Engineers Without Borders (New Zealand)

EWBNZ
Formation 2008
Website www.ewb.org.nz
Formerly called
 PULSE, CREW

Engineers Without Borders New Zealand (EWBNZ) is a not-for-profit organisation based in New Zealand which supplies aid to community projects in the form of engineering technical services. It incorporates several chapters of professional engineers in Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch as well as two student chapters, from the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland.[1]

History

The organisation was founded in early 2008 from the merging of several student groups based at the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury with similar goals of community development. The foundations of EWBNZ were laid in 2006 when a group of eight engineering students called PULSE, led by student Holly Corbett and engineer Craig Omundsen, undertook a water scheme design for World Vision in Vanuatu. The PULSE[2] group then completed an assessment programme of village-managed water schemes in Samoa in 2007. These trips inspired another group to form in 2007 called CREW[3] led by student Haydn Luckman. Their work in Samoa included collaboration with the local community to install water tanks, and design and construct a new wharf. These two groups, based in Auckland, merged along with a group from the University of Canterbury, led by student Sofian Irsheid, to come under the name "Engineers Without Borders New Zealand" (EWBNZ). "Engineers Without Borders" is a well recognised name that has been adopted by similar organisations in Australia (Engineers Without Borders Australia), Canada (Engineers Without Borders Canada) and worldwide.

EWBNZ works to achieve its mission using a three pronged approach:

1.Projects - coordinating student and professional skills in the implementation of environmentally, culturally and economically sustainable projects.

2.Awareness - raising awareness about global development issues and the roles and responsibilities of engineers.

3.Education – encouraging far-reaching education on topics related to sustainable development, appropriate technology and poverty alleviation.

EWBNZ is an incorporated society and is a registered charitable trust. It has been granted provisional registration by NZAid to its KOHA-PICD funding scheme[4]

Chapters

Auckland University Chapter (EWBNZ Auckland)

The EWBNZ University of Auckland chapter works to achieve the EWB Mission with a combination of projects[5] and awareness programmes. Since the beginning of 2008, they have engaged in projects in Tonga[6] and Vanuatu.[7]

University of Canterbury Chapter

The University of Canterbury chapter was established in 2008, and is based at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.

Professional Chapter (EWBNZ Professionals)

The professional chapter was established in late 2008 with a core working group organising a committee and formulating the chapter goals. The chapter was formally launched on 11 March 2009. It is different from the university chapters in that its base is professionals (mainly practicing engineers), who range from graduates to chartered professional engineers with several years of experience. With this broad range of expertise the chapter is able to apply its members to a wide range of engineering work.

EWB In-Schools

The EWB in-schools programme works to educate school students on issues facing humanity and also develop and interest in engineering and sustainable development. Volunteers partner with local schools and are able to come into classrooms to run workshops with students.

EWB Design Challenge

The EWB Design Challenge is a competition run annually at universities nationwide, including the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, University of Canterbury and Massey University focusing on fostering an appreciation of real problems faced by communities by providing real-world situations. It is generally run as a part of a first year Engineering Design paper, and involves all first year students. Since 2009, it has been run in conjunction with EWB Australia's Design Challenge[8] and has focused on communities within places such as the Mekong Delta in Vietnam (2013) and the Gorkha District in Nepal (2015).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Engineers Without Borders NZ
  2. ↑ World Vision article about the first Pulse project on Tanna Island
  3. ↑ Radio New Zealand article on CREW, 16 September 2007
  4. ↑ NZ Aid PMC Update 2008
  5. ↑ Article on Scoop.co.nz on the Tonga Biogas Digester Project - 17 March 2009
  6. ↑ Engineers Without Borders assist Tonga with biogas solution, 3 April 2009
  7. ↑ Engineering students design infrastructure in Vanuatu, 27 June 2008
  8. ↑ "EWB Challenge". www.ewbchallenge.org. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
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