Engineers In Action: “We don’t build the wells, we build the Partnerships that Build the Wells and make them sustainable”.

Mission

To improve quality of life for Bolivian indigenous communities through partnerships between engineering organizations and communities.

Vision

We will enable engineering solutions around the world through sustainable partnerships, improving the quality of life for those in need.

Bringing Engineers and Communities Together

Engineers in Action is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Tulsa with offices in Bolivia. Part of the Tulsa Community Foundation, our network includes engineers, students and humanitarians.

Engineers in Action

• Beginning with Community perceived need: Too often U.S. NGO’s come into communities and offer something specific (like water) and ask the community if they want it; which of course they always say they do. They are so desperate, they will accept ANY kind of gift. EIA engineers ask and then sit and listen as the community debates what is the deepest need of the community. Having engineers who are indigenous themselves is crucial to this process. We start with THEIR priority, not ours. That is why we have such a large variety of projects (potable water, sanitation, irrigation, bridges, electricity, soil erosion prevention etc)
• Building complex but sustatinable partnerships. EIA takes the top priority (s) of a community and begins recruiting partners for the project; each with its own special gift to the project. Currently, we are in partnership with 10 EWB-USA chapters, dozens of US, Canadian and Bolivian Rotary Clubs, and many others (see “The Partners of EIA”  in one or more of our 17 projects.
• Providing logistical support for volunteer engineer organizations. Our international staff serves as the local liaison for volunteer teams traveling to construct these projects. We provide transportation, supplies, constant timely communication between US groups and the indigenous community they are working with, culture training, emergency services, reservations for hotels and air fare, consultation, translation services, and engineering services.
• Sustainability – Our Most Important Task. EWB chapters, Rotary Clubs and others are constantly struggling with the “Sustainablity Challenge”. Bolivia and the whole Developing World is littered with well-designed, well-meaning, and often expensive engineering projects that no longer work. Training a few locals in basic operation and maintenance of a project doesn’t work because they forget, they never really understood, or they leave the community. EIA engineers live and work in Bolivia. Once a project is completed, we go back frequently (often every 3 months) to make sure that all is going well, and to train/retrain locals in proper use and basic maintenance of the facility; and they know where to go if there is a major problem.

Policies and Guidelines

Click here to see the EIA policies and guidelines.