Going Global

BY CHELSEA ROBINSON

Student group works to improve the lives of thousands with engineering projects in Guatemala

HAVE YOU FILLED UP A WATER BOTTLE TODAY? EATEN A HOT MEAL?

It was pretty quick and simple to do that in your kitchen, right? What takes you a few minutes requires hours of hard labor in places like Santa Rosa, Guatemala.

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) student group is dedicated to alleviating these issues and improving the quality of life for the people of Santa Rosa.

The Problem

Mothers of schoolchildren heave fivegallon containers of food onto inadequate stoves that can barely heat food. They spend the majority of their day inhaling smoke and straining their backs to feed groups of 100 children or more. Proper stoves typically sell for approximately $125, a month’s income in most cases, far beyond the budgets of families and even schools.

And that’s for just one meal.

Water gathering can take four or more hours a day. Travel to and from water sources includes trudging across unpaved terrain; returning, there’s up to 50 pounds of water (six gallons) strapped to one’s back. Often, dirty water is taken from surface sources.

The Solution

In spring 2017, EWB plans to install stoves in three Santa Rosa schools. After an assessment trip to the area this past summer, EWB student leaders determined they can bring the cost of a stove down by nearly $50. The community is required to invest in a portion of the cost of the stove, which has been proven to increase the ownership of the equipment and its proper maintenance.

EWB is also planning an additional water assessment trip and water implementation trip in the coming year.

The group hopes to dig and install water wells and bio-sand filters to give more people access to clean water.

The group’s work will improve the lives of hundreds of people, especially women and children who often prepare the food and collect the water.

Your Role

The trip for the stoves will cost $30,000 for travel, food, accommodations for 14

Future Plans

CEAT students plus supplies for the project. The group needs the support of loyal and true alumni and friends to reach their goal.

This group of inspirational leaders is hosting a fund-raising tailgate on Oct. 8 at the Phillips 66 Student Plaza on the OSU-Stillwater campus prior to kickoff of the OSU vs. Iowa State football game. A limited number of combo tickets that include the tailgate and the game will be available for $80; tailgate-only tickets will be $15.

The game will be streamed in the Student Excellence Center on the first floor of the Advanced Technology Research Center for those not wanting to attend the game.

To purchase tickets, email EWB public relations officer Stephen Ziske at Stephen.ziske@okstate.edu. Donations can be made at osugiving.com/EWB.

OSU’s Engineers Without Borders chapter is planning its trips for the next four years. The total for all the trips will be $135,000, and donations are welcome.

STOVE IMPLEMENTATION TRIP | $30,000

WATER WELL AND FILTERS ASSESSMENT TRIP | $25,000

MONITORING TRIP (for both trips listed above) | $30,000

POST-MONITORING TRIP (for both trips listed above) | $25,000

For more information on the student group, visit ewb-osu.okstate.edu.

CHILDREN IN SANTA ROSA WILL HAVE AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW STOVES AND WATER WELLS.

STOVES ARE INADEQUATE, REQUIRING SIGNIFICANT TIME TO HEAT FOOD. SMOKE INHALATION AND BACK STRAIN ARE ALSO PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE CURRENT STOVES.

CEAT’S ENGINEERING WITHOUT BORDERS STUDENT GROUP IS DEDICATED TO USING ENGINEERING TO IMPROVE LIVES.

IN SANTA ROSA, GUATEMALA, RESIDENTS NEED IMPROVED STOVES AND WATER WELLS.