Introduction
Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a non-profit organization seeking to "build a better world through engineering projects that empower communities to meet their basic human needs and equip leaders to solve the world’s most pressing challenges." Since it´s initiation in 2004, the Michigan Tech Chapter (EWB-MTU) of EWB-USA has held projects in Honduras, Bolivia, Guatemala, and Panama, and has received multiple chapter awards from EWB-USA for it´s work in those countries. EWB-MTU has current teams working in Guatemala and Panama with work developing for an additional domestic project team.
The Panama team of EWB-MTU is working with the community of La Esperanza to design an adequate water distribution system that will supply potable water to households of the recently formed community. The team has been working closely with community leaders, Footprint Possibilities (NGO), IDAAN (the Panama district municipal water supplier), and government officials to complete a design and secure necessary supplies.
Panama Team Current Members
- Travis Durgan
- Brian Parvin
- Lauren Kirkconnell
- Tyler Wittmann
- Marlena Daniels
- Samuel Byrne
- Corrina Kostrzewa
- Kara Jelly
- Jacob Erickson
Site Assessments
August 2016
| Total Population | 1142 |
| Pipe Access | 56% |
| Drink Current Water | 45% |
| Average Poverty (1-5) | 2.2 |
| Have Latrine | 62% |
| Average Children/Home | 2.0 |
| School-aged Children in School | >88% |
| Average Household Size | 4.0 |
| Have Water Storage | 43% |
In August of 2016 a group of six traveled to Panama for the first project assessment trip. The purpose of this trip was to gain a better understanding of the problems within La Esperanza and view the current partially functioning distribution system in order to assess the need for a project. The EWB-MTU team met with community leaders as well as all available residents. A large goal of the first assessment was to collect census data about the community and establish a working relationship with the community members. The census data was largely used to estimate population. It should be noted that the census data was incomplete because many residents weren’t home, so for further calculations the average household size (4.02 people) was used for all unknown values. Panama national population growth data was used to estimate the 10-year growth rate to be approximately 13%. The census data collected can be seen in Table 1.
Using the geografic software ArcGIS along with compatible cell phones, the travel team recorded the census data, each home location, and a photo of every home within the community. Multiple community meetings were held in order to boost awareness of the project and form the relationship between the MTU team and the members of La Esperanza. Meetings were also held with the City Planner assigned to La Esperanza and the Vice Governor of the Provence of Panamá which includes Panama City and it´s surroundings. Seeing that La Esperanza is located just outside of Panama City and in a Panama Canal no-build zone, the MTU team realized after this first trip that government involvement and coordination would be crucial for project success. From these meetings a relationship was formed with the Governor´s Office, City Planning maps for La Esperanza were secured, and an understanding of the current land title situation between the governement and the members of La Esperanza was gained.
January 2017
Design Progress
Sustainability Goals
Engineers Without Borders as a worldwide organization holds the sustainability of its projects at a high level of importance. In order to ensure that the new distribution system being implemented with La Esperanza is maintained and benefits the community for future generations, the EWB-MTU chapter will continue to support the community in this specific project for a minimum of five years. This includes encouraging the presence of a continued Water Committee made up of community members, education on the new system and it's upkeep, and investigation into future projects based on community need. The ultimate goal of the project is to leave the community of La Esperanza as the owners and knowledgeable caretakers of the new water distribution system.