On a quiet morning in Pastocalle, Ecuador, groups of cows lifted their heads from where they grazed along the side of the road. They were familiar with the dogs who ambled along beside them, with the people who inhabited the brightly-colored homes, dotting the sloping hills and valleys.
They were accustomed to, and even nonchalant toward, the active volcano smoking behind them in the distance.
What seemed to take the cows by surprise, however, was the energetic group of Rose-Hulman students, faculty, and an alumnus hard at work in the crisp morning air.
Throughout the Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 quarters, the student organization researched similar projects to strategize their data collection process.
In addition to hosting fundraisers such as campus soccer tournaments or Family Feud events, the group meticulously analyzed their project site.
A structure for the school had been started by a different group, but there were known issues associated with the construction. The Rose students' goal was to finish and reinforce the structure rather than demolishing it completely.
Two of the students, Kiana Martin and Columba Rodriguez, and Professor of Spanish John Gardner, PhD, conducted interviews with school stakeholders - in Spanish - to determine the most important aspects of the new school's design.
To the Rose students' surprise, the local students shared that their favorite part of their current school wasn't the playground, but the library.
Despite their prior preparation, the Rose students still ran into unexpected snags during their data collection, hindering their progress. Their data collector malfunctioned, causing evaluations that were scheduled for one day to last nearly four. Travel lead Will Lawton and assistant travel lead Kiana Martin spent hours in the evenings Facetiming a mentor for guidance on using the equipment.
On EWB-RHIT's last day at the site, the community they served, including the students, came to show their gratitude for the organization's work.
The community proudly presented the Rose students with cheerful posters and handmade scarves before whirling them around in a series of dances.
The children peppered the Rose students with questions about English, while laughing, clasping hands, and kicking a soccer ball.
"We were just going down there to collect measurements. But when they show up and they have posters made and dances prepared for you…It's really cool to see. They actually care a lot about what we're doing and it means the world to them." - Will Lawton
"They were so grateful. We got 1,001 hugs from the students. We got thank you cards. They made us handmade scarves to show their appreciation" - Makayla Ray
"That was a really awesome experience to see how big of an impact our small club is having on this community. " -Kiana Martin
Next steps
The members of EWB-RHIT are completing alternative analysis, developing several solutions for the school. They hope to have designs finalized by early winter quarter and are planning a return trip to Ecuador in August 2024 to begin construction on the school. EWB-RHIT will then serve as project managers throughout the monitoring and evaluation phase of the project, supervising the completion of their design.
EWB-RHIT meets weekly on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m., discussing fundraising and marketing projects during the first hour and engineering projects during the second half of the meeting. EWB-RHIT is open to Rose-Hulman students of any major.
EWB-RHIT has rasied money through student fundraising, including soccer tournaments and Family Feud events. Student leaders also plan to seek corporate sponsorships. Additionally, interested donors can also donate online through the Rose giving page. Please specify the donation to go to EWB-RHIT.