Engineers Without Borders: Pouring into Peru

“The goals of this trip to Samne, Peru, were to complete a full evaluation of the existing water source, to identify alternative water sources, build community relations and to initiate a safe water education program,” said Lindsay Hoggatt, chemical engineer.

The team achieved these goals through engaging the local community in a variety of ways, including community meetings and networking with various groups and local government. They also took the opportunity to conduct activities that promoted engineering and education, especially with the girls in the community.

“Lindsay, Jennifer and the Peace Corp Volunteer, Josh, hosted an activity for the girls of the community,” said Jacob Bubalo, civil engineer. “It was a chance to talk about women in engineering, all of the opportunities associated with higher education, answer questions about what engineers get to do, and how Lindsay and Jennifer got involved in engineering.”

While the team was focused on their mission to improve the water situation in Samne, they gained a great deal of professional development through the experience.

“Working with the community of Samne has taught me the importance of identifying stakeholders when working on a project,” shared Andrew Silva, chemical engineer.  “In order to successfully provide Samne with a sufficient amount of high quality drinking water, we have to understand who the customers are, what the customers’ needs are, and how to use the available resources to meet those needs.  The same skills can be used in my work at Eastman.  It is equally as important to identify stakeholders and understand their needs to be a successful engineer here.”

“I have no doubt that my leadership skills as a whole have developed immensely due to working in EWB Tri-Cities and going on this trip, and I have also learned lessons that I will be carrying with me through my assignments within Eastman,” added Lindsay.

EWB Tri-Cities will continue working with Samne to further develop solutions based on the assessments completed during their recent trip.

At Eastman, we look to invest in initiatives and partnerships, such as Engineers Without Borders, that align with our four corporate social responsibility goals: empowerment, economic development, education, and environment. We look for those opportunities that create a collective impact for our communities and stakeholders, at home and around the world. 

To learn more about Engineers Without Borders, visit www.ewb-tricities.org.