We Value Community Voices

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We Value Community Voices

At the heart of our mission is a dedication to listening and amplifying the voices within our community. We believe that every individual has a unique perspective and valuable insights that contribute to the collective good. Through open dialogues and community forums, we strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and valued.

Vision

Our vision is to foster a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We see a future where collaboration drives innovation, and where every member plays a role in shaping its direction. By prioritizing open communication and shared goals, we aim to inspire a sense of belonging and mutual respect.

Empowerment

Empowerment is fundamental to our approach. We are committed to providing resources, support, and guidance that enable individuals to take charge of their lives and make meaningful contributions to society. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and community initiatives, we encourage personal and professional development.

Ethical and Sustainable Solutions

In all our endeavors, we emphasize the importance of ethical practices and sustainable solutions. We believe in the responsible use of resources and the necessity of protecting our environment for future generations. Our initiatives focus on creating lasting impact while minimizing harm to our planet.

Safety

Safety is a priority for everyone in our community. We work tirelessly to create spaces that are secure and welcoming for all. Through collaboration with NGO partnerships and community leaders, we develop initiatives that promote safety.

Wellness

Our commitment to wellness encompasses holistic approaches to health, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional well-being. We provide access to wellness programs, support systems, and activities that encourage a balanced lifestyle, nurturing resilience and vitality in our community members.

Las Victorias: Latrines and Handwashing Stations

We are starting a new project with a nearby Pokomchi town called Las Victorias. Currently, the local school serves nearly 100 students but only has 2 pit toilets and no waste removal options. Our goal is to build four new toilets and a handwashing system. We will be designing, fundraising, and implementing all measures for this project. This project will improve sanitation and reduce health challenges for our partners in Las Victorias so that their children can continue to learn in a safe and clean environment.

The Design

Here’s a current image of a proposed latrine set up. It contains four toilets, two sinks and a general structural design in 2-D format.

Our team would like to also install a ramp that leads up to the stalls to accommodate all students, and also ensure that each stall has child-friendly locking and lighting.

We also have plans to install some sort of feminine hygiene system to account for female students and instructors who would benefit from it.

Project Timeline

Assessment

During NC State’s spring break, seven students and two international development mentors from EWB-USA traveled to Guatemala for the first face-to-face contact with the community. They conducted assessments of the community’s current water supply, latrine situation, and handwashing access. Working with the local partner NGO, the Centro Comunitario Educativo Pokomchi (CeCEP), to provide the community with latrines and handwashing stations will bring both tangible and intangible benefits to the residents.
March 2024

Implementation

The GWS team plans to implement 4 toilets and 2 handwashing stations for the Las Victorias community over a ten day period at the end of December of 2025. The travel team will consist of at most 10 students and two mentors to ensure that the system that will be implemented adheres to as many regulations and guidelines as possible.
December 2025

Monitoring

As the final stage of this project, the team plans to assess the system in March of 2026. This is when hopefully EWB NCSU will pass the project officially to the Las Victoras community for the future.
March 2026

Watch our most recent trip video for an in-depth look.

Fundraising and Support

We’re looking to fundraise for our Health and Sanitation project, and are hoping to raise close to 20,000 to implement the best system possible. Donations that you make, keep our club running.

DONATE NOW

We have stickers for sale $4 each, where the profit will go directly to funding our project. Here’s the form to fill out, and the sticker options we usually have.

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Sticker Purchase

Contact Us

Please reach out to the Project Leads Email: GWS@ewbncsu.org

We appreciate your enthusiasm in wanting to join our club and are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with you. Our club is committed to fostering a vibrant community where individuals with diverse interests and passions can come together to connect, learn, and grow.

So why wait? Join our club today and embark on a journey of personal and professional growth. We can’t wait to welcome you into our vibrant community of passionate individuals. Together, we can achieve great things!

Upcoming Events

Caserio Panhux: Rainwater Harvesting System

The Design

Rainwater harvesting systems collect rain that falls on the roof of a home and store it for later use. The
systems are designed to supply a family with enough water for drinking and cooking year-round.
There are four main components of an EWB-USA WPI rainwater harvesting system: gutters,
first flush, water storage tanks, overflow, and concrete bases.

Project Timeline

Assessment

During NC State’s spring break, seven students and one international development mentor from EWB-USA traveled to Guatemala for the first face-to-face contact with the community. They conducted assessments of the community’s current water supply and storage, and the team aimed to find the optimal location for the water catchment system where it would collect an adequate supply of water for the community and be protected from possible contaminants. Working with the local partner NGO, the Centro Comunitario Educativo Pokomchi (CeCEP), to provide the community with water catchment systems will bring both tangible and intangible benefits to the residents. This water collection system will improve the quality and quantity of potable water throughout the duration of the year.
March 2017

Implementation (I)

The GWS team and the community of Caserio Panhux constructed 14 rainwater catchment systems in 14 households. The team stayed with host families located in San Cristobal, about a 50-minute drive through winding roads from Caserio Panhux. Daily, the team would arrive around 7 AM and begin a long day of construction. The community took part too, and would work with the team all day, often coming up with solutions better than their own, the implementation trip culminated with a thank-you feast organized by the community of Caserio Panhux, which included music, food, and laughs with everyone.
August 2018

Implementation (II)

The team and community constructed 20 more rainwater catchment systems during the second implementation trip in December 2018. New first-flush systems were implemented on both the current 20 houses and the 14 houses from the previous trip to be more effective and user-friendly. The team also visited the houses that would receive systems on the next trip to better prepare for the following implementation.
December 2018

Implementation (III)

16 more systems were completed on the most recent implementation trip in August 2019. Since nine of the homes set to receive systems had plant roofs, these systems were instead completed on side structures with lamina roofs to ensure equal access to water for all members of the community. Time was spent interviewing the women whose families had received rainwater catchment systems on the previous implementation trips to assess their effectiveness. These conversations also allowed the team the opportunity to evaluate what modifications would need to be done on the existing systems during the last implementation trip.
August 2019

Remote Implementation (I)

The original scope of work for the project is to design and implement rainwater catchment systems on 62 facilities, including the school and two churches in Caserio Panhux, Guatemala. However, there has been an additional need identified in the community and this trip built 10 rainwater catchment systems in the spring of 2022.  It was revealed that leaks in the gutter connections were the main culprit, leading to a lower rainwater catchment efficiency. Some tanks were additionally having issues with water storage quantities due to leaks in the tank’s valve. The faulty tank valves were fixed by emptying the tank and replacing the faulty valve with a new, higher-quality part. The initial notification of these issues was provided through continued communication with an in-country NGO (CeCEP).
March 2022

Monitoring (I)

The monitoring trip of 2022 proved to be an invaluable endeavor, as it allowed the team to conduct comprehensive surveys of the community and assess the effectiveness of the current systems in place. Extensive water quality tests were carried out, with the primary goal of ensuring that the water met the necessary standards for consumption and domestic use. However, the results revealed that the water quality fell short of the desired standard, requiring further investigation and potential modifications to the existing systems.
December 2022

Monitoring (II)

As the final stage of this project, the team was planning a trip in December 2023 to complete the water tank training, implement a new roof system at the school, and scout new locations for the next project in Guatemala. However, due to the political instability, the team has rescheduled this trip for Spring 2024. It was a sucess with the community taking full ownership of the project, and EWB NCSU stepping back permanently.
March 2024

Trip Photos

Watch our summary video for a project overview!

Centro Comunitario Educativo Pokomchi (CeCep)

Sucely Ical is the coordinator for CeCep, playing a crucial role in linking the NC State Student chapter with the Professional Engineers Without Borders chapter. Beyond facilitating communication, she and her family provide essential support during the teams’ visits to Guatemala, offering meals and ensuring everyone is nourished. Sucely also manages transportation, allowing the team to focus on their projects without transportation concerns. Her dedication and care enhance the partnership’s success, positively impacting the communities they serve in Guatemala.

CeCep’s Translators

These talented individuals invest countless hours into assisting our team in effectively bridging language barriers. They possess an acute understanding of cultural nuances and apply their expertise to accurately convey our message in different languages. Through their diligent efforts, our content is not only translated but also localized to ensure it resonates with diverse audiences.

Our translating team plays an instrumental role in ensuring that our products and services are accessible to users worldwide. They go above and beyond to provide top-notch translations, meticulously adapting our content while maintaining its original intent. Their commitment and professionalism greatly contribute to the global reach and impact of our work.

Research Triangle Professionals (RTP) Chapter

Our team is grateful to partner with licensed engineers in the field. Many of our partners come from the RTP Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, and we have many incredible mentors to thank, including Bruce Binney (travel mentor), Kent Lioret (travel mentor), Emma Guertin (REIC), Vessi Radevia (mentor), and the rest of the RTP chapter for providing knowledge and resources to our NCSU chapter of EWB.

RTP Website

Our Team

Leadership Team (2024-2025)

My name is Hope Heinrichs, and I’ve co-led the GWS team since 2023. I’ve been in EWB since the fall of 2022 and have loved working with the Guatemalan community. I’m a current junior at NC State studying industrial and systems engineering, and I have also adopted the role of vice president of projects for the NCSU EWB chapter.

Hi, I’m Chanel D’Souza, and I’ve been co-leading the GWS team since the fall of 2024. I’m a student at NC State studying Computer Science and will graduate in 2027. I’ve been a part of the GWS team since 2023 and even traveled to Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, in the spring of 2024.

Our Team Members

Procurement

  • Brandon Fox: Civil Engineering (2028)
  • Grace Kester: Industrial and Systems Engineering (2028)
  • Josiah Kaiser: Civil Engineering and International Studies (2027)
  • Menthia Akula: Biomedical Engineering (2028)
  • Claudia Martinez-Martinez: Materials Science Engineering (2026)

Design

Design Head

Jack Allen: Civil Engineering (2028)

  • Ashlyn Rodriguez-Ruiz: Civil Engineering (2026)
  • Asher Yarmus: Civil Engineering (2028)
  • Caleb Souther: Civil Engineering (2025)
  • Haley Kucma: Civil Engineering (2026)
  • Henry McDevitt: Electrical Engineering (2028)
  • Josh Bang: Electrical Engineering (2027)
  • Olivia Lopez: Biomedical Engineering and Spanish (2028)
  • Rosa Rameriez-Garcia: Environmental Engineering (2027)
  • Shreeya Pilli: Computer Engineering (2027)
  • Sophia Jurado:

PR & Fundraising

Fundraising Head

Sadie Hurley: Environmental Engineering (2028)

  • Marina Kapitnov: Biomedical Engineering (2025)
  • Bradley Rupczyk: Mechanical Engineering (2025)
  • Byron Umana-Herrera: Computer Science (2027)
  • Hannah Richardson: Computer Science (2028)
  • Julian Mosqueda: Electrical Engineering (2026)
  • Lana Bess: Materials Engineering (2028)
  • Lucy Polzin: Chemical Engineering (2025)
  • Ty Hornberger: Computer Science (2028)
  • Carrie Horrell: Mechanical Engineering (2025)

Research

Research Heads

Ruby Blue: Environmental Engineering (2027)

Revy Godehn: Chemical Engineering (2027)

  • Adithya Rajaram: Mechanical Engineering (2028)
  • Aiden Messersmith: Industrial and Systems Engineering (2028)
  • Ava Saydam: Computer Science (2027)
  • Gabe Rivera: Environmental Engineering (2028)
  • Jenna Leek: Chemical Engineering (2027)
  • Katie Ketcham: Environmental Engineering (2028)
  • Krish Kathpalia: Computer Engineering (2028)
  • Sara Trimech: Chemical Engineering (2026)
  • Travis Hawkins: Computer Science (2028)

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