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EWB - GT Malawi Project

Archived
Timeline

Oct 2021 - Dec 2024

Role & Context

Project & Technical Lead

Core Tech
Civil EngineeringProject ManagementAutoCAD

Project Summary

Designed and implemented a sustainable sanitation facility for Mpitilira Primary School in Malawi, replacing condemned infrastructure with a locally-buildable solution.

Key Features

  • Reinforced concrete ring beam foundation to prevent differential settlement in soft soil
  • Solar-driven Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) mechanism for odor control
  • Remote WhatsApp-based construction oversight protocol for QA/QC
  • Sustainable design using locally sourced bricks, sand, and cement

Impact & Takeaways

  • Provided safe sanitation for 20 staff members, directly reducing cholera risk
  • Completed on-time and under the $15,000 budget despite currency fluctuations
  • Won 3rd Place in GAWP competition for technical merit and social impact

Context & Motivation

Mpitilira Primary School in Malawi faced a critical sanitation crisis, with failing latrines posing a severe health risk to students and staff. As part of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), our chapter was tasked with designing and implementing a sustainable, locally-buildable solution to replace the condemned infrastructure.

Project Objectives

  • Public Health: Design a waste containment system that prevents groundwater contamination relative to the local water table.
  • Sustainability: Utilize locally sourced materials (bricks, sand, cement) to ensure the community can maintain the facility without external aid.
  • Durability: Engineer the superstructure to withstand heavy seasonal rains and high usage rates (50+ users/day).

Engineering Implementation

Civil & Structural Design

I led the technical design of the latrine superstructure and foundation:

Engineering Blueprints
  • Foundation Design: Calculated bearing capacity requirements for the unreinforced masonry walls. Specified a reinforced concrete ring beam to distribute loads evenly and preventing differential settlement in the soft soil.
  • Ventilation Design: Integrated a solar-driven "VIP" (Ventilated Improved Pit) mechanism. Black PVC vent pipes heat up in the sun, creating an updraft that pulls odors out of the pit.

Project Management & Logistics

Executing a construction project 8,000 miles away required rigorous planning:

  • Remote Oversight: Established a WhatsApp-based reporting protocol with local contractors, reviewing photo evidence of rebar spacing and concrete mix ratios before authorizing pour phases.
  • Cost Estimation: Managed a $15,000 budget, accounting for volatile local material prices and currency exchange fluctuations.
Project Objectives & Timeline

Performance & Results

  • Completion: The facility was successfully constructed on-time and under budget.
  • Impact: Provided safe sanitation for 20 staff members, directly reducing the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
  • Recognition: The project design won 3rd Place in the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) competition for its technical merit and social impact.
Completed Structure
BACKEnd of File