Providing Clean Water to Otates y Cantarranas, MX

Upon completion of the chapter’s premier project in May, the EWB-High Plains Professional Chapter has been reviewing potential projects for future work and increasing communication and collaboration with other EWB chapters.

The most important commitment for the chapter involves maintaining a presence in the village of Otates, Mexico following the clean-water project. The next project the chapter is scoping is the replacement of the village playground. Currently the playground consists of a rusted slide, a see-saw with no seats and the frame of a swing-set, but no swings.

“The playground is a death trap,” said Jeff Viano, former communications coordinator for the chapter. Viano visited Otates to photograph the clean-water project completion in May and took numerous photos of the playground. “It’s nothing but jagged, rusted metal and is just really dangerous for kids to be playing on.”

Several assessment trips to Otates are scheduled to not only evaluate the playground, but monitor the clean-water project, and determine possible opportunities to help some of the neighboring towns near Otates.

In addition to the continued efforts in and around Otates, the High Plains Professional Chapter is working to expand their reach and collaborate with at least two EWB student chapters this year. The chapter has most recently reached out to the University of Maryland student chapter to communicate an interest in providing support for their upcoming projects.

As always, your support and donations are what drive each project and dramatically enhance the quality of life for people around the world! Thank you!