Engineers Without Borders

The University of Idaho student chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) envisions a world in which the communities we serve have the capacity to sustainably meet their basic human needs, and that our members have enriched global perspectives through the innovative professional educational opportunities that the EWB-USA program provides.

Why should you be involved?
EWB Members at the University of Idaho benefit from opportunities to:

• Volunteer locally through organized community service events on the Palouse.
• Design real solutions that will be used to help the Chiwirapi community in Bolivia.
• Provide basic human needs to people in developing countries by working with the community to build a sustainable infrastructure.
• Connect with a community that supports conservation and sustainability by attending EWB-USA conferences and webinars.

Members participate in many service activities including the Saturday of Service, and local Habitat for Humanity projects, attend regional Engineers Without Borders Conferences, as well as several fundraising activities to support the potable water distribution system project that will be designed and implemented for the community of Chiwirapi in Bolivia.

This community has a basic electric system that feeds only a few homes. It currently does not have a working potable water distribution system. Their main water source is a river that runs through the town. Unfortunately the river is downstream from the main town of Bolivar; which means it is contaminated, and the people in the community have no way of purifying it aside from boiling the water. Due to the fact that Chiwirapi is located close to a river with seasonal flow, access to the community is extremely limited during the rainy season (October - March).

The mission is to improve the quality of life of the families of Chiwirapi. The greatest need is access to clean potable water in order to reduce Water Born Diseases. According to the WHO, diarrheal disease is the 3rd leading cause of death in Bolivia, and is a result largely of drinking contaminated water.

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EWB Student Leadership:

Nathan Suhr | President
Chemical Engineering Junior
"Engineers Without Borders is a unique and fantastic opportunity to take what we are taught in school and use it in simple ways to dramatically affect the lives of people who are without basic human needs, such as water and sanitation."