Transcript Frances
CPHI Retreat
Water and Public Health
December 2, 2010
Community Impact:
Global Water Crisis
1.1 billion people worldwide
have inadequate access to
clean water
2.6 billion people worldwide
have inadequate access to
sanitation
1.8 million child deaths occur
each year as a result of
diarrhea
Opportunities
Communities in developing countries benefit from
shared resources beyond their borders
Students from the U.S. benefit from global
engagement in a cross cultural setting
Different Goals
Primary goal for community is to improve health
with a sustainable water and sanitation system
Primary goal for students and the sponsoring
academic institution is a global education
How can these goals be achieved with a positive
outcome for everyone involved?
Water supply more amenable to merging goals than
other community development projects
What’s Needed? - Initially
Request for assistance from an
established NGO working in
community
Proposed project small enough
in scale
Community willing to
contribute their own resources
What’s Needed? - Preparation
Preparation and Groundwork for Community and
students before implementation:
Assessment trip to understand design constraints and
begin relationship
Preparation of a Memo of Understanding outlining roles
and commitments
Community needs to organize its leadership and
resources for long term sustainability
Students need to participate in design and learn about
cultural context in a course
What’s Needed? - Implementation
NGO critical
Students need to be hosted in
community
Daily communication at all
stages
Sharing of technical design
attributes
What’s Needed? – Follow-up
Community needs technical oversight from NGO’s
representative in communication with
Mentor/student team to complete project
Students need to provide feedback on their experience
and the opportunity to learn on impact of design
Should be independent evaluation of project after
complete and operating.
Mission & Objectives
Mission:
Improve the quality of life for individuals and communities in the
developing world through sustainable technology and engineering,
and through engaging students in learning about and service to civil
society.
Program Objectives:
1. Teach students about the challenges in
the developing world and the role that
appropriate technology and sustainable
engineering plays in this setting.
2. Work closely with local communities to
responsibly provide useful technical
solutions to individuals and
communities in the developing world.
Organization
SEAS Community Technology and Outreach Initiatives “office”
Local initiatives
Global initiatives
Departmental and faculty involvement
Teaching
Leading field projects
Student organizations
Integral to the learning and projects model
Student leadership experiences
Oversight and administration
SEAS Office of Academic Programs/Associate Dean
Faculty Advisory Committee
Director
Staff
Projects
Clean water delivery & sanitation systems
Honduras 2006-present
Cameroon 2007-present
India 2009-present
Guatemala 2009-present
Problem Solving/Learning
EAS 296 - Sustainable Development in
Cameroon
• EAS 297 Sustainable
Development:
Technology for
Water &
Sanitation
Classroom Preparation - Engineering
Engineering for Rural Water and Sanitation
Water demand and supply; Public health
Spring Development and Protection
Engineering for Sustainable Development
Appropriate Technology in International Development
Practical Field Engineering
Classroom Preparation - Cameroon Orientation
Presentation by Travel Medicine
Review of Cameroon history and culture with focus on Kob-
Tudig region
Meta language
Team work in cross-cultural setting
Academic Deliverables
Homeworks
System Design
On-the-ground
experience
Daily journal
Capstone Project
Community Impact
Infrastructure
Education
Health and Livelihood
- Dramatic increase in clean
water availability
- Perceivably decreased soil
erosion and increased
quality of environment
- Improved communication
capabilities and access to
information
- Increased access to information
and educational resources
- Inspired greater desire to
complete education and to
advance to senior secondary
schooling and beyond
- Reduced incidence of
waterborne diseases in the
community
- Reduced time used for water
hauling, increasing time
available for productive tasks
- Increased individuals’
ambulatory ability leading to
happier and more productive
living
Key factors to success
Strong NGO
Guidance and clear leadership of project mentors
Committed community. But how to gauge that from
the beginning?
Long-term commitment to community, NGO
Ability, willingness to revise project tracking
methodology on-the-fly
Conclusions
Community and students have an exciting, sometimes
life-changing exchange – many say time too short
Sustainable projects are possible but there is a risk of
failure if NGO is not able to cover for the time
student/mentor team is not present
Academic institution needs to have a long-term
program both for students and communities