Volunteer Spotlight: Kelsey E.

Kelsey E.

What did you find most surprising about your experience working on Engineers Without Borders projects?
The depth of knowledge ingrained in the communities we serve. For example, the people of these communities have developed, over the course of many generations, some highly efficient techniques for building and maintaining structures. There are tools and building materials embedded in the array of native resources that aren’t apparent to the untrained eye—such as natural fibers for rope.

What was the most rewarding part?
It’s monitoring the project after initial implementation, as community members replicate a technology or entire projects throughout their communities. On a recent trip to Zambia during construction of some concrete footings for a school facility, I taught the volunteer local labor how to make “cold joints” between placements of concrete  and explained why it’s important to cover curing concrete while it’s exposed to the sun and heat. In turn, they taught me how to build a small shelter in just a couple of hours from a tree branch frame, tree fiber, and plastic or thatch for the roof depending on what is available. It is rewarding to learn and to share knowledge that they will use in their future construction.

What did you find most challenging?
It’s challenging to build the initial trust, given that there are many organizations that do similar work and with varying degrees of quality. You need to build trust and relationships first—and then discuss the technical designs and options. When the order is reversed, the lack of trust and personal relationships can be a barrier to effective implementation. 

What’s been the most important lesson?
Working hand in hand with the community members breaks down all barriers. We spent all day breaking stones to use as aggregate alongside local volunteers, one of whom was paralyzed in a tragic accident many years ago. Boaz was determined to break the entire pile within two days, and we joined him in this feat. He was asked why he volunteered. His answer? The community had given him so much that building the school was the least he could do. I learned that—for me—lending a hand is not for personal gratification, but more fulfilling a sense of duty to our communities.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Communication is key. We often forget that it’s easy to make a telephone call overseas, and this direct communication with the communities engages them and makes everybody part of the design process and therefore more likely to be proud of and take ownership of the end product.