EWB-UK Annual Report 2007-2008.pdf - Engineers Without Borders ...

Programme Area 13Appropriate TechnologiesOur placements in 2008 covered each of our six'Communities of Practice': Water, Energy, Habitat,ICT, Industry and Transport. We started to developthese communities by, for example, bringingtogether our four 2008 volunteers working onImproved Cook Stove technology with mentors andpast volunteers from similar projects. This was anenriching and supportive experience for thoseinvolved, and one that we plan to extend to othertechniques such as gravity-fed water systems,community needs assessments, and so on.Building CapacitySignificant developmentsincluded a more flexible approachto setting up placementsthroughout the year, and exploringcollaboration with other placementorganisations. We placed a studentwith Developing Technologies inJuly, for example - outside ourusual placement cycle.We signed an agreement withdisaster relief organisation RedR aspart of their Future Relief Workersscheme. That partnership is nowbuilding the capacity of theprogramme, for example bysupporting a paid part-timeadministrator. Through theFuture Relief Workers scheme, engineeringfirm MWH established two busaries for theirgraduate engineers. Two successful applicants usedthese bursariesto fund theirplacementswith us. Also,NewtonIndustrialConsultantssupported threeplacements bothfinancially andwith fieldvisits by itsconsultants.ARTI Placement, IndiaEnergy: Electricity Generationfrom Waste FoodJuly - Sep 2008. This placement ispart of an ongoing partnership withan NGO that researchesappropriate rural technologies.Placement volunteer CalumThomson, a mechanical engineeringgraduate tested anengine/generator set running on100% biogas from waste food,determining optimum parametersfor best efficiency:REDES Placement, El SalvadorHousing and Sanitation: Community Needs AssessmentJuly - Sep 2008. Ongoing partnership in a national organisation, supporting theirinfrastructure department. Caroline Cage, sixth-year architecture student andBerta Moya, third-year biochemical engineer, helped REDES with the assessmentphase of projects in communities in San Jose Villaneuva and San Sebastian:"Often NGOs providing funding for projects don't have the time or resources toinvestigate further where those with the greatest needs are. This is where I feelour project is of greatest benefit to the communities we're working in"REDES played a leading role in the ongoing reconstruction process followingdevastating earthquakes in 2001 and runs projects throughout El Salvador."The project is technicallychallenging but we have managedto get over most of the hurdles.It’s an exciting problem."Twice an Ashden Award winner,ARTI is developing ways to ways totransfer innovative technologies forrural income generation and toraise quality of life.