January 22, 2024

“Engineers Without Borders was the obvious choice…”

January 22, 2024/ Kommunikation EWB-SWE

Engineers Without Borders Sweden (EWB-SWE) expresses its deep gratitude to Mr. Staffan Truvé, co-winner of the prestigious 2023 Polhemspriset award, who generously donates his part of the prize sum consisting of 125,000 SEK to our organization.

Staffan Truvé, the co-founder and CTO of Recorded Future, was recognized for his groundbreaking work in real-time cyberattack detection and analysis.

Polhemspriset, one of Sweden's most esteemed technology awards, has a rich history of honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the country's technological advancement. It is administered by Sveriges Ingenjörer and recognizes those who have propelled Sweden's technical development forward.

“I was honoured to receive the Polhem Prize, and wanted to use the prize to support a good cause that also show the impact engineering can have on helping humanity, and with those conditions Engineers Without Borders was the obvious choice,” says Staffan Truvé.

Staffan Truvé's exceptional donation will greatly support EWB-SWE in its mission to address global challenges through humanitarian engineering and sustainable solutions. We applaud Mr. Truvé's commitment to making the world a better place through his generosity and groundbreaking work.

Watch the film with this year's Polhem Prize winners Christopher Ahlberg and Staffan Truvé where they talk about their innovation and their journey with the company Recorded Future - the world's largest privately held intelligence service, with 17,000 customers from around the world.

January 19, 2024

Exceptional Academic Achievement at Mavuno Modal Girl’s Secondary School

January 19, 2024/ Kommunikation EWB-SWE

We are delighted to announce a remarkable achievement at Mavuno Modal Girl’s Secondary School, the project in focus of our current winter campaign. In the recent national exams for Form 2 students, the school secured an outstanding 53rd place out of 5060 secondary schools in Tanzania.

This achievement is especially significant considering that many of the girls studying at the school come from village schools with limited resources, and some are orphans or hail from economically disadvantaged families.

The school has a long-standing history of delivering exceptional academic results, showcasing the transformative power of education in rural and underprivileged regions. This achievement highlights the importance of supporting schools like Mavuno Modal Girl’s Secondary School and promoting extended education opportunities for girls. It underscores the positive impact of our donor community, whose contributions are making a significant difference in the lives of these students and their communities.

We are immensely proud of Mavuno Modal Girl’s Secondary School academic excellence, and we remain committed to continuing our support for their educational endeavors. Our ongoing project focuses on the construction of a new high school building to expand and enhance the school’s facilities. Together, we are building a brighter future for these girls and their community.

Stay tuned for more updates on our winter campaign and the impact your donations are making.

Read more about our school project here

December 13, 2023

Brainpod at Engineering Day: Perspectives of the Engineer’s role in the climate transition→

December 13, 2023/ Kommunikation EWB-SWE

Listen to our pod session at Engineering Day/Ingenjörsdagen on November 23, exploring perspectives of the engineer’s role in the climate transition. Hosted by Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of EWB-SWE, with prominent guests from the European Commission, Norden International, KTH, STING, and Womengineer.

Guests in this pod session were:

Erik von Pistohlkors, Deputy Head of Representation at the European Commission in Sweden.

Mats Hellström, Chairman of Norden International and Sweden’s former Minister of Foreign Trade, European and Nordic Affairs, and Sweden’s former Minister of Agriculture.

Terrence Brown, Professor in Technology-based Entrepreneurship at KTH.

Karin Ruiz, ClimateTech Lead at Sting.

Marie Ideström, founder and CEO of Womengineer.

We would like to extend a warm thank you to our guests for their participation, and to Max Persson and Linus Persson at Ingenjörsdagen for this great opportunity and for creating such a great event for partners and visitors alike.

December 04, 2023

Celebrating the Power of Collective Action: International Volunteer Day

December 04, 2023/ Kommunikation EWB-SWE

In a world filled with challenges—inequality, global warming, injustice—we all carry our baggage. But where some feel a burden, others discover their strength and find inspiration to take action.PHOTO:UNV

This year, as the world commemorates International Volunteer Day (IVD) on December 5, the focus is on the transformative power of collective action — a theme that resonates deeply with Engineers Without Borders Sweden (EWB-SWE). With the underlying message of 'if everyone did,' this day highlights the limitless possibilities of volunteerism in driving positive sustainable development, fostering inclusive societies, and addressing global challenges.

At EWB-SWE, we proudly stand as a testament to the power of volunteerism. Our organization is driven by the commitment of volunteers - from professional engineers to other specialists, and dedicated students in major university cities. These individuals form the backbone of our operations, embodying the spirit of volunteerism in every project and initiative.

862.4 million volunteers worldwide

According to the 2022 report by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), there are approximately 862.4 million volunteers worldwide, with most volunteering informally among individuals. While 14.3% of the global population engages in this informal volunteering, 6.5% participate in formal volunteering through organizations. Interestingly, while formal volunteers predominantly consist of men, women are more likely to be informal volunteers.

Volunteers play a crucial role

Volunteerism stands as a renewable resource for addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. Volunteers are often the first responders in crises, demonstrating immense resilience and dedication in testing situations. Their role is crucial in building inclusive, peaceful societies, and in achieving goals like universal education, environmental sustainability, and public health.

Driving positive change

This International Volunteer Day, EWB-SWE joins the global community in recognizing and celebrating the invaluable contributions of volunteers. Our own volunteers, through their expertise and commitment, play a pivotal role in our efforts to create sustainable solutions and drive positive change. Their collective actions reflect the theme of this year's IVD: the extraordinary impact that can be achieved when everyone contributes.

#IfEveryoneDid

We would like to join in acknowledging volunteers worldwide by using the hashtags #IfEveryoneDid and #IVD2023. This day, mandated by the UN General Assembly, is not just an occasion to celebrate volunteer efforts but also to share values, promote work in communities, and collaborate with NGOs, UN agencies, government authorities, and the private sector.

In line with the UNV's advocacy for volunteer recognition and its integration into development programming, we at EWB-SWE continue to mobilize volunteers, harnessing their potential to contribute to sustainable development. This International Volunteer Day, let us all acknowledge and celebrate the power of collective action and the remarkable difference each volunteer can make in creating a better world for all.

Caroline Edelstam, Secretary-General, Engineers Without Borders Sweden