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Western Engineers in Action: Building Hope and Changing Lives in Bolivia and Eswatini

This past summer, members of Western Engineers in Action (WEIA) used their engineering expertise to create lasting impact in two parts of the world — bringing clean water to a remote community in Bolivia and safe passage to residents in Eswatini.

These projects are part of WEIA’s mission to empower students to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges while working alongside local communities to build sustainable, life-changing infrastructure.

(L-R) Third-year civil and environmental engineering student Jennifer Gittins Hernandez, recent civil and environmental engineering graduate Chris Cameron-Kogler and head mason Félix Apaza built a schoolyard water fountain in the Aymara Community of Chocopampa, Bolivia. (Submitted) 

Delivering Clean Water to Chocopampa, Bolivia

In the rural community of Chocopampa, third-year Civil and Environmental Engineering student Jennifer Gittins Hernandez and recent graduate Chris Cameron-Kogler helped design and implement a gravity-fed water distribution system that delivers consistent access to clean water throughout the year.

Before this project, families faced severe water shortages during the dry season, relying on distant and unreliable sources. Working in Bolivia’s mountainous terrain, the Western team designed a spring capture structure, reinforced pump house, and laid more than 10 kilometres of HDPE piping, ensuring that every home in the community could access clean, sustainable water.

“It was eye-opening to see how engineering principles could be adapted to real-world challenges outside the classroom,” said Gittins Hernandez. “Working in Bolivia taught me how to apply technical knowledge in resource-limited settings using simple tools, local materials, and creative problem-solving.”

For both students, living and working off the grid was as much a lesson in resilience as it was in engineering.

“We didn’t have access to basic resources such as electricity, heat, showers and trips to the grocery store were hard to come by, considering it was about a 5-hour drive through the mountains,” said Cameron-Kogler. “But we made it through every day thanks to the team we assembled, plus the community showed us we could make it with resilience and appreciation. They taught us to respect Mother Nature and the land we were working on while showing up daily to work with a positive attitude.”

One of the team’s most meaningful achievements was bringing running water to the local school, giving children access to clean water for the first time. They also led hygiene education sessions on handwashing and dental care — small steps that will have a big impact on community health.

“Watching the system come to life from the first trench to the final water flow was unforgettable,” said Gittins Hernandez. “It wasn’t just about building infrastructure — it was about seeing how engineering can directly improve people’s daily lives.” 

Connecting Communities in Eswatini

Western engineering students (L to R) Raymond Jarvis and Panos Tzanetakis were part of the Engineers in Action group that designed and built a footbridge to serve a rural Eswatini community. (Submitted)

Meanwhile, across the world in Eswatini, second-year Mechatronics and AISE student Panos Tzanetakis and second-year Mechanical and AISE student Raymond Jarvis took on a different challenge — building a 108-metre suspension bridge across the Ingwavuma River in one of the country’s most remote regions.

Before the project, residents had no safe way to cross the river, which became impassable during the rainy season. Over the past three years, the lack of a bridge had led to multiple injuries and fatalities, cutting off access to schools, hospitals, and markets.

Working alongside local engineers, masons, and community members, the team helped construct a durable steel-reinforced suspension bridge supported by concrete anchors and steel cables — a structure that now provides safe, year-round access for more than 1,300 residents, including nearly 900 children.

“As Project Manager, I had the opportunity to take on immense responsibility and grow both personally and professionally,” said Tzanetakis. “Applying the technical skills I learned at Western in such an impactful way is something most engineers don’t get to do until much later in their careers.”

The project site’s isolation created logistical hurdles, with materials delayed and roads often impassable, but the team adapted quickly and worked tirelessly alongside the local community.

“It was indescribable to see the bridge come to life,” said Tzanetakis. “Watching the community’s reaction — especially seeing kids run across the bridge for the first time — was an emotional reminder of why we do this work.” 

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Across both projects, the students described their time abroad as transformative — an opportunity to test their technical knowledge, leadership, and resilience in ways that can’t be replicated in a lecture hall. 

“Every day is a chance to connect deeply with a new culture and learn from people with entirely different perspectives,” said Gittins Hernandez. “It’s beautiful to slow down, live simply, and find peace in a different rhythm of life.”

For others considering experiential learning, the advice was unanimous: do it.

“Get out of your comfort zone and put your academic experience to use in a real-world setting,” said Cameron-Kogler. “You’ll learn more about humility and privilege than any textbook can teach.” 

The Power of Partnership

Both projects were made possible through Engineers in Action, a non-profit organization that connects engineering
students with international communities in need of critical infrastructure.

“Projects like this are only possible through the help of sponsors and donations,” said Tzanetakis. “We’re so grateful to Western Engineering, Edison Engineers Inc., EllisDon, and The Guilfoyle Foundation for making it possible for us to go overseas and complete the Eswatini bridge.”

Through collaboration between universities, donors, and dedicated communities, Western Engineers in Action continues to prove that engineering can be a powerful force for good — building not just bridges and water systems, but also global understanding and human connection.