Link for Health

The Wisconsin Professional Partners Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-WPP) has approximately 175 members and is currently working on Guatemalan projects independently, and with four universities in the area:  The Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), Marquette University (MU), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), and Michigan Technological University (MTU). 

EWP-WPP is currently working on bridge projects in the Departments of Chimaltenango and Quiche.  These projects are completed in partnership with local communities and NGOs.

• El Aguacate:  EWB-WPP is partnering with the community of El Aguacate (in the Joyabaj municipality, Guatemala), to rebuild a bridge. The previous bridge was built in 1987 to provide El Aguacate and the four surrounding communities access to the surrounding area where they had been previously cut off by a river. The bridge lasted until about four years ago when it began to fail. For a few years the village used tree trunks to provide additional structural support, although the trunks usually washed away during the rainy season. Now, however, the bridge is in such disrepair that it is unsafe to cross, even with the additional support.  This bridge is of particular concern because it is the only way in or out for five communities during the rainy season. During the dry season, the communities are able to put in a temporary bridge further upstream. For the other five months, however, the community is cut off from larger markets, medical care and education.
• Rio Chiquito: EWB-WPP has been solicited by the communities of Rio Chiquito and Joyabaj (Guatemala) to provide a bridge design that will replace the existing structure connecting the City of Joyabaj to the northern regions of the Joyabaj municipality. The existing bridge is inadequate to safely carry any loads greater than that of automobile and pedestrian traffic. The new bridge will span the Rio Chiquito between the Village of Rio Chiquito and the City of Joyabaj and will be designed to safely carry automobile, truck, bus and pedestrian traffic. As a result, the new bridge will better connect the northern regions of the municipality with the city of Joyabaj and also allow for the development of a bus route. The bus route will provide increased access to medical care and education for the villagers of the northern region.

EWP-WPP is working with the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) on the following projects in Quiché:

• Tres Cruses I:   MSOE and WPP will cooperate on the Tres Cruces I bridge project in eastern Joyabaj municipality in early 2010. EWB-WPP is planning to do excavation and foundation work during their January 2010 trip (while also constructing the bridge at El Aguacate). EWB-MSOE will then complete the structure during late February and early March 2010. The cast-in-place, reinforced concrete T-beam bridge will have a single span of approximately 25 feet, with a clear height of approximately 10 feet. The student group and their mentors from WPP are now completing the hydro design so the structural design can be done during September and October. The municipality of Joyabaj, with which EWB-WPP and EWB-MSOE have completed several bridge projects, identified the Tres Cruces I bridge as one of their top priorities. It will eliminate a two-hour detour between villages at the east end of the municipality and the city of Joyabaj during the rainy season.
• Electrical System: An elementary school in Quiche, Guatemala has been surveyed and MSOE students and professional mentors are working together to design a solar system that will provide electrical power for the school. The electricity will power lights, a refrigerator, and appliances. The system is scheduled to be implemented in March 2010.

The chapter is working with Marquette University (MU) on the following projects in Chimaltenango and Quiché:

• La Garrucha, Guatemala:  A 26km water (spring fed) supply project, designed with a 2000 person capacity for the village of La Garrucha with a current population of approximately 1200.  Funding for this project is complete and construction is nearing completion.  This project was a 2008 Marquette University Civil Engineering Senior Design project.
• La Nueva Providencia, San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala:  Electrification project with elements of solar and hydroelectric power. Currently, the most active MU project, the solar system to power the school and community center for the village of La Nueva Providencia has been completed. The hydroelectric system has been started, and will be completed over the next implementations trips. Fund raising for the hydroelectric element of this project is in progress, but not all the necessary funds have been secured. The greatest challenge with this project is the extreme poverty of the community, which has lead to difficulty determining a source of funds for the long-term maintenance and operation of the hydroelectric project.

The chapter is working with University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) on the following project in El Quiché:

The potable water distribution and sanitation project in Quejchip, Guatemala, Phase II was finished in July. The project team built a chlorinator at the distribution tank and ran approximately 4 kilometers of buried PVC pipe to 48 houses. Tap stands were built for each household. A village teacher along with the UWM team presented a Health and Hygiene education program for both kids and adults. A Latrine and Hand Washing Station was also built for the elementary school.

The chapter is planning a corn grinder and cane press project with Michigan Technological University (MTU) in Fronterizo/Nueva Libertad, Huehuetenango.

To learn more about the Wisconsin Chapter of EWB, please visit their website, LinkedIn page, or Facebook page.  To read about EWB-USA, please click here.