Bolivia – Uraqueni Water Project

Location: The Uraqueni Water Project is located in the villages of San Nicolás, Villa de Oropeza, and Cobol. The villages are located in a rocky, mountainous area on the outskirts of Cochabamba, Bolivia, which itself is located in the high plateau area of southern Bolivia, and has a population of approximately 500,000. Community Details: Most of the residents of the …

El Salvador – Colonia Esmeralda Water Supply Project

Location: The Colonia Esmerelda Water Supply project is located in El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America. The community is in the southeastern region of the country’s capitol San Salvador along the hillside of the San Jacinto neighborhood. Community Details: The community consists of approximately 85 households and 430 total residents. All residents are native Salvadorans and most commonly …

Ethiopia – Weledi Community Sanitation Project (Transferred)

Location: Weledi, Amhara, Ethiopia Approximately 205 miles (330 km) from the capital city of Addis Ababa, located near the Rift Valley, in the highlands of north central Ethiopia. Community Details: The village of Weledi has a population of 200 families with another 5,000 people living in 18 villages within a 20 km radius. Weledi serves as the major hub for …

Global – COVID-19 Response Efforts

While the global pandemic impacts communities across the globe, the EWB-USA Central Houston Professional Chapter has also taken action to assist during this pandemic. Below are the summary of the ways EWB-USA Central Houston Professional Chapter is trying to help and how you can help as well. EWB-USA National Effort Support EWB-USA was working to establish a low cost means …

India – Andhra Pradesh Tsunami Relief Project

Project Summary The India Project was one of EWB-Central Houston’s longest-ongoing efforts. On December 26, 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a tsunami that hit the coastal regions of South Asia. In Andhra Pradesh, India, a five meter high wave pushed over two kilometers; destroying houses, ruining wells, and taking out entire fishing fleets. Engineers Without Borders …

Kenya – Maseno Water Project

Project Summary: The Maseno Mission Hospital Water and Power Project is located in Western Kenya and involved providing a long-term supply of clean water to a small hospital.  Prior to the project, the 75-bed hospital’s primary water source was often the muddy supply of municipal water, which is irregularly provided. The hospital sometimes went months without water. Their only alternative was a …

Mexico – Puerta de Aguilar Water Project

LOCATION: Puerta de Aguilar, Nuevo León, Mexico Approximately 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Matehuala, and 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Doctor Arroyo. COMMUNITY DETAILS: Puerta de Aguilar sits in a valley surrounded by mountains which provide rainwater runoff for drinking water. This runoff water is contaminated with bacteria, a major public health hazard. The majority of the villagers …

Nicaragua – Bernardino-Diaz Ochoa Energy & Water Project

Project Summary The Bernardino-Diaz Ochoa project was a collaboration with the EWB-USA Rice University Student Chapter. The community is a subsistence farming community that had made ends meet despite the lack of electricity or access to clean water. With the nearest health clinic a two-hour drive from the town, most members of this community received little or no health care …

Rwanda – Mugonero Water and Agriculture Program

LOCATION: Hospital Mugonero and L’Espérance Children’s Village (Orphanage), Karongi, Rwanda Approximately 33.5 miles (54 km) south of Rubavu, and 55 miles (89 km) southwest of Kigali. COMMUNITY DETAILS: In a small chapel, on the grounds of a missionary hospital overlooking the Congo and sparkling Lake Kivu, 3,000 people were massacred in 1994. The Mugonero community still struggles with rebuilding after …

South Africa – Bergnek Clean Water Project

LOCATION: Bergnek Community, Polokwane Municipal Area, Limpopo Province, South Africa COMMUNITY DETAILS: Bergnek is a community of roughly 3,500 people. The village was founded after the farmers in the surrounding area were displaced by the Land Reform Act of 1996 and moved to the Bergnek village. In the community there is some water supply via a well to the community …

Thailand – Yom Maejanoi Water Project

LOCATION: Yom Maejanoi, Mae Hong Son, Thailand Approximately miles (950 km) N of Bangkok, close proximity to the Myanmar border. COMMUNITY DETAILS: Yom, or “Village”, Maejanoi is comprised of people whom have moved down from the upper mountain region, with a majority being a part of the Karen tribe. The village is considered centralized, as all homes are within walking …

Uganda – Bukhaweka Water Project

Project Summary Kizito Michael Waburoko, an optometrist from the Ugandan community of Bukhaweka (est. population 2000) requested help from EWB-CHPC in late 2007. As the Executive Director of the Bukhaweka Vocational Training Centre (BVTC), Kizito sought assistance to provide clean water and electricity for his community and students. In his words, “Water is life. Without knowledge in computers you are …

USA – Spirit Lake Community Center Project, North Dakota

Location: The Spirit Lake Reservation is located in east – central North Dakota on the southern shores of Devils Lake. The closest cities are Minot and Fargo, North Dakota. Community Details: The Spirit Lake Tribe is a Native American tribe with approximately 4,300 members living on the reservation. Project Summary: This project is with the Spirit Lake Tribe in North …