Past Projects
Since 2009, our students have designed, funded, and implemented solutions to improve the quality of life for thousands of people internationally.
Water Distribution System
Las Tablitas, Guatemala (2011-2012)
This water system was the first of 5 projects (including 3 water distribution projects) that our students completed in Las Tablitas, Guatemala. In 2009, the Guatemala Chapter of Rotary International reached out to NDSU EWB to help the community with their infrastructure needs. At this time, Las Tablitas was a community of 310 people living in homes located at a variety of elevations. The community’s only access to clean water was provided by a 21-year-old spring fed tank that consistently ran empty during their dry seasons. Even during rainy seasons when water was available, the gravity-fed distribution system did not supply water to any of the homes in the communities upper elevations.
To ensure that the entire community would have consistent access to clean water, our students designed and implemented a second spring-fed water tank at the highest point in the community paired with a gravity-fed distribution system. This second water source provided clean water to homes that were without access before. In addition to the second spring system, our students constructed a pump for the community’s original spring-fed water source to ensure that the water tank would remain filled during their dry seasons.
School House
Las Tablitas, Guatemala (2012-2013)
Before partnering with NDSU EWB, school in Las Tablitas was held in two separate buildings. The first school building was a one room cinder-block structure, and the second was an open shack consisting of a wooden frame and mud floors. Both buildings consistently contained standing water in, and around, the structures due to a lack of drainage infrastructure.
implemented a 3 room school house that fit the aesthetic requests of the community
After the initial water distribution system improvements were made in 2012, the community of Las Tablitas experienced a significant population growth of almost 13% in under two years. By 2014, the population of Las Tablitas had increased to roughly 350 people. This meant that, once again, people living in the community were living without consistent access to clean water in their homes.
So, for our group’s third project in the community, our students designed and implemented a two-part addition to the distribution system. This addition consisted of over 3,300 feet of pipe connecting to the existing system installed in 2012, as well as the construction of another spring box to keep the existing storage tank filled during all seasons.
Different from our group’s previous projects, this project had an additional element: education. During our implementation trip in 2014, our students had the opportunity to spend time connecting with the members of the community and educating them on essential hygiene practices and the importance of water conservation. In addition to fundraising for infrastructure materials and travel costs, our students worked to fund hygiene kits for the community. These kits included toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as visual instructions for hand washing, dental care, and safe, hygienic methods for decreasing water usage.
Water Distribution System Expansion
Las Tablitas, Guatemala (2013-2014)
Retaining Wall
Las Tablitas, Guatemala (2014-2015)
“The fourth project NDSU-EWB completed in the community of Las Tablitas, Guatemala was to put up a retaining wall to hold back the land and stop erosion that was encroaching on the new school building our chapter had just build. We did this by first leveling out the ground and then pouring a concrete base and putting rebar through it to use with the block. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the completion of this project because of time restraints. However, local villagers were able to complete the project after we left.”
Community Center
Las Tablitas, Guatemala (2016-2019)
“The fourth project NDSU-EWB completed in the community of Las Tablitas, Guatemala was to put up a retaining wall to hold back the land and stop erosion that was encroaching on the new school building our chapter had just build. We did this by first leveling out the ground and then pouring a concrete base and putting rebar through it to use with the block. Unfortunately, we were not able to see the completion of this project because of time restraints. However, local villagers were able to complete the project after we left.”
In 2019, our student’s made the decision to prioritize outreach in our own community with the addition of a local outreach team.
Greenhouse
Heritage Middle School - Fargo, ND (2019)
ndsu students taught 7th graders about problem solving
we gave them a problem, they presented us with solutions
Pumpkin Launcher
Heritage Middle School - Fargo, ND (2019-2020)
ndsu students taught 7th and 8th graders about the engineering design process and built a pumpkin launcher along side of them