The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Engineers Without Borders regularly does summer term service trips overseas where communities might need help on critical infrastructure, but international travel can pose challenges, too.
The recognized student organization decided to use spring break as a beneficial experience to gain perspective on their work by making a difference domestically. Engineers Without Borders’ leaders decided a trip to New Orleans would be the perfect opportunity. They partnered with the University of Kansas to volunteer with Historic Green, a nonprofit that works with preservation and sustainability in the community.
“Our hope is that lessons we learn from working on local projects in the U.S., like this one, will extend to our ongoing efforts in countries like Zambia and Madagascar,” Ashley Hernandez-Najera, a senior civil engineering major who led the trip, said. “As a club, we are committed to designing engineering solutions and raising funds to help communities in need.”
Hernandez-Najera said teamwork among club members and people in the communities they serve is vital. That’s why one of their major goals was to connect.
“We wanted to enjoy our break from school, because as engineering students, we get caught up in academics and don't give ourselves enough time to recharge,” Hernandez-Najera said while describing the goals of their New Orleans trip. “It's also the perfect opportunity to get to know one another. We spend so much time working on the technical side of our projects, so it'sa good time to learn one another's interests.”
The club members’ typical workday included hours working to restore playgrounds damaged by storms and repair work on houses in the community.
“One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the completed swing set after our team installed new support beams and tightened the swings,” Andrew Falk, a senior electrical engineering major, said. “It was incredibly rewarding to know that our efforts made the structure safer for anyone who wanted to use it.”
The days started around 7:30 a.m. and typically lasted through 4:30 p.m., when members would switch gears to exploring the historic city.
Trips like these can be a good introduction to the work the group does, especially for newer members.
“Experiences like this highlight the real-world impact of engineering. In just one week, we were able to make meaningful improvements that directly benefited the community. It shows that what I am studying can be applied to make a difference on a large scale,” Falk said.
Hernandez-Najera recalled a specific time during their trip where she had to use all of the key competencies of a complete engineer, a UNL program highlighting the key components to being a world-class engineer.
“I remember hearing what the project required and thinking of what solutions were viable for us to complete. With the swing set, I suggested replacing all of the wooden braces,” Hernandez-Najera said. “After speaking with Stephanie, a resident in charge of the playground improvements, she highlighted how money was tight, and if there were ways of reusing the materials, then that would be best. We ultimately decided to make some new bolt holes at different locations and only replace rotten wood.”
The trip to New Orleans also allowed students to enjoy their free time outside of their volunteer hours, where many students decided to shop, visit tourist spots, and hang out. During the semester, Hernandez-Najera says she tends to focus a lot on her studies and spends most of her time on campus. Engineers Without Borders gives her the time to take a break, travel and enjoy different aspects of the world she doesn’t always get to make time for.
The group will return to its two main projects in Zambia and Madagascar. In Zambia, they’re working toward the goal of building a bridge to connect two communities across a river that becomes impassable during the rainy season. In Madagascar, they’re working to bring a solar power system to the community of Kianjavato, which is not connected to the nearest power grid, leaving many to fend without much reliance on electricity.
The group welcomes any interested students to join.
“To anyone interested in joining, just join!” Hernandez-Najera said. “We are always welcoming new members year-round and can often find some way for you to help us, no matter your major. People are often steered away by our name and think only engineers can join, but that is most certainly not the case.”
