Dr. Ruben Mamani – Director of Operations
[Personal Blog]
Dr. Mamani is an Aymara Indian (indigenous) and the son of a former bishop of the Methodist Church. His undergraduate degree was at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. His masters and Doctorate in Environmental Engineering is from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Mamani left a lucrative job paying $3,000/month in Mexico City to come home and work with EIA for $400/month in 2007.
Dr. Mamani works “part-time”, only about 40-50 hours a week! In addition to his work with EIA, Ruben researches and writes on the impact of Global Warming on Bolivia. Dr. Mamani is considered one of the ‘experts’ in this area, and has done research papers for:
- A Consortium developed and funded by the European Union to work on Environmental issues in the Andes. Dr. Mamani was representing the Bolivian government and was asked personally by President Evo Morales to take the job.
- Research on Global warming for the United Nations.
- He is also conducting research in aerosols for a project in the Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics in the local university UMSA.
- He is finishing up a report regarding the Economic Impacts of Climate Change in Bolivia for the Inter American Development Bank.
- And just to fill his spare time, Ruben is serving as one of the judges in a design contest for ecological housing organized by Habitat for Humanity Bolivia.
Dr. Mamani said in the interview: “I see working for EIA as an opportunity to serve; to help my community. Yes I will be making less money, but it is more important work. I’ve always wanted to be a missionary; but not like my father who is a pastor. I wanted to be a missionary who would improve the lives of our communities. With Engineers In Action and the bringing of EWB Chapters from North America to Bolivia, I will feel like I have accomplished something important.
“In the US it is easy to find a job; but the job may not be meaningful. I asked myself, what does God want me to do? That is what makes me want to come home to Bolivia and work with EIA and EWB.”
Ruben serves as the Director of Operations, translating engineering requests from indigenous communities and writing proposals for infrastructure projects.
Milton de la Cruz Rivera, Project Manager- EWB Projects Engineer
Milton was born and raised in Tarija, Bolivia on the border with Argentina. He graduated from the Universidad Mayor de San Andres (in La Paz) obtaining a license in Civil Engineer in 1986. Milton has been a practicing engineer for over 20 years, doing many consulting and design projects, the largest one being the project manager and coordinator for the construction of the Cinemateca Boliviana: the principal cultural center in the capital of La Paz, Bolivia. He is married to Margarita Machaca Mamani and has a boy, Samuel, who is ten years old.
Milton works full-time handling project development for EIA in Bolivia. Milton coordinates our efforts to improve the infrastructure of communities.
Afnan Agromont – Project Manager – Chiquitano Safe Water Project
Dr. Mamani, in 2008 spoke to engineering students at the Universidad de Major de San Andres (UMSA) (in La Paz) about starting an EWB chapter. A junior named Afnan Agromonte was the first to volunteer, and quickly became their leader and President of EWB-UMSA. In this capacity, Afnan made several trips with EWB-KU to Azacillo.
Afnan graduated in Chemcial Engineering from UMSA in April 2009. Upon graduation, Afnana was offered a lucrative job with the Bolivian Oil Company making $1,500/mo. However, instead he came to our offices and asked if he might be able to work for us so he could ‘make a difference in my country’. We offered him $450/mo and he began working for EIA in June, 2009. In 2011 Afnan achieved the status of a professional engineer in Bolivia.
Afnan is the lead engineer in the Chiquitano Forest Safe Water Project; researching, maintaining, and putting in hand pumps on over 200 water wells serving around 60,000 people of the Chiquitano Forest in Eastern Bolivia.
Jose (Joe) Alvarez – Project Manager – Kumurana Mine Wastewater treatment Project
Jose (Joe) Alvarez, a Quechua from a small village outside of Cochabamba, Bolivia, and 2008 Civil Engineering graduate from The University of Texas at Arlington. Joe considers himself a misplaced Texan.
Joe began working for EIA in May, 2009. Joe is working in the EIA office in La Paz and in Potosi at the Kumurana Mine Waste Water Treatment System. Joe is the on-site engineer for the construction of this treatment system designed by the Center for the Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds at the University of Oklahoma. If this project is successful, we may replicate this project through out Bolivia.
Marcos Robison – EWB Project Manager
Marcos Robison is the son of North American Missionaries, but is born and raised in Bolivia – an Amer-Bolivian? Marcos served as a translator for EWB teams while he was going to school at the Catholic University in La Paz. Working with EWB teams gave him a sense of direction and purpose; and he changed his major to Civil Engineering. In April of 2010, Marcos graduated from school and came to work for EIA.
Marcos works as the Project Manager for 3 EIA-EWB projects out of our La Paz office.