Our Mission

The University of Wisconsin Chapter of Engineering Without Borders builds a better world by educating internationally-responsible engineers and students. We embody the Wisconsin Idea - that education should influence people's lives beyond the classroom - by providing engineering and social services in Wisconsin and in under-served communities around the globe.

Our belief is that a true partnership with our host communities, and community participation is crucial to the success of our projects.

Our Chapter

EWB-UW was established in 2003 under the guidance of the late Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Peter Bosscher, who helped the chapter to develop a program in Muramba, Rwanda. The Rwanda project was honored for their work with a bronze medal United Nations Mondialogo Engineering Award in 2005.

​In 2009, EWB-UW was awarded a gold medal Mondialogo Award for our work in Bayonnais, Haiti. After years of operation, the chapter maintains a minimum five-year commitment to many communities.

Our Effort

Our chapter currently works in
  • Joyabaj, Guatemala
  • Lweza, Uganda
  • Tabuga, Ecuador
  • Mayagüez, Puerto Rico​
​Communities play an active role in project selection and exhibit complete control over our projects. Community ownership during the design process is important, but community ownership post-implementation is necessary in order to maintain our projects and to ensure that our projects fulfill their intended purpose.