Last month, five University of Idaho engineering students and a faculty advisor traveled to Challcha, Bolivia, to improve the small community’s sanitation needs.
The students built three latrines and gained experience working on a project as part of an overseas humanitarian effort funded by Idaho donors.
The students are a part of the Humanitarian Engineering Corps, a student-run club focused on using practical skills to help local and international communities. The Humanitarian Engineering Corps worked with an organization in Bolivia and community members to assess the needs of the small community of Challcha.
The Humanitarian Engineering Corps made thorough preparations in club meetings prior to their departure, said UI civil engineering senior Olivia Haener. They hired two masons and had a local contact who prepared the materials needed for building the latrines.
“We did the calculations on what size the latrines would be, how much concrete we would need, how many bricks and a cost estimate,” Haener said. “It was really interesting to see how things change from the conceptual stage to the physical.”
Since the inception of the club in 2012, the Humanitarian Engineering Corps has had an emphasis on providing humanitarian help in Bolivia, the least developed country in South America. Previous projects the Humanitarian Engineering Corps worked on in Bolivia were related to water, including the building and distribution of well systems.
“The families were very grateful for the help,” Haener said. “Community members would help us after they were done with their work for the day. When the kids got out of school, they would also come help, which was really cute. One time they helped us gather rocks to build a foundation and were very happy to help.”
“[The trip] made me reflect on the concept of humanitarian service and the value of it,” said civil engineering Associate Professor Mike Lowry, the faculty advisor who also went on the trip. “There is a balance between looking for opportunities like this that are exciting for students and donors and balancing that by doing service locally.”
The Humanitarian Engineering Corps also does service in Moscow, including events with the Idaho Food Bank, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and work for the City of Moscow’s trail systems.
“Even if you do not go on an international trip, there are lots of ways to help whatever community you are in. I recommend others to join the Humanitarian Engineering Corps if they want to help,” Haener said.
Students of any discipline can join the Humanitarian Engineering Corps and more information can be found online. Weekly meetings are held to prepare for overseas humanitarian trips, local volunteering projects, and fundraising events.
Georgia Swanson can be reached at [email protected]