Atlanta Engineers Make Progress with Port Antonio Road building Project
by Derrick R. Wright
EWB Surveys Roadway in Portland
Introduction:As part of our ongoing commitment to the communities we serve, we continue to work diligently and very closely with the leaders of various local organizations on projects designed to help the underserved, whether those underserved are in Jamaica or in local communities in the Greater Atlanta area. One such organization with which we are proud to have forged ties of cooperation is Engineers Without Borders USA, Atlanta Professional Chapter (EWB-USA_APC).
Several of you may recall my initial report in January 2007 about an ambitious undertaking EWB-USA_APC had planned for Naylor’s Hill, a small community just outside Port Antonio (see “Engineers Without Borders Project Planned for Port Antonio, Jamaica” in our online newsletter at http://www.kcobaatl.org/2007/Jan/Article5.htm). Now, I am pleased to report that, despite a few initial setbacks, the organization was finally able to make significant strides in their plan to build a road to benefit residents in Naylor’s Hill.
About Engineers Without Borders: According to their Web site (http://www.ewb-usa.org/) EWB-USA is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve quality of life in the related communities. This partnership “involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students,” the site explained. EWB-USA, a chapter-based organization, is a member of the Engineers Without Borders International network. Essentially, students and professional engineers form separate local chapters which take on projects, do fund raising, and provide other engineering consultation and services.
The Local Chapter:
EWB-USA_APC was formed in December 2005. As is the case with its Longmont, Colorado-based EWB-USA parent organization, the Atlanta chapter enjoys 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. Its mission: “A non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to partnering with developing communities to build sustainable infrastructure.” Further, in response to a 2007 questionnaire, the organization listed the following as its goals and objectives:
Mentoring local students
Building international projects
Building local projects, and
Collecting, sharing, and implementing new technologies for sustainable project development.
Student organizations are fully established in metropolitan Atlanta at GA Tech, University of GA and West Lake High School, while one is currently under development at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
Assessment Team Travels to Jamaica:
In 2007 EWB-USA_APC organized a project assessment trip to Naylor’s Hill. The team included:
Sheila Carman (Project Coordinator) – Sheila is a former Peace Corps volunteer who once lived in the Naylor’s Hill community. The Naylor’s Hill project was, in fact, her brainchild. Sheila is also affiliated with Caribbean Student Environmental Alliance (See www.caribbean-sea.org).
Marc Simmons (Road Survey Team and Overall Design Lead) – Marc has since moved to Nashville, but plans to remain involved with the project
Andrew Tsivoglou (Road Survey Team)
William Britt (Road Survey Team)
Krishna Maddi (Road Survey Team and Economic Assessment)
Zakiya Seymour (Health Assessment Team)
Mariel Friberg (Health Assessment Team), and
Eric Chang (Health Assessment Team).
There were several other members who, although they did not actually make the trip to Naylor’s Hill, they nevertheless provided full and invaluable support to the entire effort. Those members were Antonio Inojal, Matt Gabriel, Matt Madden, Eddie McCallum, Vivie Susanto, Ashley Hansgen and Pete Romocki.
The objectives of the trip were to (a) survey the road in question, (b) conduct a community health and economic assessment, and (c) secure project approval from governmental bodies in Jamaica.
Accomplishments for 2007, and a List of Future Plans:
Before the trip the team practiced surveying, secured initial funding, obtained necessary equipment for the trip, and prepared assessment surveys for interviews with community members and healthcare professionals. While in Jamaica, the survey team got necessary data points for design, while the health and economic assessment team interviewed community members and healthcare professionals. The team also met with government authorities, including the Road and Works Department, Portland Parish Council, Portland Environment Protection Association (PEPA), National Water Commission (NWC), and Social Development Commission (SDC).
After returning from Jamaica, the team downloaded the survey data and converted the data to AutoCAD format. In addition, the team completed a formal, 25-page Assessment Trip Report. I reviewed the report myself and was very impressed with the level of detail contained within the report. Essentially, the report covered just about every detail you would want to know about Naylor’s Hill. It does not paint a rosy picture about the community, necessarily, but the reported data items are well sourced, albeit somewhat dated at times.
The EWB-USA_APC team members are currently working arduously on the road design, and they are crunching materials-cost data to compile a detailed cost estimate. The team has already completed rough drainage calculations for the projects, and has developed preliminary plan and profile drawings.
Even now, the team members continue to search for additional funding from a variety of sources. For example, they recently gave formal presentations to organizations such as the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), and the International Erosion Control Association (IACE).
The Road Ahead: Design and Fundraising Tasks (Planned Completion – June 2008)
There are a number of activities on the proverbial drawing board. These include plans to: (a) complete design drawings, (b) develop construction/equipment/material cost estimates, (c) secure Jamaican contractor/distributor for tack, rock, and possibly equipment, (d) develop a construction manual for the members of the community, (e) practice tack and rock construction locally here in Atlanta, and (f) raise necessary funds, which is undoubtedly the biggest challenge of all.
Once the above tasks are completed, EWB-USA_APC will plan either 1- or 2-week site visit, or several staggered site visits. They will have several teams (3 or 4 people each) travel in phases to: (a) instruct community members on road constructing essentials; (b) supervise, provide oversight, and conduct required inspection; and (c) facilitate construction of the more difficult sections of the road.
There are two important noteworthy points, however: (a) EWB-USA-APC will not be on site the entire time the road is being built, and (b) The Road & Works Department may also provide oversight and technical assistance.
Challenges and Successes:
Apart from the difficulties associated with raising the substantial amount of funds required for completing a project of the obvious magnitude, the second biggest challenge to the organization will be to stay on schedule. When asked why the members had missed certain previously set deadlines, they reminded me that they faced two major hurdles. First, certain funds that they were expecting had been delayed. In addition, the team members are saddled with full time jobs of their own, and are working on this Naylor’s Hill project in their available time only. Needless to say, then, it is certainly commendable that, despite the early setbacks, EWB-USA_APC has had such remarkable achievements thus far. That they have come this far is certainly a credit to their high levels of commitment and professionalism, and most of all, their keen and selfless sense of community, on a global scale, no less.
How to Help:
Donations can be made online via credit card. Simply visit http://www.ewb-usa.org, and then navigate to "Donate" -> "Donate to a Chapter" -> "Atlanta Professional Chapter."
Checks can be made payable to "EWB-USA." Be sure to reference the "Atlanta
Professional Chapter" in the memo line.
Mail donations to:
Engineers Without Borders - USA
1811 Lefthand Circle, Suite A-1
Longmont , CO 80501
It should also be noted that EWB-USA_APC members stand readily available to deliver a comprehensive presentation report to the collective membership of any benevolent organization in Atlanta. Simply contact the Atlanta Chapter president or vice president to discuss your various points of interest. Contact information:
