Mavuno Project Visit: Breakfast Seminar at Sandvik

On 10 June, Engineers Without Borders Sweden had the great pleasure of welcoming our long-standing partner, the Mavuno Project from Karagwe, Tanzania, to Stockholm. Mr Charles Bahati, Director of the Mavuno Project, and Ms Gloria Katabazi, Principal of the Mavuno Model Girls’ Secondary School, visited as part of their tour to strengthen ongoing collaborations.

The visit started with a breakfast seminar generously hosted by Sandvik at their headquarters. The event brought together Sandvik staff with representatives from EWB-SWE: Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General; giving some opening remark, and Marianne Grauers, Vice Chair of the EWB-SWE Board, participating in the talk.

During the session, Charles and Gloria shared valuable insights into the work of Mavuno, from improving education opportunities for girls to developing sustainable water and sanitation solutions in their district of Karagwe. Karagwe is one of the eight districts of the Kagera Region in north-western Tanzania, bordering Uganda and Rwanda.

The presentation sparked great interest, and many questions were asked by the Sandvik staff. We believe it was rewarding for many at Sandvik to finally meet in person with representatives from a project they have been hearing about and following for a long time.

We are sincerely grateful to Sandvik for inviting us and for their continued and strong engagement in our joint efforts. Meetings like these are valuable opportunities to share our experiences, strengthen partnerships, and continue building long-term collaborations.

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Lunch at World Trade Center Stockholm

Following the breakfast seminar, there was a pleasant lunch at the World Trade Center in Stockholm, joined by parts of the EWB-SWE Secretariat and Board. Mr Joel Nedar, Founder of Improvin, also attended the lunch. EWB-SWE Chairman Jan Burenius made a brief visit to greet the delegation before the group continued their busy programme.

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Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Impact

In June 2025, Engineers Without Borders Sweden had the great pleasure of welcoming representatives from our long-standing partner organisation, the Mavuno Project in Karagwe, Tanzania, for a full day of meetings and knowledge exchange in Stockholm. Mr Charles Bahati, Director of the Mavuno Project, and Ms Gloria Katabazi, Principal of Mavuno Model Girls’ Secondary School, met with Swedish partners from industry, education and civil society to share experiences, explore new ideas, and further strengthen our collaboration.

The visit reflected the heart of our joint work: long-term partnerships, local leadership and a shared passion for humanitarian engineering — improving the lives of young people and their communities through education, sustainable solutions and engineering expertise.

Join our new professional group!

Engineers Without Borders Sweden is proud to launch a new National Professional Group – a network designed to bring together engineers and professionals from across Sweden who share a passion for sustainable development and global equity.

This new initiative will create space for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and professional engagement beyond borders. Whether you're already involved in EWB-SWE or curious to learn more, this event is for you. You’ll get the chance to meet like-minded professionals, learn about the vision for the group, and explore how you can be part of shaping its direction from the start.

The new groups was launched on May 20, and is open to anyone with an interest in sustainable engineering, social impact, and professional development within the EWB-SWE community. Please find the presentation below.

We’ll be sharing more details about the agenda and future activities, and tools to connect, soon – but if you are interested in joining, please send us a heads-up.

To become a part of our professional groups you are required to become a member, so if you are not already a member of EWB-SWE please follow this link to join.

📩 If you have any questions, feel free to contact our group leader Pontus Bengtson at pontus.bengtson@ewb-swe.org

You are a vital part of our new group! We look forward to exploring and developing this concept together!

🌍 Leadership for Impact: How to Lead the World to a Better Place

How can leadership, volunteerism, and limited resources contribute to real change? Join the Leadership Network Avancez for an inspiring hybrid event with Engineers Without Borders Sweden / Ingenjörer utan gränser, and guest speakers Jan Burenius and Ellen Andreasson, who will share insights from leading in volunteer-driven and start-up environments.

🗓️ When: Thursday, May 22nd at 18:15 (CET)
📍 Where: On-site at Chalmers (Gothenburg) or online via Zoom
🔗 Sign up on the link below for both IRL and Zoom attendance

Let’s explore what it means to lead with purpose. Welcome!

Sign up on the button below >>

Annual Meeting and Members' Day 2025

Saturday 26 April, Engineers Without Borders Sweden gathered for our Annual Meeting and Members' Day in the centre of Stockholm. It was a beautiful spring day, and the lush surroundings of Zinkensdamm Hostel and Conference Centre provided a wonderful setting for the event.

We began the day by enjoying a shared lunch, creating a warm and collegial atmosphere. This was followed by our Annual Meeting, during which Chairperson Jan Burenius, Treasurer Jan Byfors, and Secretary General Caroline Edelstam presented the Annual Report, reviewing the organisation’s achievements and activities over the past year.

New member of the board
We are delighted to welcome Ellen Andréasson to the Board as our newest Board Member. Her addition brings fresh energy and insight as we continue to grow and evolve.

Report from the Secretariat
Following the formal meeting, the Secretariat shared updates on forthcoming initiatives. Secretary General Caroline Edelstam, Head of Communications Carin Balfe Arbman, and Head of International Projects Susanne Hurtig each spoke on their respective areas of work, highlighting exciting activities, communications developments, mentorship opportunities, and the progress of international projects and feasibility studies.

Launch of new national group
Board Member Pontus Bengtson also presented the launch of a new national professional group, planned for 20 May. A live poll among attendees showed strong support for this initiative, with many expressing keen interest in participating.

Student group presentations
After a short break, five local student groups – Chalmers, KTH, Linköping, Luleå, and Umeå – took the stage. Representatives shared their current projects, learnings, and future plans, offering inspiring insights into their work. We were especially pleased to welcome our newest local group from Umeå.

Special competence groups
The day concluded with presentations from the Competence Groups, who showcased both past accomplishments and upcoming endeavours. It was truly encouraging to hear about their activities and ambitions, which added to the heartening spirit of the gathering.

Thank you and all!
Secretary General Caroline Edelstam extended thanks to everyone who helped organise the day. Chairperson Jan Burenius closed the event with reflections on the early days of EWB-SWE and the advisory board, speaking about the importance of entrepreneurship in driving sustainability in engineering.

The human factor
We clearly see how valuable it is to meet in person and to have the opportunity to talk to and interact with colleagues and fellow members. This became especially clear during the mingle and dinner afterwards, where new energy, positivity, and many new ideas were sparked, further building and strengthening our network. It is a strong reminder that at the core of all our work lies the human connection – collaboration, shared experiences, and mutual support are essential to driving meaningful and sustainable change.

The Members’ Day meetup continues on Sunday April 27, with workshops for the competence groups and the local student groups, plus a strategy meeting for the Board.

Material Matters – Natural Materials in Building Construction, After Work seminar with ASF Sweden, May 21st

We are happy to invite you, together with the local Stockholm chapter of ASF (Arkitekter Utan Gränser), to an upcoming after-work event in Stockholm at 17:30. The seminar will explore the use of natural materials in building construction. One of the speakers is Raine Isaksson, a well-known expert from EWB-WWE. The event will take place both in person at White’s office in Stockholm and online via Zoom. Please see the attached invitation for further details.

The invitation from ASF:

The local Stockholm chapter of ASF (Arkitekter Utan Gränser) is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming after-work! This time, we’ll explore the use of natural materials in building construction and how they can contribute to more sustainable, resilient, and meaningful architecture. Join us for an inspiring evening of ideas, discussions, and mingling with like-minded peers. The event is in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders Sweden

Date and time: May 21 at 17.30
Location: White Arkitekter, Östgötagatan 100,116 92 Stockholm & Online
Zoom link: https://whitearkitekter.zoom.us/j/82787851860

Program
17.30- Welcome and mingle
18.00 - ASF presentation
18:10- Reflections from the Econef project in Tanzania by Carolina Wikström
18:35- Presentation on Understanding building sustainability in the Global South - discussing the roles of architects and the limitations of bio-based materials by Raine Isaksson
19:00- Presentation on natural materials in building construction by Johan Jönsson
19.25- Q&A and Discussion
19.40- Mingle

Registration is not required for attending the event. For participants attending in person we will have alcohol-free drinks and snacks.