Engineers Without Borders

General Meeting 11/19/08

November 20, 2008 at 11:22 am | In Meeting Minutes | Comments Off

EWB General Meeting Minutes for 11/19/08

Announcements:

1. A Membership Coordinator is needed to take attendance at General EWB meetings held Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in KEC. If interested contact Aparna at shrivasa@engr.orst.edu

2. Habitat for Humanity event is taking place this Saturday (11/22) from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Lewisburg house. Contact Lyndsey at croghanl@engr.orst.edu for a ride (she has room for 3) or Aparna shrivasa@engr.orst.edu

3. Peavy Courtyard clean-up this Friday (11/21) from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. You do not have to stay the whole time…just show up when you can and help out.

4. Fundraising Meeting Monday (11/24) at 6pm at the KEC pianos. The EWB OSU budget is VERY low!

Presentation Summary

Who: Madhurima Bhadra from Nepal Masters: Public Health Background: Dentist

Presentation: Public Health in Nepal

Bhadra spoke of her experiences volunteering in Nepal which gave insight as to what may be expected from working in third world countries. Nepal has extreme water quality issues stemming from a lack of latrines (open defecation). This causes many waterborne diseases due to a high bacteria load including Hepatitis A as well as Typhoid fever. There were many similarities and good points brought up that may be applicable to the upcoming trip to El Salvador including the importance of community buy in, sensitivity to established social/political/cultural beliefs affecting the project, and expectations placed upon volunteers (especially those perceived as wealthy). It is important to note that some people will ask for more than you are willing to give. Keep in mind that you will be faced with difficult situations where you will have to say no. Know your boundaries. Madhurima showed us many beautiful pictures of the valleys and hillsides of Nepal as well as ever impressive Mt. Everest, explaining that in third world countries, there often exists an amazing contrast between the beauty of the environment and the ways in which people live.