Rotary helps young engineers bring power to Tanzania.

Engineering students from Warwick University, belonging to International Group “Engineers without Borders”, travelled to Tanzania last month to bring power to the village of Kimgesi.

Engineers without Borders is an international group, bringing renewable and sustainable technologies to underdeveloped countries. The Warwick Branch based at the University was established 7 years ago and has already undertaken 2 trips out to Kimgesi, in Tanzania, where there is no running water or electricity. Wind turbines were installed in 2014 bringing power to the school.

The students contacted the Rotary Club of Warwick for funding to support this year’s trip to install 2 solar panel systems and maintain the wind turbines. One solar array provided power for the community building, bringing light to the clinic’s delivery room and dispensary so vaccines can be refrigerated. The other extended power at the school, lighting the school dormitories, and providing power to use computers and print exam papers. The students also worked with the village co-operative to improve the home cooking still done on open fires, making bricks to create stoves in peoples own homes and a large stove at the school.

Three students returned to tell Rotarians about their trip and showed slides of their work. A key aim was to achieve sustainability by training local people to maintain and operate the systems installed, and to use a computer previously supplied but not used. John Hibben who arranged a matching grant from Rotary District told the students how impressed the club was by their confidence and ability, it was truly an inspiration to hear about their work.

President Jon Wassall (centre) and John Hibben (right) congratulate the team from Warwick University.

See also www.warwicksu.com/societies/ewb

 

 

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