What is EWB's goal?
EWB seeks to have lasting and meaningful impact, helping to improve the lives of people in developing communities. We hope to become a role model within the NGO community regarding the quality of people that we attract, our thoughtfulness on development, our professionalism and our passion. We hope that our alumni will be found in leadership positions around the world - in development, in business, in government, in academia and elsewhere. Ultimately, we hope that we will work ourselves out of a job within our lifetime.
Why is EWB needed?
One of the most pressing issues facing humanity today is to world poverty and the challenge of how to improve people's quality of life around the world. This dilemma has been recently expressed through the Millennium Development Goals. These goals include, among others, halving the 3 billion poor people who live on less than $2 per day, halving the 800 million who are hungry, and halving the 1 billion who don't have access to safe water.
First, developing communities require improved access to appropriate technologies such as water filters, pumps, irrigation techniques, and renewable energy. For these technologies to be lasting, the local technical sector needs to develop the capacity to produce innovative, appropriate and sustainable solutions for their community’s needs.
Second, we in the Australia need to ensure that our lifestyles, the policies of our government and the operations of our companies do not contribute to the problem or pose excessive barriers against the development of less fortunate communities. Engineers Without Borders addresses this need by energising its members to promote human development, help build technical capacity in disadvantaged communities, and encouraging pro-development social change in Australia.
Humanitarian assistance or disaster relief?
The images of people suffering from disasters, protracted hardship or victims of conflicts are heart-wrenching. Our immediate reaction is to help in any way we can. And there is no doubt that engineering skills are useful in such situations - finding access to water for new refugee camps, setting up temporary housing, arranging logistics and other tasks. There is also a strong argument that the involvement of westerners in disaster relief is more clear-cut than in development, as there is a tremendous time factor - if there is no provision made for water and sanitation in a refugee camp, disease will soon break out.
All that would lead to the idea that EWB would naturally get involved in humanitarian assistance or disaster relief. Moreover, our name further suggests that, like Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders, we will work in this area.
EWB focuses on the challenges of long-term development. If the principle of disaster relief is speed – to rapidly react to emergencies as they arise, then the principle of development is patient capacity building. To involve local partners and communities fully, to act as a catalyst, sharing knowledge and helping them gain access to the resources they need.
Engineers interested in international aid should think about the distinction between the two types of work. While both are driven by good intentions, and both take place in developing countries, they require very different skills. For disaster relief: decisiveness, resourcefulness, and calmness under pressure. For development: humility, patience, soft skills, and a long-term commitment to the community in which you work.
What is the situation with EWB's in other countries?
The idea of Engineers Without Borders - tapping into the engineering profession to help in development - is not revolutionary, nor is the name. As a result there are a number of organisations with similar mandates in many countries.
These include:
- Engineers Without Borders - NZ
- Engineers Without Borders - UK
- Engineers for a Sustainable World USA – formally EWF - USA
- Engineers Without Borders - USA
- Engineers Without Borders - Canada
- Ingeniería Sin Fronteras (Spain)
- Ingénieurs Sans Frontières - France
- Ingenjörer och Naturvetare utan Gränser-Sverige (EWB-Sweden)
- Ingegneria Senza Frontiere, Italia (Italy)
- Ingeniører uden Grænser (Denmark)
- Ingénieurs Sans Frontières - Ingénieurs Assistance Internationale (ISF-Belgium)
As well as a number of others starting up that are not mentioned here. Each of these organisations is legally independent and there is no formal affiliation among them. There are, however, a number of informal affiliations. In the past, EWB Australia’s president has visited a number of EWB organisations around the globe and has attended EWB conferences in the USA and Canada. This has led to sharing views and experiences and learning from one another.
Each organisation has different mission statements, development beliefs, areas of operations, expertise, ambitions, and experience. As we continue to build an organisation in Australia that does exemplary development, we will share our experiences and approach with others informally.
How does EWB select projects or partners?
The most important step in ensuring sustainable projects that have impact is setting them up: the right partner, the right project, the right level of community empowerment in the right community. EWB Australia evaluates all potential projects itself or uses qualified development professionals to provide the analysis.
How do I volunteer overseas with EWB?
To volunteer with EWB, you will need to apply for one of our vacancies. You will also need to demonstrate that you meet the personal attributes required of all EWB volunteers.
Most positions require you to have a qualification and relevant professional experience, however all applications are welcomed and encouraged by students, graduates and professionals.
To learn more about our placements & where we work click here.
What approach does EWB use in projects?
EWB’s work overseas – both our philosophy and specific operations –is guided by four questions.
a) What are a community’s / region’s assets and needs?
b) How might different appropriate technologies help meet their needs?
c) Why doesn't the community have sustainable access to this technology?
d) How can Engineers Without Borders help the community gain access to this technology?
Our goal is to act as a catalyst to initiate a sustainable solution to the root cause of the problem. Therefore, we aim to integrate our work into the larger context of the challenges facing a community or region. We determine success through the long term impact that we have on the community.
learn more about our Development Philosophy
Is there a role for non-engineers in EWB projects?
Technology is only one component of development, and as such EWB needs people with a variety of backgrounds. The only criterion for our projects is that there will always be an engineering component. We place volunteers from a wide range of occupations, including engineers, architects, planners, project managers.
Furthermore, roles occasionally are required from non-technical backgrounds including community development, education, sciences, social services and others are all welcome to apply.
How long are your overseas assignments?
Each assignment has a specified period, which has been determined by the partner organisation and EWB as being adequate for completing the work involved. Shorter assignments are useful for conducting reviews, completing discrete projects, or identifying areas for training and future improvement.
How does EWB raise funds?
The success of EWB is critically dependent on the support of individuals, foundations and corporations through their generous donations and inkind support which enables us to undertake the work that we do.
How does EWB spend its funding?
To see a breakdown of our income, expenditure and leveraging ratio, please go to our latest Annual Report.
How can I donate on a regular basis?
You can join easily EWB's monthly donor program. You can decide how much you would like to donate to EWB each month and your preferred method of payment.
I'm still at university, how can I get involved?
The best way to get involved is to firstly become a member, you can sign up as a member online by clicking here. As a member you receive monthly updates on what EWB is up to and the different opportunities available to get involved.
The next step is to join your local chapter. Chapters bring together EWB members who wish to act as a group, having regular meetings, events, and working on projects together. Chapters are usually university, company or geographically based. EWB also offer short term volunteer placements for university students within Australia and overseas to accommodate university timetables; please keep an eye on our volunteers page.
Does EWB offer internships for University students?
Our most asked question! If we do have an internship opportunity within EWB it will be advertised on our website and also in our monthly newsletter. Click here to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter.
If you’re a student looking for an experience overseas – check out our DEE program here.
Is there an EWB chapter near me?
To see if there is a university, company or geographically based EWB chapter in your local area, please visit our Chapter listing. There you will also find contact information for each chapter.
What is the EWB Challenge?
The Engineers Without Borders Australia Challenge (EWB Challenge) is an Australasian design program for first-year university students. Students work in teams to develop conceptual designs for sustainable development that contribute towards real international development projects.
The program is based on real and inspiring sustainable development projects from EWB's growing list of past and present programs. Each year, the EWB Challenge design brief will be inviting students to tackle a new range of projects identified by EWB in conjunction with its community development program partners.
Visit the EWB Challenge website to learn more about the program, student projects and awards: www.ewb.org.au/ewbchallenge