NE WSLE T TERSPRING 2016 EDITION

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EWB-USA hosted an international conference this March 17-19 in Denver, Colorado. The conference brought together NGO, volunteer, academic, and industry sectors to engage in dialogue on our collective roles in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Our chapter brought 16 representatives to the conference, and we were the most well-represented chapter at the event!

PREMIER PROJECT AWARDINTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

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PREMIER PROJECT AWARDINTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

The EWB Cal Poly Malawi Team won Premier Project Award from Engineers Without Borders-USA for their bicycle-powered maize mill. Cal Poly was one of two student chapters out of more than 200 nationwide to receive the award. The team designed the mill for residents of Kumponda, Malawi, who face a limited growing season and other food production challenges. In order to grind maize into flour to make nsima, a regional food staple, villagers must travel hours by foot twice a month to use a costly electric maize mill that is also unreliable due to power outages. The student-designed bicycle powered mill makes maize production more economical and reliable.

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PREMIER CHAPTER SPRING BANQUET-ALUMNI WEEKEND

Our chapter was named the Premier West Coast Regional student chapter for the sixth consecutive year. Being named premier chapter out of about 40 other chapters in our region is a great honor. We are very thankful for being recognized as a chapter that has demonstrated excellence in organization, fundraising and public relations, engagement in mentor/mentee relationships and chapter and regional participation.

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On May 29, 2016 from 6-8pm, our chapter will be hosting our Spring Banquet in San Luis Obispo. Spring Banquet is an annual event to honor our graduating seniors and celebrate the progress our chapter has made this year. The event also coincides with our first Alumni Weekend. Included in the newsletter is our Save the Date for the event. Event details will be emailed by the end of the month. We look forward to celebrating the year with you!

PREMIER CHAPTER SPRING BANQUET-ALUMNI WEEKEND

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This past December, the Malawi team traveled to implement a bicycle-powered Maize Mill. They worked together with the community to construct the project with materials found in country in order to make it sustainable and replicable for the future. Although much of the maize mill was built, the team encountered some challenges that caused them to dedicate both winter and spring quarters to improving the design. They plan to travel this summer to complete the implementation phase of the project. Additionally, they will look into the possibility of pursuing a project regarding energy after the final completion of the maize mill.

MALAWI TEAM THAILAND TEAM

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MALAWI TEAM THAILAND TEAM

The Thailand team has recently partnered with Pa Kloi, a rural community near the Myanmar border in northern Thailand. After completing water quality and organic composting projects in Huai Nam Khun, the Thailand team connected with Pa Kloi and is currently working to improve access to electricity through an improvement of their solar array and distribution system, which will be assessed in June and implemented in December 2016.

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NICARAGUA TEAM INDIA TEAM

The Nicaragua team recently returned from a successful monitoring trip for its public elementary school project. Now, the team is beginning a water distribution project for a rural community with only one centrally located well. The team is currently researching water distribution and filtration solutions and plans to begin a detailed design and prototype in the near future. The new project may also incorporate water filtration depending on the results of water quality testing that the team will conduct on an assessment trip this summer.

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NICARAGUA TEAM INDIA TEAM

Since 2010, the EWB Cal Poly India team has been working to improve sanitation in the community of Sainji, located in the Northern India, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, and inhabited by Jaunpuri subsistence farmers. The India team is working in collaboration with the Garhwal Organization for the Upliftment of the Needy, a local Non-Governmental Organization, to implement a four stage wastewater treatment system. During 2015, the team traveled to Sainji twice to construct the sand filter tank, resurvey the project site, and bolster community ownership.

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LOCAL PROJECTS TEAM IMPACT

Local Projects is currently working to build an eco-friendly and efficient restroom facility for Camp Natoma, which is part of Camp Fire USA. It is located just outside Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County, California. This is a summer camp for kids K-12. This past year, the team collected soil samples and are currently researching for different types of possible foundations and graywater systems. This restroom facility will use a graywater system while using as little electricity as possible, primarily relying on sky lights and the architecture of the building to provide light. The team is planning on having a trip to the campsite this quarter to do an assessment trip on soil, water, and surveying.

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LOCAL PROJECTS TEAM IMPACT

Alongside international and local projects, Engineers Without Borders also strives to improve the local community. IMPACT is a two weekend long volunteer event which encourages Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff to think globally and act locally. From helping out at the humane society to playing games with senior citizens or volunteering at the bike kitchen, hundreds of IMPACT volunteers come together to form a better relationship between Cal Poly and the surrounding Central Coast community. Over the past three years of this event, 1200 volunteers contributed more than 6500 hours of service! IMPACT 2016 will be held the first two weekends in May and plans to involve even more volunteers than year previous!

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