Howard University Engineers Without Borders Adopt Water Insecurity Project in Kenya

The Engineers Without Borders Howard University Chapter (EWB-HU) has officially adopted a project from EWB-USA to help address the water insecurity issues of the Kogwari community in Homa Bay County, Nyanza, Kenya. 

The project team led by Monica Maya, chemical engineering senior and EWB-HU president, traveled to Kenya in mid-May to conduct the initial community engagement and site assessment visit.

"Kenya is beautiful, along with its people who are so grateful and giving. They shaped my view on how collaboration can bring about creativity and a passion for doing good. I can't wait for more students to have the opportunity to support EWB-HU's initiative of global water equity," said Maya.

John Tharakan, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering, serves as faculty advisor for EWB-HU and also for the project. Other traveling team members include Rachel Maxwell, rising architecture sophomore and Moses Sikuku, a civil engineer and technical mentor.

This trip marked the first of three phases in a clean water supply project. During this initial visit, the team engaged directly with the community and surveyed the land to identify a potential location for a borehole. 

Water inequality remains one of the most urgent challenges in the world today, adversely affecting the quality of life for millions of people. According to the United Nations University, in Africa alone, almost 500 million people still live without access to clean and safe drinking water.

EWB-HU is working to help the Kogwari community resolve their water insecurity with applied research, data collection, and collaboration with local contractors and engineers. This is only the beginning of their work on the project.

Throughout their stay, the team was welcomed with open arms by the Kogwari people, whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impression. While EWB-HU strives to be a resource for the Kogwari community in securing clean water, the community has offered the team a powerful example of a sustainable, interdependent, and hardworking community.

In the months ahead, EWB-HU will continue to fundraise, collaborate, and strengthen connections with the Kogwari community in preparation for returning to Kenya next year.

EWB-HU aims to embody what it means to be engineers not just of systems, but of change, equity, and community growth. The team is grateful for the opportunity to begin this journey and build a lasting relationship between Howard University and the Kogwari community.

Pictured at top: Sikuku, Maxwell, Tharakan and Maya.