President - EWB HPP Chapter
Barry Borges
Mission
The Engineers Without Borders-High Plains Professional Chapteris URS' international stewardship initiative in partnership with Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA), a non-profit humanitarian organization established to service and ease poverty, stabilize communities, and promote prosperity worldwide. The initiative, part of URS' Social Responsibility program, is an employee-based volunteer program devoted to developing projects that provide people around the world with access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, power, sanitation, and shelter.
Our chapter is led by URS employees who serve on the chapter's executive committee. Additional employee volunteers support the initiative by working on projects (both in the field and remotely), in administrative positions on chapter committees (such as fundraising, communications, education outreach, and volunteer coordination), and on the chapter's Application Review Committee, which supports EWB-USA by reviewing the technical viability of projects submitted to the national organization.
Programs
THE URS DIFFERENCE
The Engineers without Borders-High Plains Professional Chapter (HPP) is a URS international stewardship initiative in partnership with Engineers without Borders-USA (EWB-USA). EWB-USA is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to service and ease poverty, stabilize communities, and promote prosperity worldwide. Our initiative, part of the URS Social Responsibility program, started as an employee-based volunteer program devoted to developing projects that provide people around the world with access to basic necessities such as clean water, power, sanitation, and shelter.
PROJECTS FOR PEOPLE
El Zapote, El Salvador: The EWB-HPP chapter is currently in collaboration with the Peace Corps on a project to design and construct new latrines for more than 40 families in the small, coastal village of El Zapote, El Salvador. The current latrines are poorly constructed and located in close proximity to wash basins and water sources. The health risks are high under normal conditions, but coupled with this region's frequent flooding the threat and spread of disease becomes a devastating concern. An assessment trip was completed in February 2011 and the initial project kick-off is scheduled for November 2011.
Otates, Mexico: The EWB-HPP chapter celebrated the completion of the clean water project in Otates, Mexico in May 2010. The project took approximately two years to complete and included the development of a sustainable water system that provides clean water to three schools and a health clinic in this small village located about an hour-and-a-half north of Puerto Vallarta.
Statistics on High Plains Professional Chapter
