Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is an international humanitarian engineering group that serves our global neighbors in the developing world; those who need it most. They provide the basics of life such as water and shelter, using appropriate and sustainable technology. More importantly though, they help people help themselves. The unique model includes a rigorous technical and cultural assessment, community involvement, and a five-year commitment to each community served. Dedicated professionals and aspiring college students form the backbone of EWB, with invaluable help from corporations, Non-Government Organizations, and other supporters. EWB at Drexel is a great way for students to hone and apply their skills to real problems, gain unique experience and become socially and globally conscious. Students of nearly all majors are needed and welcome; business, arts, sociology, engineering, and more. The mission is to serve, but the benefits for all involved, at any level, are undeniable.
Mission
EWB's main objective is to work with disadvantaged communities worldwide to improve their quality of life. The central tenet of the organization is "to build a better world, one community at a time."
Vision
- Change that can contribute positively to communities; change that, started now, will provide new solutions over time; and change that can interrupt the cycle of poverty.
- People in host communities who define the development projects and contribute to insuring ownership, appropriateness, and long-term effectiveness; people who can solve their own problems.
- Partnerships with a broad cadre of institutional, academic, development, and engineering organizations that are willing to assist in building toward a more equitable and sustainable world.
- Sustainable projects that are symbiotic with the environment, society, and culture and build capacity for people to solve their own problems.
- Education that develops a new generation of engineers, who will benefit from seeing the many facets of engineering solutions to problems in developing communities, beyond the technical skills obtained in their basic education; and in the education of host-community partners.
- Ethics that require the highest level of integrity; ethics that promote honesty, communication, and forthright disclosure; ethics that promote human dignity, value, and respect of diversity; ethics that promote social responsibility and appropriate action; ethics that promote fairness and equitable distribution of time, effort, and resources; ethics that promote responsibility to share skills and resources; and ethics that recognize that people should not be exploited in any form whatsoever.
Nonprofit Status
Founded in 2002 in Colorado, Engineers without Borders ™ Organization (EWB-USA) is a registered non-profit 501(c)3.
Engineers Without Borders - Drexel (EWB-DREXEL) is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life. This partnership involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students.
PROJECTS
The Miramar Water Project
Drexel students, alongside faculty, professional advisors, and the people of Miramar are cooperating on design efforts and preparing for implementation of a water catchment system. With an implementation goal of Winter 2007, the Drexel EWB chapter is utilizing innovative principals of sustainable design that will address the long term needs of Miramar families.
The Jamaica Footbridge Project
The Jamaica project is an effort to redesign and rebuild a series of footbridges in Jamaica. This is a brand new project, so next steps include making a formal proposal to EWB-USA, making contacts in Jamaica, and deciding what the project goals should be.
The Sustainability Lab Project
Drexel-EWB in collaboration with Drexel Smart House is planning to convert old labs in the basement of the Alumni Engineering building into a sustainability lab. The lab will provide a space for sustainable design research, a meeting place for groups, and an environment for the open discussion of sustainable technology.
Local Outreach Projects
Drexel EWB collaborates with local organizations to participate in community service and educate the community about sustainable design.
Links
EWB-Drexel
EWB-USA
EWB-MAP
EWB-MAP: RWANDA Blog