We are not teachers or transferors of technology, but instead conveyors, catalysts and facilitators. Our role is to enable local people to do their own investigations, analysis, presentations, planning and action, to own the outcome and to teach us, sharing their knowledge. (Robert Chambers, 1995)
Engineers Without Borders Australia works with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through education and the implementation of sustainable and appropriate engineering projects. To achieve its mission EWB focuses on developing the capacity of the local technical sector to ensure that innovative, appropriate and sustainable solutions to issues that impede development are locally generated and driven.
EWB values participatory development approaches and encourages its members and volunteers to see themselves as facilitators working with a community towards a self-identified objective. Projects are identified by a local association, NGO or other similar grass-roots organisations.
Growing evidence shows that the most successful development programs are ones that are community identified and where the community actively participates in shaping their own future (Brown 1993; Healey and Shaw 1993; Tacconi and Tisdell 1993). This shift in philosophy from the traditional methodology of an expert-driven approach ensures that communities do not become further weakened by a reliance on outside institutions to solve their problems.
To learn more about EWB programs click here.
