Sustainable engineering projects to improve community health,

development, and empowerment in rural Uganda

A ten year partnership between Engineers without Borders- University of Minnesota and UgandaRural Fund in southern Uganda has focused on community health, empowerment, andknowledge transfer using innovative engineering solutions. Our objective to developpartnerships that transcend borders in order to implement community-driven, sustainableengineering projects was accomplished using a cycle of assessment, design, implementation,and monitoring. Community assessments by EWB-UMN engineers involved community surveysand conversations about the current state of the community and community goals as well as theidentification of potential barriers and facilitators of success for the project. The design phaseinvolved collaboration between EWB-UMN and the community to ensure a rigorous engineeringdesign that fit community needs and that the community was invested in the outcome.Operation and maintenance plans were developed in partnership with the communities toensure that the projects would be sustainable, long-lasting, and impactful. Finally, communityimpact assessment and system monitoring was done each year to assess the intended andunintended impact of the project. Projects were implemented at Hope Integrated Academy andthe communities of Bugonzi and Kalisizo. At Hope Integrated Academy, a local school aiming toempower disadvantaged children, AIDS orphans, women, and marginalized communities in theregion, projects have involved: multiple types of rainwater harvesting systems, borehole andsolar-powered pump, dry-composting toilets, and handwashing stations. In the nearbycommunity of Bugonzi, a large scale rainwater harvesting system implemented at the primaryschool provides water for the entire community, where previously, the water source was asurface pond 3 km from the community. Additionally, small scale, household rainwaterharvesting systems were developed by EWB-UMN using local materials for a low cost. In Kalisizo,a community coffee seedling nursery was expanded through a partnership between EWB-UMNand the local Kalisizo Community Development Program, which resulted in certification by theUganda Coffee Development Authority. Additionally, rainwater harvesting was implemented forthe community to decrease time required to collect water and increase access to school forchildren. The projects implemented through the partnership between EWB-UMN and the localcommunities have resulted in improved water access, community health, school attendance,community economic development, and knowledge transfer of sustainable practices. The cycleof assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring has resulted in a sustainable andsuccessful partnership between EWB-UMN, Uganda Rural Fund, and communities in SouthernUganda.

Project Timeline and Results Project OutcomesAbstract

Background

Future Implications

Acknowledgements

1Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3Department of Civil, Environmental and

Geological Engineering, 4School of Public Health.

Engineers Without Borders, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Danielle Chase1, Anant Naik2,

In 2007, the University of Minnesota chapter of Engineers without Bordersand an international charity, Uganda Rural Fund (URF), created a partnershipto develop a community water and health plan for communities insouthwestern, rural Uganda. Through educational and sustainabledevelopment opportunities, URF aims to empower orphans, impoverishedyouth, and women in order to fight poverty in rural Uganda. URF findsgrassroots solutions to local issues in order to improve social and economicconditions for marginalized groups. By empowering and integratingmarginalized groups, thriving, productive, and sustainable communities canbe developed. The objective of the partnership with EWB-USA UMN was tocreate a sustainable partnership for implementation of engineering projectsthat would improve water supply and quality and community health. In thetypical community in this region, people must travel 2-3 km to collect waterfrom the closest pond. From our assessments, this water is often veryunclean with contaminants from road runoff and even animals like cows andgoats using the same water. Additionally, the time to collect water can beprohibitive for children to attend school and for women to participate ineconomic activity.

Phase I: In August 2007, EWB-USA UMN traveled to the newly constructed Hope IntegratedAcademy to perform the initial project assessment. The following June, we returned to Ugandato construct a rainwater harvesting collection, storage, and distribution system; a dry-composting eco-sanitation system with hand washing facilities was also installed.

Phase II: In June 2009, EWB-USA UMN returned to HIA to implement the second phase of theproject: a borehole with submersible, solar-powered pump and a modification of the existingsanitation system. Additionally, group members performed community outreach in the form ofcommunity health assessments, community health education, point-of-use water treatment, anda malaria prevention initiative. In communities surrounding the school, insecticide treatedmosquito nets were distributed. Community health assessments were conducted to obtain abetter understanding of water sources, water treatment methods, and hygiene and sanitationpractices.

Phase III: In June 2010, improved stoves and micro-irrigation units were implemented. Anassessment team had traveled in January to assess the feasibility of using improved stoves todecrease child mortality due to indoor air pollution caused by cooking with solid fuels as well asto investigate appropriate stove options. The assessment team also identified possible incomegenerating activities and with the input of the local women’s group found the best option to bemicro-irrigation systems for growing vegetables during the dry season when prices increase by400%. Particle, temperature, and carbon monoxide monitoring were conducted in thehouseholds prior to installation and after an initial acclimation period to determine the air-quality improvement achieved by the stoves over a three-month period. Micro-irrigation kitswere implemented on a pilot scale in a small number of gardens tended to by communitymembers, as well HIA's garden. Community health assessments were conducted to educateadults and students about the risks associated with exposure to wood smoke and a Clean AirTeam headed by HIA students was established. Neither the stoves or micro-irrigation systemswere expanded after the pilot programs.

Phase IV: For the dozen communities surrounding HIA, the nearest water source is often a half-day's walk away. The burden of water collection occupies a significant portion of one's day andfalls disproportionately on women and children. The few water sources that are available areseasonally varying and contaminated with harmful pathogens. Without a means to treat thiscontaminated water, many individuals, especially young children, fall ill with waterbornediseases such as diarrhea and dysentery. In addition to this objective evidence of need, duringprevious visits and community health assessments, the community members identified a greatneed for water source and water treatment interventions. began to provide the school andsurrounding community with clean water via Rainwater Harvesting. Two large concrete masonryblock tanks were constructed in Bugonzi in May-June of 2012. The system was designed for astorage capacity of upwards of 100,000 liters of water.

Phase V: In parallel with the Bugonzi Primary School project, another team of studentsdeveloped a household scale rainwater harvesting system. This particular project was developedto be the starting point for a small business. A team traveled in May-June of 2013 to implementtwo prototypes in the Bugonzi community. The tanks developed are made of local material,which is more cost-effective and longer-lasting than the plastic tanks that are typically used. Atthe same time a second group worked to re-purpose the composting latrines into showers andaid in the repair of the groundwater system at Hope Integrated Academy.

Phase VI: In January 2015, we implemented a rainwater harvesting system at the primary schoolfor the community of Kalisizo, a village of 300 families that lacks easy access to water and suffersfrom a weak economy. The second phase of the project aimed to improve the economicopportunities available in the community by expanding the coffee seedling nursery. The redesignof the coffee seedling nursery including proper shade structure and germination beds resulted inthe certification of the nursery by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority.

Phase VII: In August 2016, EWB-USA UMN traveled to HIA to expand the rainwater supply at theschool after the addition of programs for orphans and more boarding students. We constructedthree 25,000 L rainwater storage tanks and installed gutters on the new buildings. This water willprovide for the school’s growing population, and as more buildings are constructed, they will beable to take the same design and replicate it for the new buildings.

Assessment: Determine

Viability and Scope

Design: by Student

Engineers and Professional

Mentors

Implementation: Partnership

Between Local Community and EWB-USA UMN

Monitoring: Functionality of the System and

Community Impact

The pond where students at Hope Integrated Academy got water before the rainwater system was implemented.

Students at Hope now collecting water outside of their classroom from a tap.

Students previously walked along a busy road 2 km to get water multiple times each day.

Water from the pond compared to rainwater.

One of the household scale rainwater collection tanks in Bugonzi.Kalisizo community development

nursery project.

Projects followed the assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring sequence. Thismethod allows us to improve the sustainability of international partnerships and developmentinitiatives.

The projects implemented have improved community health, economicdevelopment, and empowerment. These outcomes can create a cycle ofimprovement for the communities. Additionally, the development of cost-effectiveand locally sourced rainwater storage tanks enable communities to continuebuilding these tanks as they grow and develop. The relationship betweenEngineers without Borders at the University of Minnesota and Uganda Rural Fundhas created relationships that transcend nations, cultures, and language.

This project was made possible by the guidance of Dr. Capel and Dr. Simcik, in addition

to the rigorous work done by the Freshman Leadership Board within Engineers Without

Borders, University of Minnesota. We’d also like to thank the College of Science and

Engineering, Medtronic, BARR Engineering, and many donors for their generous

financial support.