Engineers Without Borders: Changing Communities Worldwide

November 12, 2009 Drexel's chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) has a journey ahead of them as they work to make a difference across the world. EWB has taken on two projects:The Mirarmar, El Salvador water project and the Middleton, Jamaica bridge repairs.

The projects started in 2007. The EWB team traveled to Miramar, El Salvador to provide a village of 160 residents with a clean, dependable water supply and distribution system. The Miramar project started as the first mission for EWB. Thirty students planned the project with the assistance of Dr. Richard Cairncross, associate professor of CBE and Joe Mastronardo of Pennoni Associates, an engineering firm with offices in Pennsylvania and seven other states.

As the water project continued for EWB, the team also began working on their second project in Middleton, Jamaica. During the fall of 2009, EWB went to Middleton to assess the redesign and rebuild of a series of footbridges. The footbridges were damaged after Hurricane Gustav hit in 2008. EWB observed and surveyed the bridge sites and they met with the Middleton community to understand what they need built for easy transportation routes. Hurricane Gustav caused destruction to bridges that lead to schools, farmlands, markets, workplaces, health care facilities and commercial centers. For more information on EWB and their project updates, please visit the EWB website.