Visit to The Mavuno Project in Karagwe, Tanzania, for their 30-year anniversay, August 2024

Last week we visited Karagwe, Tanzania, together with EWB Germany to celebrate our long-term partner, The Mavuno Project’s 30th anniversary. Engineers Without Borders Sweden was represented by Mrs Susanne Hurtig, accompanied by representatives from EWB Germany. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this significant milestone.

In the days leading up to the anniversary celebration on Augsut 23rd, we visited several key sites associated with the Mavuno Project. These visits provided insight into the ongoing work and progress in the area.

Solar Panel Sites: The solar panel installations are providing essential electricity to local facilities, supporting both the schools and families in the community.

Orchards and Farmland: The agricultural projects, including orchards and farmland, contribute to local food security and offer economic benefits to the community through sustainable farming practices.

Water Tanks and Purification Systems: We visited water tanks and purification systems that are crucial for providing clean water to the community, reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and improving overall health.

Girls' School and New High School Building: The Girls' School and the new High School building are central to the Mavuno Project’s educational initiatives, offering opportunities for quality education, particularly for young women in the region.

During our visits, we also listened to presentations and had the possibility to discuss directly with staff members from different areas of the Mavuno Project, gaining a better understanding of the ongoing efforts and challenges in the region.

As we mark this important milestone for our long-term partner, we are even more committed to developing our partnership with the Mavuno Project and supporting their initiatives in Karagwe.

We are here sharing a short animation with images from these visits, highlighting the solar panel sites, orchards, water tanks, Girls' School, and the new High School building. More photos from the visits will be available later on.

Join EWB-SWE at Frihamnsdagarna in Gothenburg

We are thrilled to announce that Engineers Without Borders Sweden (EWB-SWE) will be participating as an exhibitor at Frihamnsdagarna in Gothenburg, and we warmly invite you to join us for this exciting event! We are most grateful for this fantastic opportunity to connect and network with interesting organisation, companies and individuals during the three-day event.

Event Details:

• Date: 29-31 August 2024

• Location: Bananpiren, Gothenburg

• Admission: Free

Frihamnsdagarna, an annual event since 2021, is a vibrant platform bringing together hundreds of organisations to engage in meaningful conversations about pressing societal issues. With free entry for the public, it promises to be an enriching experience for all attendees.

What to Expect:

• Engaging Seminars: Attend free seminars covering a wide range of topics.

• Interactive Workshops: Participate in hands-on workshops and enhance your knowledge.

• Insightful Panel Discussions: Listen to experts debate and discuss current issues.

• Political Debates: Witness engaging political debates on relevant societal matters.

• Cultural Activities: Enjoy a mix of food, music, and cultural activities throughout the event.

This year’s theme focuses on change and sustainability, encouraging everyone to "Be the change." It’s an excellent opportunity to explore diverse perspectives, gain insights, and contribute to important conversations.

About the Organiser: Frihamnsdagarna is organised by an non-profit association dedicated to societal benefit. The event is non-political, non-religious, and as said non-profit, making it a unique arena for free and open discussions.

We look forward to meeting you at Frihamnsdagarna. Join us at Bananpiren from 29-31 August to be part of Sweden’s new arena for free conversation and collective action towards a sustainable future.

Visit our exhibition page

See you in Gothenburg!

EWB-SWE Collaborates with Norden International for Upcoming WASH Seminar

We are pleased to announce our collaboration with Norden International for the upcoming WASH seminar on September 3rd. Norden International, a politically and religiously independent association affiliated with the Norden Association (Föreningen Norden), is dedicated to strengthening communication, collaboration, and knowledge exchange within the Nordic countries and internationally.

Mats Hellström, Chair of Norden International and Sweden’s former Minister of Foreign Trade, EU-Affairs, Nordic Issues, and Agriculture, shared his thoughts on this partnership: "The collaboration with Engineers Without Borders Sweden is rooted in our shared commitment to sustainability and reflects our dedication to dialogue and innovation. It also underscores the importance of Nordic values and principles in driving positive global impact.”

Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers Without Borders Sweden, highlighted the significance of this joint effort: “Together, we aim to develop sustainable solutions that will benefit communities and the environment alike, demonstrating the power of collective action in creating a more resilient and equal world."

This partnership emphasises our mutual commitment to working towards sustainable development and innovation through collaborative efforts. We look forward to a productive seminar that will address critical water challenges and explore innovative solutions for a better future.

Presenting Our Half-Year Report: January - June 2024

We are delighted to share our Half-Year Report, covering the significant events and milestones achieved during the first six months of 2024. The report highlights our ongoing efforts and progress in various projects and collaborations aimed at promoting sustainable engineering solutions and enhancing education and inclusivity.

Key Highlights:

• January: We concluded our Winter Campaign and launched the School Campaign 2024. A major donation was received from Polhem Prize Laureate Truvé, and Mavuno Secondary School achieved an outstanding academic ranking.

• February: Sustainable Engineering Week was celebrated in four cities, accompanied by a Happy Valentine Campaign. Our local student groups arranged lunch seminars at universities across Sweden.

• March: We welcomed News Machine as a new pro bono partner for our Global Newsfeed. The Alstom Foundation supported our WASH project in Tanzania, and we initiated a collaboration with "IT for Children" in Ghana. Caroline Edelstam signed a call for a non-profit cause.

• April: Windows were installed in the new high school in Mavuno, TZ. The Mavuno project was featured in CATCH’s review, and we held a strategic meeting. We also shared EWB Norway’s initiative for Gaza and appointed Jan Burenius as our new Chairman of the Board.

• May: EWB-SWE reached the finals in The Next Awards and hosted a successful Missing Maps Mapathon. Our water project in Chile was endorsed by the Chilean Embassy, and we launched a new WASH project in collaboration with ESF Chile. WOW Foundation became a new partner for our Engineer2Engineer initiative.

• June: Ingenjörsfirman Rörkraft joined as a Bronze partner. The recruitment for the Sandvik mentorship program closed, and we provided an update on the WASH for Schools project in Tanzania. Solar panels were delivered to the school in Mavuno, and we began planning our summer campaign with a WASH focus. The local student group in Lund restarted, and we celebrated International Women in Engineering Day 2024.

Additional Highlights:

• Missing Maps in May: Over 50 dedicated mappers participated in our Mapathon, mapping flood-affected areas in Demak Regency, Indonesia.

• New Collaboration with WOW Foundations: We are proud to welcome WOW Foundations as a new partner, supporting the integration of foreign-born and refugee women into Swedish society and offering free membership to those with engineering qualifications.

• International Women in Engineering Day: We celebrated the achievements of women engineers within our organisation, with interviews facilitated by our partner Sandvik.

Fundraising Efforts:

• Q1-Q2: Fundraising focused on the installation of solar panels at the new high school building in Mavuno and additional WASH projects at schools in Karagwe, Tanzania.

• Q3: Our Summer Campaign will highlight the importance of water, showcasing ongoing WASH projects in Chile, Bangladesh, and Tanzania.

Communications and Publicity:

We continue to refine our brand-building strategy to engage more effectively with our audiences, raise awareness within the engineering and academic communities, and expand our network. Our media publicity has highlighted major donations, new corporate partnerships, and the excellent academic results at our programme schools.

Stay updated on our journey as we strive to engineer a more sustainable, equal, and inclusive future. For more information, visit www.ewb-swe.org.

Welcome to a Seminar on Water Challenges in Latin America

We are happy to announce an upcoming seminar on September 3rd, organised in collaboration with the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies (NILAS) at Stockholm University, Engineers Without Borders Sweden, the European Commission, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and Norden International, with the support of GRULAC Stockholm.

The seminar will address critical water issues in Latin America, focusing on the lack of infrastructure, insufficient international support, and planning risks.

The seminar will gather leading experts and practitioners to discuss solutions and innovations emerging from civil society and their impact on human rights, peace, governance, sustainability, and equal water access in Latin America.

Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers Without Borders Sweden, emphasises the significance of this seminar:

"This event is a great opportunity to address  the pressing water challenges in Latin America. It brings together an incredible pool of expertise to share insights and drive forward innovative solutions. We are honoured to be part of such an important dialogue."

Agenda Highlights

The seminar will start off with welcoming remarks by Dr. Thaïs Machado-Borges, Director of NILAS, and Ms. Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers Without Borders Sweden. Ambassador Milton Soto Santiesteban, the Ambassador of Bolivia to Sweden, will provide an introduction to the challenges posed by climate change in Latin America. Mr. Tommy Lindström from Engineers Without Borders Sweden will present the current water situation in Latin America and talk further about the Aqua 365 project in Chile.

Ms. Adriana Soto Trujillo of the Stockholm Environment Institute will offer insights on integrating WASH and IWRM in Bolivia, followed by Ms. Carla Liera, who will present aspects regarding human rights and water-related climate risks in Mexico. The seminar will conclude with Mr. Erik von Pistohlkors from the European Commission discussing the EU's perspective on future international community support for Latin America. The session will end with a discussion and Q&A session moderated by Professor Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano from NILAS, Stockholm University.

Read and download the full agenda here

Details:

• Date: September 3, 2024

• Time: 5.30 – 6.45 PM

• Venue: The Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies, Stockholm University, Universitetsvägen 10 B, Building B, 5th floor, Frescati, Stockholm.

The seminar will be conducted in English and it will also be live-streamed. Sign up below to receive the link to the livestream as well.

We look forward to welcoming you to this important event. Please register at the following link: