Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) supports community-driven development programs worldwide by collaborating with local partners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects, while creating transformative experiences and responsible leaders.  The EWB Rwanda team at the University of Colorado-Boulder is addressing the need for sustainable and profitable agriculture at the L’esperance orphanage in Rwanda.  It is home to 129 orphans dependent upon the orphanage’s welfare.  During the dry season from June to September every year, the orphanage loses the ability to grow and sell tree saplings on their farmland, leaving them dependent on outside donations to provide for the children.  Our team’s goal is to design and install an irrigation system for growing and selling these trees year-round, enabling the orphanage to become economically independent.

Currently, we are exploring various design concepts and are looking to provide a low-tech, high impact solution.  In parallel, teams are assessing economic, agricultural, and sustainable impacts to better formulate a system that the orphanage can maintain for years to come.  To help us reach these goals, we are looking for funds to support our mission to this community.  These donations will help finance the entire project, including purchasing materials and sending five to eight students to the orphanage during the summer of 2011 to implement the system.

Thanks to the generosity of all those who support us, the CU-Boulder EWB-Rwanda team is able to pursue its mission and help facilitate financial independence at the L’Esperance Orphanage.  Donations are tax-deductible, as EWB is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  Additionally, we would be pleased to present our project and speak with you further.  Please see below for website and contact details.  We thank you for your consideration!

Sincerely,

The Rwanda Team