Engineers Without Borders crop up in Panama

A recent grant for a Sacramento State student organization will help farmers in Panama grow crops more efficiently

The Sacramento State chapter of Engineers Without Borders received a $4,000 grant from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund in February and will use the money to continue an irrigation project they began last year in Panama.

“Projects like this are important for students because it encourages innovation,” says professor Saad Merayyan, faculty advisor. “They are going to remote areas with very little modern equipment or technology and will have to rely on skills learned in the classroom to develop solutions to complex real world problems.”

EWB members will evaluate, design and construct a sustainable irrigation system to help farmers increase their crop yield. The project will serve hundreds of people in communities in Chagres, Panama.

“During the three-month dry season, the area traditionally does not receive even a drop of rain,” says Javier Soria, president of the Sacramento State EWB chapter. “Our goal is to help provide water so they can grow more crops. Right now, they survive off their crops. If they grow more crops they can sell the extra and have an income.”

EWB members visited Panama over spring break last year to assess the project site and gather information. They are planning to travel either over spring break or at the end of this spring semester.

“The EWB program helps us become more internationally aware of the problems around the world and makes us aware of how lucky we are in the U.S.,” says Soria. “We have fresh water readily available, but there are many nations that do not.”

Merayyan says students have discussed expanding their work to projects in Asia and Africa in future years. 

“EWB receives proposals from non-government agencies about every six months. We will keep an eye out for more projects where we can have an impact, and help people improve their quality of life,” Soria says.

Although the grant will cover some of the cost of the trip, Merayyan said students will be conducting fundraisers in the community to help offset costs.

For more information on Engineers Without Borders, contact Soria at csus.ewb.president@gmail.com, or visit their website at http://gaia.ecs.csus.edu/~ewb/projects.htm.