What Do We Do?

The goal of Engineers Without Borders is to empower communities to meet basic needs through projects ranging from clean water to elementary education. We use engineering and construction techniques to build infrastructure projects at scale in 4 countries with 4 teams.

Ecuador

Our Ecuador team established a new water system project with a community partner in Santa Rosa! This July, our team traveled for their assessment trip to interview households, land survey, and evaluate existing conditions. Following the trip, our team will use the data and discussions with the community's water board to determine whether the spring water is sufficient and the extent of replacements and repairs.

Kenya

In January 2025, our Kenya team embarked on their Assessment trip for a potable water system project for a school in Awasi, Kenya! They met the community of Awasi, conducted interviews to identify the water quality issues, and calculated elevations through land surveying of the school grounds. Our team is looking forward to traveling again in January 2026 to begin phase 1 of a solar-powered pump groundwater well implementation!

Guatemala

The EWB S&T Guatemala team has been partnered with the Paraje Xecaxjoj community since November 2017. During our partnership, our team has overseen the implementation of a new school building, kitchen, bathroom, and erosion control wall for the community. We are planning to return to the Paraje Xecaxjoj community in January 2026 to interview community members and ensure that the new structures will fulfill their long-term needs!

Bolivia

Our team is currently working on a sustainable water solution for a small, 300-person community located in Urkupiña, Bolivia. After traveling in May 2025, we are working diligently to design and implement the infrastructure to meet, and exceed, their water needs. Our goal is to provide them access to a safe and reliable water supply and equip them with the knowledge on how to maintain the water solution.

Where Do You Fit In?

Everyone is welcome! Our most common majors include Civil Engineering, Geological Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering, but we have a number of majors that come from outside of those disciplines as well as a growing number of CASE majors that we are especially looking to emphasize this year. 

There is no major that is not capable of doing fantastic work on EWB.

As a new member, you will start by choosing which of our four teams you want to join: Guatemala, Ecuador, Attahuallani, or Diez de Abril. That team’s lead will introduce all new members to the team and assist you in finding the sub-team that is right for you. Sub-teams vary from team to team, but include groups including "Maps and Modeling,” "Civil Engineering" and "Construction". Once on a sub-team, members will then be given critical work based on their skills and interests.

We have a large meeting at the beginning of the year in which we serve pizza for all that want to attend and each team of EWB has several socials a year. We have chapter meetings the first of every month that anyone is welcome to attend.

What Will You Gain?

Leadership, cross language-barrier communication, international travel experience, report writing, practical engineering knowledge, long-distance communication, cultural sensitivity, hydrological engineering, construction techniques in underdeveloped nations, project management, decision making.

What Sets Us Apart?

Our team makes a real difference in the world, we have dramatically raised the standard of living of thousands of people and aren't stopping anytime soon.

Our team has sent over 500 students to half a dozen South American and Central American countries.

An EWB chapter on the larger side tends to have about 2 travel teams, Missouri S&T currently has 4. While the scale is one of our benefits, each team is divided into sub-teams such that members get very close to those they might be traveling with.