By Andrew Nelson | Project Leadership
Muraho!
This is a very exciting time for the University of Colorado Boulder Engineers Without Borders Chapter! We have just partnered with a locally-based non-governmental organization known as Village Makeover (VMO) to provide and improve water, hygiene, sanitation, and catchment systems to the Cyanika community, which is located in Northern Rwanda. Although Rwanda has been economically improving and moderately stable in recent years, water accessibility and sanitation has always been the primary challenge for economic development in the country, particularly in rural communities. Currently, agricultural sectors dominate the Rwandan economy and ostensibly clean-water-access is a critical part of maintaining such an agriculturally-focused economy. Approximately 80-85 percent of the Rwandan population relies on successful means of agricultural to provide for their families and communities at-large, making water access and maintenance a core priority for the country.
Village Makeover has been collaborating with the Cyanika community since 2008 to provide clean water and education infrastructure to community members. Village Makeover and has worked side by side with EWB-USA CU to initiate a new project between the Cyanika community, Village Makeover and EWB-USA CU, and we are very excited to be involved!
Everything is running smoothly so far, and we have plans to construct the first two or three catchment systems from a series of 10-15 proposed sites this summer. EWB-CU is preparing to send six students to county to work on the implementation of these systems, which will provide clean water year-round to the at risk members of several villages within the Cyanika community. As always, we are very grateful for your continued support and involvement through Global Giving. Thanks! Please feel free send any questions or comments to EWBRwanda@gmail.com, and make sure to check our website at http://www.colorado.edu/engineering/ewb/rwanda!
Sincerely,
The EWB-CU Rwanda Program
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