Engineers Without Borders – Lebanon
| Abbreviation | EWB–Lebanon |
|---|---|
| Formation | 31 December 2009 |
| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Community development |
| Headquarters | Beirut, Lebanon |
Members | 450 |
President | Nader Hajj Shehadeh |
Parent organization |
ewb-international |
| Website |
ewb-lebanon |
Engineers Without Borders – Lebanon (EWB–Lebanon) is a non-profit group of engineers dedicated to public work and sustainable development. The group aims to help disadvantaged communities throughout Lebanon.[1]
Establishment
EWB – Lebanon was founded as a recognized start-group working under the close guidance of Engineers Without Borders - International, a non-profit corporation established in November 2002 in the State of Colorado, USA with regional offices in Mexico, India, Belgium, and Egypt.[2] It was accepted as a start-up group in December 2009.
EWB-Lebanon has university chapters in Lebanon's top universities allowing engineering students to join the group and participate in engineering development activities. There are more than 250 student members in EWB-Lebanon chapters at Notre Dame University – Louaize, American University of Beirut, Lebanese American University, and University of Balamand. The first chapter includes started in 2011 at under the support and supervision of the Faculty of Engineering at Notre Dame University – Louaize main campus in Zouk Mosbeh.[3]
Mission and vision
EWB-Lebanon was established to use the engineering knowledge and skills of its members to promote sustainable development and help disadvantaged communities attain a better lifestyle all around the country.
It is committed to the following principles:
- Survival should not be a target, it is a right.
- Humanitarian work should not be concerned with political borders.
- Education is a gift that should be used for the communal good.[4]
Selected activities
Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Rural Livelihood
EWB-Lebanon implements development in agricultural rural areas in Lebanon. The project entitled "Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Rural Livelihood" aims at supporting poor families in rural regions through introducing the concept of sustainable beekeeping and providing them with education, financial support, and technical cooperation in the field. Targeting the poorest regions of the country, the project identifies underdeveloped families with good potential but no financial or technical abilities, to help them develop an additional riskless source of income.[5][6][7]
Engineers Helping NGOS Utilizing Renewable Energy
EWB-Lebanon implements development in agricultural rural areas in Lebanon. The project entitled "Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Rural Livelihood" aims at supporting poor families in rural regions through introducing the concept of sustainable beekeeping and providing them with education, financial support, and technical cooperation in the field. Targeting the poorest regions of the country, the project identifies underdeveloped families with good potential but no financial or technical abilities, to help them develop an additional riskless source of income.[5]
Environment Awareness Lectures
EWB Students from university chapters at the American University in Beirut (AUB), Notre Dame University (NDU), University of Balamand (UOB), and the Lebanese American University (LAU) join hands to help the people in need at Sesobel. The project aimed at implementing energy saving solutions at the Sesobel headquarters in Aintoura, and was jointly implemented with the private company Solar World which supplied LED lamps and solar water heaters.[8] [9]
Participation in SEEM 2010
From March, 3 to 6, 2010, EWB-Lebanon, represented by its founder and acting president, Mr. Nader Hajj Shehadeh, made the first appearance within the EWB-International Network in the Second Annual Meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Region at EWB held in Larnaca, Cyprus under the title “Sustainable Engineering in the Eastern Mediterranean”. EWB-Lebanon was introduced to the other groups and discussed with the participants the future plans of the newest EWB group.[2]
Development of “Turbocycler I”- Human-Powered Water Pump
EWB- Lebanon Team developed a unique multi-purpose bicycle kit that is used for cycling, water pumping, and electricity generation. The “Turbocycler I” was developed as a demonstration kit to illustrate electricity-independent power generation in its mechanical and electrical forms.
This model is designed to assist farmers and other users in rural and non-electrified areas in their agricultural and non-agricultural uses. In addition to being a mean of transportation, the human-powered water pump is used for water pumping purposes.
It is able to pump water to an elevation of 2.5 meters at 12 liters per minute by pedaling at normal running speed. Water is pumped through a 3/8 inch pipe to the desired elevation and then flows through a water wheel chained to an electricity generator that lights an LED lamp with no use of grid electricity.
Turbocycler I illustrates the efficient use of a normal mountain bike bicycle for transportation as well as water pumping purposes; all sustainable, carbon free, and environmentally friendly.
The model is built using an old mountain bike plugged into a frame with a 0.5 hp centrifugal pump attached to the flywheel of the back tire through a metallic chain.[2]
References
- ↑ "Engineers Without Borders Lebanon". EWB-Lebanon.org. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- 1 2 3 Max Deutsch (2010-11-18). "Engineers without borders …. Active builders of the Future | Business Lobby". Businesslobby.blog.com. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ↑ "NDU Chapter - Engineers Without Borders Lebanon". EWB-Lebanon.org. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ↑ "Our Mission - Engineers Without Borders Lebanon". EWB-Lebanon.org. 2014-12-30. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- 1 2 "Implements Development Through Beekeeping - Engineers Without Borders Lebanon". EWB-Lebanon.org. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ↑ "Beekeeping for Poverty : Alleviation and sustainable Rural Livelihood" (PDF). Cooperation.epfl.c. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/20140529052302/http://iug.dk/uploads/file/nyhedsbreve/ewb-i-newsletter-no2.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - ↑ "EWB Students Help Sesobel - Engineers Without Borders Lebanon". EWB-Lebanon.org. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ↑ "I am proud to declare that what joins us... - Engineers Without Borders- Lebanon". Facebook.com. 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
External links
| ||||||||||||||