Working with Communities

EWB works in partnership with developing communities both within Australia and overseas, assisting them to gain access to the knowledge, resources and appropriate technologies they need to improve their livelihoods.

We focus on developing the capacity of the local technical sector through small scale, grassroots engineering programs to ensure that innovative, appropriate and sustainable solutions to issues that impede development are locally generated and driven. We believe it is essential to work in partnership with local communities and complimentary development organisations to achieve environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically viable solutions.

Some common issues facing the communities we work with include access to drinking water, sanitation, energy, basic infrastructure, waste systems, Information Communication Technology and engineering education.

Learning & Change

We also aim to educate Australian engineers and the wider community on issues of sustainable development, appropriate technology, poverty and the plight of disadvantaged people around the world. EWB was created in 2003 out of the passion of young engineers who wanted to make a difference using their engineering skills and resources.

EWB brings together engineering students, young graduates, experienced engineers and even non engineers as a team to help solve basic, small scale engineering problems faced by many people in need. The objective of EWB is not only to contribute to new and ongoing development projects, but also provide development training and experience for Australians.

In Australia our activities include workshops, lectures, fundraisers, discussion groups, seminars and a national conference. These are organised by EWB to engage our members in the mission and values of the organisation, and to gather support for the organisation. Much of the work of EWB is performed through its chapters which are generally university, company or geographically based.