Mr. Hermandorfer and Mr. Vargas

In developing countries throughout the world, millions live without access to clean water, functioning sanitation systems, or adequate infrastructure.  Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) was incorporated in 2002 to support community-driven development programs around the world and work with local partners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects to help communities meet their basic human needs.

Mr. Hermandorfer and Mr. Vargas, officers with the local EBW Chapter, will describe the mission and goals of the organization.  They will also describe the need and the ways for civil engineers to volunteer, both remotely at project sites and at-home support.  The program will highlight activities from one of the recent projects in El Salvador.

The Washington DC Professional Chapter (EWB-USA DC) has been working with the community of Cantón Santa Clara, El Salvador since 2004.  Santa Clara is a rural, agricultural community (pop. 3,165) with approximately 400 households distributed over 4 square kilometers.  The population suffers from water-related illness associated with limited access to potable water and poor hygiene practices. EWB-USA DC has made 10 trips to assess community needs/assets, test soils and water, and begin construction on a community-wide system to distribute clean water.   Greg Hermandorfer, president of EWB-USA DC, and Julio Vargas, vice president of EWB-USA DC, will present on the success the chapter has had working with the community, future trips to Santa Clara, and ways you can get involved with EWB.

Mr. Hermandorfer is a civil EIT who graduated from Virginia Tech and is currently an assistant project manager with Foulger-Pratt Contracting.  Mr. Vargas is a mechanical EIT who graduated from University of Maryland-College Park and is currently working for IBM as a hardware safety compliance and regulatory engineer.

February Section Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21, 2012.  Visit our ASCE-NCS Events page to register.