter. There are certain criteria for the community's application to be accepted, as well as the chapter’s proposal to adopt the project. If EWB-USA feels for any reason that the partnership would fail, they wouldn't approve it.

After the relationship is established, the chapter arranges a trip to the community. This assessment trip is used to acquire vital knowledge about the community. Based on the community’s application, the group should know what the community identifies as its needs. While there, the travel team collects data, conducts surveys, and talks with community leaders, making sure they understand the process themselves. This may require several trips or only one, depending on the project. Once this is completed, the chapter writes an analysis of at least four alternatives.

This analysis cycles through each option and poses the benefits and disadvantages of each, recognizing one as the best option for implementation.

Once that is approved the chapter embarks on an engineer design process, complete with drawings, schematics and all relevant information necessary to install the system. This is a tedious process, as the report is very comprehensive and includes many small details. These documents must then be submitted to EWB-USA for evaluation. The review process is very in-depth, and includes a presentation to a group of professionals who work in the field related to the proposed project, in which they pose questions about anything that may be questionable or unclear. After approval, the chapters begin implementing the project. This could be anywhere from contracting to a group or traveling to install the project themselves.

This cycle of reports and implantation continues until the project is complete. A report must be submitted for every new installation. It is EWB-USA’s method of guaranteeing that we as chapter members are installing sustainable, robust installations that benefit the community. This way Engineers Without Borders can continue to help people improve their lives for years to come.​

Nyambogo, Tanzania Implementation Trip Documentary

Do you want to learn more about the trip that our travel team embarked on in January 2015?  EWB-UC has compiled a brief documentary that depicts many of the activities and accomplishments that the chapter completed during the implementation of Phase I for the Nyambogo Water Project.  While we did not have an opportunity to witness the first collection of water by the community in person, we cannot wait to return and view the results of our efforts.

January 2015 Nyambogo Implementation Trip

Hello everyone!

The University of Cincinnati Engineers Without Borders chapter recently returned from Tanzania in January, 2015 after completing the first phase of its water project in the village of Nyambogo.  While there, the travel team of four students and two mentors completed a variety of necessary tasks, such as configuring the storage tank arrangement, installing tapstands, and transitioning ownership of the solar-powered system to the local Water Committee.

While this blog has not been utilized in more than a year, the chapter would like to revitalize this medium as a channel for communicating with our members, partners, and donors.  Without the support of the University of Cincinnati, the Shirati Health Education & Development foundation, or our individual and corporate sponsors, the tremendous projects that our organization has developed and implemented would not be possible.  In this post, we will summarize the activities and accomplishments of our recent travels, and we would like to encourage our supports to continue visiting this blog for further updates.

January 2015 Implementation Travel Team

Our travel team, pictured above, spent seven days on the ground in Tanzania to complete the installation of our first-phase water project.  While there, the group labored diligently to cut and thread galvanized piping, measure bulkhead fittings, assemble the tapstands and manifold, and configure the entire 40,000 liter system.  On our last day in Nyambogo, Global Resource Alliance (GRA), our contracted partners, had installed the solar panels and was able to power the pump that resided more than 70 meters below the surface.  We watched as the tanks began to fill, and were able to flush water through our system and taps.

More than five years in the making, this project has been our most ambitious endeavor thus far.  With the opportunity to provide over 7,000 individuals with potable water, our chapter has allocated a tremendous amount of time and resources to transforming this vision into a reality.  More importantly, EWB-UC has been able to provide the village of Nyambogo the resources to operate and administer its new water source effectively, which has already generated income for the community.

Our intentions for this water project continue to unfurl with subsequent phases in development, concentrating on expansion and further distribution.  While our progress in the past year has been momentous, the project committee aspires to providing the most accessible resources for our partners in Nyambogo.  We have only breached the surface, and are eager for the opportunities ahead of us!

Remember to visit our website at ewb-uc.org, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ewbuc, and follow us on Twitter at @ewb_uc to receive more information about our chapter progress.  For now, thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to providing you with more exciting news!