A group of engineering students from Minnesota State Mankato will be spending their winter break helping a community in El Salvador, through the program Engineers Without Borders.
Pure water is a luxury many Americans take for granted.
"Over here we're so used to having it at our disposal, but over there it's just not like that," engineering student Kassie Ellsworth says.
"Over there" happens to be the tiny village of Piedras Azules, El Salvador, and good water is tough to come by.
"They don't have water plumbed to each of their houses; they have three community taps for those 400 homes," says engineering student Carl Sorensen. "So often times it means walking a distance up to a mile to get your water, and most of the time that's done by women and children."
Which is why a group of Minnesota State Mankato engineering students who are part of a program called Engineers Without Borders are going to help.
The rural community's water supply hasn't been updated in 50 years, and the population has grown from 40 homes to 400. Over break eight students and a mentor will travel to the remote location, assess the situation and work on a design to improve the quality and quantity of water going into the village.
"I don' think you get many chances like this to make an impact on a community of 400 homes as a student, so that's a pretty special thing for us," one student says.
Throughout this project students will put their skills and knowledge to the test, and while the purpose is to learn, for these students it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give back.
"I think it's going to be heartbreaking, but it's going to be awesome to try and have a positive impact on that," Ellsworth says.
An impact with the power to change lives. These Engineers Without Borders students have set a goal to have their design in service by next summer. True humanitarians on a pure path to create positive change.
For the KEYC-TV online story, click on http://www.keyc.tv/node/44312.
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