Sri Lanka (completed project)
EWB-PSP worked with EWB-San Francisco Professionals (EWB-FSP) and Asiana Education Development (AED) to construct 8 day-schools and 2 boarding schools for children who lost their parents in the tsunami.
In the wake of the December 26, 2004, South Asia tsunami, Engineers Without Borders - USA (EWBUSA) was enlisted by Asiana Education Development (AED) for engineering support in the design of several boarding schools and day schools in Sri Lanka. The EWB-Puget Sound Professionals chapter (EWB-PSPP) was one of several EWB-USA chapters assigned responsibility for this effort.
For two weeks in June 2005, five volunteers from the involved chapters visited Sri Lanka and performed site visits at two boarding school and six day schools located along the western and southern coasts of the island nation. Members also investigated the availability and cost of local construction materials, investigated local construction practices, and visited government ministries, practicing engineers, technicians, contractors, and material suppliers.
Over the following year, a team of engineers and scientists from the PSP chapter worked on the architectural, structural, geotechnical, hydrologic, hydraulic, septic, and electrical designs for five day schools in the towns of Chilaw, Galle, Tangalle, Hambantota and Weligatta.
The designs have been completed and final drawings were sent to Sri Lanka in January, 2007. Political turmoil within Sri Lanka prevents EWB-PSP volunteers from traveling to assist and oversee construction of these schools. However, the chapter is maintaining contact with its partner organization, AED, and the schools will be built during 2007 by volunteers and local community members within Sri Lanka.
For more information, please contact cnewton [at] g-o [dot] com (Chad Newton).