Engineers Without Borders (UK)
Encyclopedia
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UK (or EWB-UK) is a UK-based registered charity
and NGO, operated primarily by UK-based university students. Its mission is to Facilitate Human Development through Engineering
.
EWB-UK is a non-operational charity, in that it does not undertake its own projects, but supports those of other organisations. It maintains links, but currently no formal affiliations with, the other international organisations bearing the name Engineers Without Borders
.
The aims of EWB-UK are to:
EWB-UK is a company limited by guarantee
(registered in England
and Wales
, number 4856607) and a registered charity (registered in England and Wales, number 1101849). Its registered office is Engineers Without Borders UK, c/o The Humanitarian Centre
, Fenner's
, Gresham Road, Cambridge, CB1 2ES, United Kingdom.
in 2001, at the original suggestion of Parker Mitchell
(co-founder of EWB Canada
) who was then doing an MPhil in Sustainable Development
at the university. Sarah Hindle (Engineering undergrad) and Richard Sargeant (Political Science undergrad) were the first directors and recruited and ran the executive.
In 2002, with the help of an initial £10,000 donation from Anglo American, EWB-UK arranged its first overseas placement in Pondicherry, India, with an organisation called ORSED. The first Clare Farm training course also took place. Work began on building research and knowledge sharing capacity.
In the years since, under a number of different directors, the number and variety of training courses, overseas placements (which now amounts to 60 per year) and more recently research projects has grown significantly. The number of branches has now grown to 31.
South West
Wales
Midlands and North West
Scotland
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
and NGO, operated primarily by UK-based university students. Its mission is to Facilitate Human Development through Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
.
EWB-UK is a non-operational charity, in that it does not undertake its own projects, but supports those of other organisations. It maintains links, but currently no formal affiliations with, the other international organisations bearing the name Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders – International is an international association of some national EWB/ISF groups, whose mission is to facilitate collaboration, exchange of information, and assistance among its member groups that have applied to become part of the association...
.
Mission & Aims
EWB-UK's mission is to facilitate human development through engineering.The aims of EWB-UK are to:
- educate, and raise the awareness of, students and others about issues in human development;
- promote research related to, and actively contribute towards, engineering solutions for human development;
- provide an ongoing supply of competent and knowledgeable professional development workers, and;
- become a mark of excellence for those looking to become involved with development work.
Approach
To achieve its mission and its aims, EWB-UK:- trains and educates students and recent graduates in development theory and practice;
- uses student volunteers and academics to undertake research;
- uses professional volunteers to support its work;
- provides suitable students and recent graduates on placements to partner organisations and developing communities to help fulfill their engineering needs, and;
- raises funding from ethical sources (see ethical policy).
Organisation and Structure
The structure of EWB-UK incorporates a variety of functional units.- An independent Board of Trustees which:
- oversees the operations of EWB-UK, ensuring they are in line with its mission and its aims;
- appoints the senior management;
- is ultimately responsible for the operations and policies of EWB-UK;
- A National Executive consisting of student volunteers which commits to;
- overseeing the operations of EWB-UK and providing support to its branches;
- organising and co-ordinating worthwhile overseas placements with partner organisations, at a suitable technical level for EWB-UK's volunteers;
- facilitating technical engineering research into development issues at universities;
- fundraising for EWB-UK projects and activities;
- University branches which are run by and for students, focusing on:
- public and student awareness of human development by arranging educating activities such as speaker series, field trips and training courses;
- promoting and co-ordinating research on relevant topics within university departments;
- encouraging and assisting students to volunteer for worthwhile overseas placement work under the supervision of partner organisations;
- arranging social events to encourage involvement and allow students, academics and professionals to meet, and;
- fundraising activities for the branch and the entire EWB-UK organisation;
- Partner non-governmental organisations which:
- use, train and supervise EWB-UK volunteers on overseas and UK based placement projects;
- suggest topics for research which will meet real needs for developing communities, and;
- work with EWB-UK for mutual support;
- A Professional Network run by and made up of qualified professionals who:
- offer practical support and advice to the other parts of EWB-UK;
- arrange their own events to further the aims of EWB-UK amongst professionals, and;
- provide ongoing involvement for those who have graduated;
- Sponsoring bodies including individual donors and companies which embrace the ideals of EWB-UK and operate under high ethical standards.
EWB-UK is a company limited by guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
(registered in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, number 4856607) and a registered charity (registered in England and Wales, number 1101849). Its registered office is Engineers Without Borders UK, c/o The Humanitarian Centre
The Humanitarian Centre
The Humanitarian Centre is a Cambridge-based hub organization which works to bring together local humanitarian organisations and societies, providing a local network and resources...
, Fenner's
Fenner's
Fenner's is the University of Cambridge's cricket ground.-History:Fenner's has hosted first-class cricket since 1848, and many of the world's great players have graced the wicket. The ground was established on land leased for the purpose by Francis Fenner, after whom the ground is named.Playing for...
, Gresham Road, Cambridge, CB1 2ES, United Kingdom.
History
EWB-UK was started by a group of students at Cambridge UniversityUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 2001, at the original suggestion of Parker Mitchell
Parker Mitchell
Parker Mitchell is the co-founder and former co-CEO of Engineers Without Borders . He and George Roter founded the Canadian organization in 2000.Mitchell has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a B.A...
(co-founder of EWB Canada
Engineers Without Borders (Canada)
Engineers Without Borders Canada , abbreviated EWB or ISF, is a non-governmental organization devoted to international development...
) who was then doing an MPhil in Sustainable Development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
at the university. Sarah Hindle (Engineering undergrad) and Richard Sargeant (Political Science undergrad) were the first directors and recruited and ran the executive.
In 2002, with the help of an initial £10,000 donation from Anglo American, EWB-UK arranged its first overseas placement in Pondicherry, India, with an organisation called ORSED. The first Clare Farm training course also took place. Work began on building research and knowledge sharing capacity.
In the years since, under a number of different directors, the number and variety of training courses, overseas placements (which now amounts to 60 per year) and more recently research projects has grown significantly. The number of branches has now grown to 31.
Branches
South EastSouth West
Wales
Midlands and North West
Scotland