About This Project
Engineers Without Borders at the University of Delaware (EWB-UD) is a student-run organization committed to designing and implementing sustainable solutions to problems in international low-income communities. In doing so, we bridge cultural, economic and political divides. We use our knowledge of engineering and partnership to ensure our solutions are durable and have long-term community benefits.
EWB-UD has two ongoing projects in Malawi, along with research work right here at UD.
EWB-UD continues to work in the towns of Liti, Nkagula, Mphero and Chilimani in Malawi with the aim of creating clean and accessible water sources. After a remote rehabilitation of 12 borehole wells in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has returned to our original plans, constructing new borehole wells for communities where water access is a priority. This past summer our students returned to Malawi to evaluate and monitor the wells drilled the summer before and begin assessment in a new community in the region. This summer, students will return to Malawi to drill two new borehole wells in the community of Khanda.
EWB-UD partnered with Engineers in Action to build footbridges in Bolivia. Footbridges improve access to education, farms and healthcare as well as prevent danger caused by flooding. Two years ago, students designed the bridge and built it in the community of Jatun Pampa, Bolivia. This year, our students will travel to the community of Chilimani in Malawi to assess the area and retrieve data to design a bridge for the community members and build it during the following summer.
Our Reach Out Team has been focusing on local issues and engaging with the broader Delaware community. For instance, they are leading workshops with local Girl Scouts and are in the early stages of a project with the Four Youth Foundation and the Thomas Edison Charter School in Wilmington, Delaware.
Our last team, the Research Team, was created to develop scientific solutions to global problems. In the past, we researched microbial fuel cell technology with the goal of creating small, inexpensive devices to deliver electricity to areas that do not have reliable access. Now, our team is exploring new avenues of research in order to address proper water testing in low-income countries. We also are trying to invent a cheap, easy to use water purification system for international low income communities. So far, we have seen promising results using biochar, a carbon-based material made from organic waste. This semester, we will focus on the feasibility of ceramic filters since ceramic materials are abundant in these areas.
For more information about who we are and our projects, visit our website.
How your support makes a difference!
Your gift to Engineers Without Borders at UD will support our mission by providing funding for a wide variety of costs, such as materials, travel and accommodations for students who travel for the team. Your generosity will help build sustainable futures in low-income communities around the globe. Thank you for your support!
