Established in fall 2004, Engineers Without Borders–Princeton University is a dynamic group of undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to applying their knowledge from the classroom and laboratory to address local and international challenges in a sustainable manner. Future engineers join with anthropology, economics, language, history, and Woodrow Wilson School concentrators to bring technologies and education to developing regions. From design to implementation, the projects are entirely student designed and organized, drawing on the long legacy of “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations.”
Engineers Without Borders–Princeton University provides educational opportunities in international development through EWB–USA approved engineering projects while simultaneously embodying the University’s core ideas of academic pragmatism, engaged internationalism, and educational service. EWB–Princeton not only engages undergraduate and graduate engineering students in its projects, but also involves students and faculty of all backgrounds who are seeking to learn about international development through the fields of anthropology, language, history, and cultural studies.
Engineers Without Borders–USA (EWB-USA) is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life. This partnership involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students.
The activities of EWB–USA range from the construction of sustainable systems that developing communities can own and operate without external assistance, to empowering such communities by enhancing local, technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial skills. These projects are initiated by, and completed with, contributions from the host community working with our project teams.
EWB–USA contributes to meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through capacity building in community projects. Capacity building is defined in that context as “…the building (or strengthening) of human, institutional and infrastructure capacity to help societies develop secure, stable and sustainable economies, governments and other institutions through mentoring, training, education, physical projects, the infusion of financial and other resources, and most importantly, the motivation and inspiration of people to improve their lives” (Hatch, 2004).
EWB–USA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation created under the laws of the State of Colorado, USA. EWB–USA was created in Fall 2000. EWB-USA is also a member of the Engineers Without Borders–International network.
The Princeton University chapter of Engineers Without Borders was founded in fall 2004 by Sebastien Douville ’06 and Nathan Lowery ’06 to provide opportunities for Princeton students to apply their education to international development and technology. The first project was a chapter-initiated Sanitation Facility Upgrade in Huamanzaña, Peru after fellow member Sean McGowen ’06 participated in a summer internship in the region. Since its inception, EWB–Princeton has successfully conducted five trips in to Huamanzaña, Peru, as well as three trips to Kumudo, Ethiopia; two new projects (one in Ghana and one with the Arial Home Initiative) has been started in the 2008-2009 academic year. EWB–Princeton also has a growing alumni base as students graduate and enter the workforce as engineers, anthropologists, and entrepreneurs.
