Engineers Without Borders - Peru Water Conservation Project
the problem:
In a small town at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Peru called Huamanzaña, subsistence farmers labor tirelessly from early in the morning until the sunset earning a meager $2 a day. Unfortunately, their geographical location combined with corruption in local governments has prevented much needed funding and aid for new infrastructure from reaching the inhabitants. Needless to say, their standards of living are far from that of the average American or even that of the average Peruvian. Until recently, they lived without plumbing, electricity, or even a constant supply of water, and in these conditions, issues of need can become issues of health. For instance, a lack of education was responsible for the practice of unventilated cooking indoors, which could lead to serious respiratory issues. Likewise, the lack of constant running water prevents the villagers from addressing hygiene concerns, and the resulting practice of stockpiling water during the on hours of the day in buckets outside presents another health hazard, as still water is great for breeding insects and spreading disease. These are just a few examples of the issues that our group has been trying to resolve.
vital stats:
people impacted:
140people involved:
50why it's important:
While I have always known that there were people in need around the world, I have never before been able to experience it firsthand. On my travels with Engineers without Borders over the summer, I could see how easily a few hundred dollars here or there could have a real sustainable impact on these peoples’ lives. Through the projects that our chapter and other chapters have completed, people in need have not only been able to benefit from the immediate impact of the new technology brought to them, but also from new ideas and better education regarding health and environmental issues. The children in particular become equipped with knowledge that their parents were denied when they were young, and as a result are more aware of their own health and of their surroundings. On the other side of things, the students who participate in running these projects have all benefited greatly from the experience. In particular, valuable real world problem solving experience is something that’s so rare to come upon as a student; yet, the task of working with a community for a solution that works for them as well as you requires a ton of it. Once graduated, all of our members are much more prepared for getting involved with service projects around the world. For instance, one recent graduate and former project manager is now helping start locally run small businesses in the area.
the plan of action:
The various projects that we have completed have had a great impact on Huamanzaña’s community of 140 people. The first of our projects, the communal bathrooms, provided the school children with bathrooms and sinks to use, and improved hygiene and health. Another year, we installed solar panels so that the town could have electricity to power vital items, such as cell phones that the villagers can now rely on in case of a crisis or medical emergency. Clean stove systems were also designed, and a community outreach program was designed to mitigate the effects of the health hazard associated with burning fuels. Most recently, in the past year, we revamped their old broken water system which was only providing water for 3 to 4 hours of the day, and installed a new system that could provide running water for 10 to 12 hours a day. In addition, we installed personal water taps in every home so that the families could have a sense of individual responsibility for the maintenance of the current system. Unfortunately, while the technical infrastructure is essentially done, delays and various conditions prevented us from completing the second part of our project this last summer. So for the current project, we plan to design education curriculum for the adults of the community as well as the children in order to improve water conservation practices in hopes of easing the burden on the water system. In addition, we will teach the community more about maintaining the system and the principals explaining the need for responsible water conservation in daily life. Hopefully then, they will have a sustainable water source that will meet all of their demands. Eventually, when we feel that there are no more immediate concerns in Huamanzaña, we will spread our projects to other local communities in the area as well
how you can get involved:
For College students, it can be very easy to join your local chapter of Engineers without Borders to participate in similar projects worldwide, and non-engineers are welcomed if not desired for the group. For those whose schools do not have existing chapters, it can be possible to form your own and start a new project.
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