Engineering Sustainable Water Solutions

We have a generous donor willing to match every gift made, up to $25,000. This essentially doubles your gift if you give before 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 21!

Water is the most abundant natural resource on the planet, covering more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface, yet only 2.5 percent of the water we have is fit to drink. That’s why the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering is taking on the challenge of bringing this vital resource to some of the most remote villages across the world.

More than two miles up in the Andes Mountains in Quesimpuco, Bolivia, and in the remote village of Kabya, Rwanda, groups of Auburn Engineering students, faculty and alumni have been working to provide these communities with sustainable water resources for the most basic human needs. In addition to developing the engineering concepts to produce clean drinking water, these service-learning groups have helped build irrigation and hydroponics systems, hand-powered washing machines and solar showers.

While the entire service-learning group is comprised of more than 60 students, each travel group consists of approximately only six students, two faculty members and a professional engineer. Alumni volunteers also often offer their expertise and financial resources, with some even traveling abroad with the groups. For the students, the trips come at an enormous cost. Including flights, meals, lodging and supplies in country, the price can be high and sometimes unaffordable to students who would love to help others. But the reward for those who are able to serve abroad is also high.

Your gifts on Tiger Giving Day will partially fund students’ trips to Bolivia and Rwanda for the upcoming year, helping to ease the financial burden for them. Funds raised will offset a portion of the cost for each student’s trip to ensure that each one of them is giving selflessly and is totally invested in the project. These students are the embodiment of the Auburn Creed, exercising and believing in hard work, education and the human touch. Your support of our goal guarantees that these students will have every opportunity to reap the reward of professional hands-on experiences as they continue to change the world.