Engineers Without Borders holds first Run to Build 5K
Money raised will support clean water projects in Uganda
McKelvey Engineering student-led group Engineers Without Borders (EWB) held its first Run to Build 5K Saturday, Oct. 17, on the Danforth Campus, to support its ongoing clean water projects in Uganda.
“The event was a fun way to spend time with friends, burn off stress during midterm season, and, most importantly, support a good cause,” said Jana El Abiad, co-promotional resources chair for EWB.
EWB partners with communities to improve quality of life through environmentally sustainable, equitable and economically appropriate engineering projects. The group’s goals for this year are ambitious.
At the Bulubandi Primary School in Iganga, Uganda, EWB is working to improve conditions for more than 2,300 students facing significant water access challenges by designing and implementing a motorized water distribution system, which will pump water from a nearby borehole to elevated tanks and distribute it throughout campus buildings.
In addition, EWB is confronting challenges at the Omoana House, a residential care facility in Jinja, Uganda, run in partnership with St. Francis Health Care Services, which focuses on rehabilitating HIV positive and malnourished children and reintegrating them into society. Plans include developing a solar-powered irrigation system to support food production, as well as a clean water supply system. EWB’s St. Francis team traveled to Jinja over winter break to begin work on the irrigation system and connect with the surrounding community.
“Both the St. Francis and Bulubandi project teams aim to complete their respective projects and travel to Uganda for post-implementation testing and to meet the community members they've been working alongside,” she said.
Other initiatives will have impact closer to home.
“We are also starting local projects in St. Louis, such as a hydroponics project for a local community garden,” she said.
El Abiad was responsible for driving participation in the 5K event through various channels, including social media, and for reaching out to other running clubs at WashU and the surrounding community. She says the group was pleased with the turnout for the event.
“Despite the chilly morning, the crowd was lively, energetic and passionate about EWB and our mission,” she said.
While EWB’s technical work is accomplished by engineering students across various disciplines, the group welcomes students from all majors and backgrounds. Students interested in learning more about EWB can follow the group on Instagram at @ewbwashu or email Jana El Abiad at e.jana@wustl.edu.
Those interested in supporting the group can learn more about donating on the EWB website.
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