UCLA Students Drive Global Change Through Engineering Projects

UCLA students are making significant strides in global development through their involvement with Engineers Without Borders (EWB). This student-led organization partners with underserved communities to create sustainable solutions addressing basic human needs. Since its establishment in 2004, the UCLA chapter has expanded its reach across multiple countries, focusing on projects that deliver tangible benefits to local populations.

In April 2023, Julia Gutierrez, a mathematics of computation major, attended an EWB meeting that transformed her academic trajectory. Initially focused on a career in aerospace, Gutierrez became co-project manager for a clean-water initiative in Uganda. “I want to be involved in work that has a real-world impact,” she stated, emphasizing her desire to contribute meaningfully to society.

Impactful Projects Across the Globe

The UCLA chapter of EWB has a history of implementing impactful projects. In 2021, the group committed to a clean-water project in the farming village of Bukonko, Uganda. The project was initiated amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-project manager Logan McDevitt noted that the aim was to extend the club’s influence globally, having previously focused on domestic projects.

The team developed a two-part plan to provide clean water to the village. The first phase involved drilling a hand pump well closer to the village center, followed by upgrading it to a solar-powered unit. In January 2024, drilling commenced, yielding a remarkable output of 64,400 gallons of clean water per day. Community members celebrated the success, expressing gratitude for the students’ efforts.

Another noteworthy project involved supporting Anjali Tamang in Nepal. Tamang, a survivor of human trafficking, established the Freedom School to combat trafficking and child marriage. To support this initiative, UCLA students designed an industrial-scale poultry farm to provide food security for the school and income for survivors. The students raised $25,000 for the project, which began construction in January 2025.

Local Initiatives and Community Engagement

The chapter also addressed local needs in Ontario, California, where a food desert affects around 400,000 residents. Partnering with the nonprofit Huerta del Valle, UCLA students designed wheelchair-accessible raised garden beds to enhance community access to healthy food. Co-project managers Valeria Sanchez Garcia and Ryan Booher led the charge, incorporating feedback from community members to ensure the project met local needs.

In Ethiopia, the students are developing modern latrines, a clean-water system, and a virtual learning infrastructure for a primary school in Dire Dawa. This project is part of a larger vision to create sustainable educational environments for students. Co-project manager Aditya Niwalkar expressed his commitment to this initiative, emphasizing the importance of addressing fundamental needs in underserved communities.

The UCLA chapter’s extensive portfolio includes a schoolhouse project in Nicaragua, demonstrating their dedication to educational infrastructure. After years of fundraising and design revisions, the students successfully constructed a new schoolhouse that will serve as both an educational facility and a storm shelter for the community.

Through their projects, the students of UCLA’s EWB chapter are not only honing their engineering skills but also fostering a sense of global responsibility. Their work exemplifies how engineering can bridge gaps between cultures and communities, ultimately leading to positive change.

As Gutierrez and her peers continue their efforts, they embody the principle that engineering is not merely a profession but a means to contribute to the greater good. The initiatives led by EWB UCLA showcase the transformative power of collaboration and the impact that dedicated students can have on the world stage.