EWB is a national organization which focuses on using the engineering expertise of its members to help design and implement projects for communities in developing countries. The 5 person team, consisting of Prof. Bridget Wadzuk, Grad. Assistant Gerrad Jones, Rachel Jones, J.P.Gunn and Rory Kotter arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Saturday morning, Feb. 28th. We immediately ferried them off to Nairobi’s industrial area to look at pipes and that’s how it all began, finishing with their return to the airport one week later, tan, exposed to a new continent and new way of life, chapped lips from the dry, dry air, wind and dust, and bejeweled in their gifts of Maasai beadwork, hopefully ever more convinced of the urgency of bringing water to people.

We are lucky that 2 good sites were identified outside of the park boundary. In fact, both sites chosen by the Engineers without Borders team after our investigation, which included long discussions with the community, appear to have ample water to supply the community of Meshenani. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages and in the next month or two, EWB will do a design and a cost/benefit analysis for both sites. In our visit to the pipe manufacturer we found that the materials alone for a 12-16km piped water system will be $38,000. We told the community that if they decided they wanted this system that they should be prepared to contribute 20% of the projected cost (through sales of cows, fundraising) and also that they would be responsible for digging the pipeline – either to dig or to pay someone to dig. If we all decide to go ahead and we have the funding, EWB could begin the implementation in August, 2009.

Much love,

Joyce

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