Our Projects

Ghana

The Ghana Program is working in the Obodan to provide water management and sanitation solutions. The current focus is to design a water distribution and filtration system as well as a community latrine.More?

India

The India Program is working in Purnaguma, a rural village in Orissa, India, to develop practical energy applications. Current initiatives include a low-watt electrical cooker and an improved biomass cookstove. More?

Uganda

The Uganda Program is working with a community in Soroti, Uganda. The team is currently setting up a multifunctional energy platform (MFP) program in the region, while also looking into new health and water initiatives this year. More?

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About

The Columbia University chapter of Engineers Without Borders aims to address the problems facing people both locally and abroad by leveraging the skills, talents and passions of Columbia University students and the partnerships formed with our organization. Our members come from all engineering and arts backgrounds, sharing the desire to do meaningful work in improving the lives of others through creative, sustainable, engineering solutions.

What We Do

The chapter currently has three programs in Ghana, India and Uganda. The Ghana program, which started in 2004, focuses on water management in the farming community of Obodan and the semi-urban town of Sakyikrom. The India program, which began in 2005, has been working with NGOs in the state of Orissa to help communities respond to their energy challenges. In 2008, the Uganda program was established to install a Multi-Function Energy Platform in the Soroti region. Each project draws from the skills of its members to provide technical solutions to worldwide problems.

Who We Are

The chapter is divided into the three different programs, all of which are overseen by the executive board.

Executive Board

President: Sonal Bothra
Email: sb2670[at]columbia.edu
School: CC 2012
About: As the figurehead and executive of CU-EWB, Sonal provides the direction and vision for the chapter. She oversees all executive board activities and external CU-EWB collaborations, including those with EWB-USA.

Vice President (Funding and PR): Bruce Garro
Email: bag2117[at]columbia.edu
School: SEAS 2011
About: As the vice president of funding and public relations, Bruce is responsible for coordinating large-scale fundraising initiatives, networking with donors, overseeing grant applications, and managing all PR material, including the website and newsletter.

Vice President (Education and Training): Sarah Glazer
Email: seg2137[at]columbia.edu
School: SEAS 2011
About: Sarah’s responsibilities as the vice president for education and training include organizing the monthly workshops and seasonal conferences.

Treasurer: Kevin Ma
Email: kkm2124[at]columbia.edu
School: SEAS 2013
About: Kevin’s duties as treasurer involve managing the chapter funds, budgets, spending, and logistics. He maintains all financial records for the chapter.

Secretary: Bethany Schneider
Email: bns2105[at]columbia.edu
School: SEAS 2012
About: Bethany is responsible for coordinating communication across the chapter’s programs, executive board, and general body. She is also in charge of booking space, organizing on-campus events, and managing the CU-EWB listserv.

Programs

Ghana Program Manager: Clayton Dahlman
Ghana Program Liaison: Lucy Stowe
India Program Manager: Matt Capetola
India Program Liaison: Dhristie Bhagat
Uganda Program Manager: Alison Ferris
Uganda Program Liaison: Christen Soden