Carroll College Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Guatemala team traveled to Santo Tomás La Unión on January 2-8, 2025. The team worked with community partners to build two structural walls inside an existing school building in a region prone to frequent earthquakes. The multi-year project aims to strengthen the campus's structural resilience by constructing additional walls and columns in several buildings.
The project team consisted of one Professional Engineer, a Faculty Advisor, two Engineering students, one Chemistry student, one Business student, and two Nursing students. Working in partnership with local craftsmen, students rolled up their sleeves to mix concrete by hand and place hundreds of CMU blocks. Our students displayed professionalism, cultural sensitivity, incredible work ethic, and a deep compassion for others. Building off a fifteen-year collaboration between Carroll College, the Diocese of Helena, and the Centro Educativo Santiago de la Asunción, future trips will include implementing more structural walls and continued monitoring and evaluation.
"This experience was incredible. The people we got to know and work alongside were so kind and welcoming. Though there was a language barrier we found ways to communicate with each other that allowed us to connect and work collaboratively. As someone who is not an engineering major, I really enjoyed learning about the process of structural wall construction and actively participating in the implementation of a project. Learning all the skills involved in this project from people so willing to teach was one of my favorite parts. This trip is something I will remember fondly and will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be part of." - Emilie Turpen, Senior, Nursing
“One of the most valuable lessons from this experience is learning that the way we typically do things isn’t always the only or the “right” way. This trip encourages an open-minded perspective, showing how diverse approaches can be just as effective, if not more so, when working on solutions. By the end of the trip, you leave behind not only a completed project that everyone can be proud of but also a lasting impression of teamwork, cultural respect, and mutual accomplishment.” - Audrey Narum, Senior, Nursing
EWB projects unite student volunteers and community members to build appropriate, long-lasting solutions for infrastructure needs. The Carroll College EWB program is run exclusively by student volunteers, overseen by faculty volunteers, and made possible by generous gifts from sponsors like you. In addition to structural retrofitting in Guatemala, the club is also implementing sanitation improvements at a school in Uganda. To learn more about supporting EWB opportunities, look for our cause in the March 20-21 Saints Giving Day 24-hour campaign or contact the Office of Institutional Advancement, at advancement@carroll.edu or 406-447-4491.