Self-Designed Proposal: Travel Abroad with Engineers Without Borders
Basic Information
Full Name: Elizabeth Smith
UC Email: [email protected]
College: College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Major: Freshman Engineering Program
Title of Project: Travel Abroad with Engineers Without Borders
Thematic Area (choose only one): Global Studies
Expected Project Start Date: Sophomore or Junior year (1-2 years)
Expected Project End Date: 2 weeks after departure
Project Information
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above) -Interact with individuals from different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the complex range of experiences of diverse peoples:
A trip to Tanzania would automatically entail interaction with the individuals of the country. Simply by being placed in a new culture, a sense of sensitivity must be expressed, or learned; I know the culture will be nothing like any culture I’ve experienced before. I think the act of aiding Nyambogo in obtaining fresh water exhibits a sense of sensitivity for their way of life. The amount of traveling necessary for the individuals to obtain water right now is ridiculous compared to the culture I know, and I already have respect for their way of life without having experienced it yet.
- Participate in a global society and understand the role of a global citizen:
The goal of the organization, Engineers Without Borders, is to create sustainable projects that will improve the quality of life. Most all of the major projects completed are in countries other than the United States; the organization already understands the role of being a global citizen. On a personal level, I would be able to experience this concept of being an active global citizen. By being able to use my own skills to help individuals halfway across the world, I imagine I would begin to understand how it feels to be a global citizen. This project would help to recognize a global society because it would give me the opportunity to help provide water for others, a component of life everyone needs to survive.
- Recognize the interdependence of world economies, political systems and the environment
The projects of Engineers Without Borders originate when a community can identify its needs and requests support from the organization. This alone exhibits how the community recognizes their dependence on others. The goal of the project itself, making fresh water more obtainable, demonstrates the environment’s effect on the community as well. The economy of both the United States and Tanzania play a factor in the situation as well. The United States is capable of helping Tanzania and certain areas of the country have already recognized this and asked for support from Engineers Without Borders.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)
A. This project is very applicable to my development on both a personal and academic level. Personally, I have a goal to benefit others with my chosen career. By taking part in the Nyambogo project, I would be in a real-world situation where my chosen career path would be beneficial to others who, as a bonus, are very appreciative. Simply being able to witness the different culture would be a humbling experience. The pride and accomplishment I would experience myself would give me motivation to be a better engineer and improve my academic abilities.
B. While researching Nyambogo, Tanzania recently, I discovered a film put together by the University of Cincinnati Honors Journalism class. The film is called “Telling True Stories: Tanzania 2” and it is a short film of compiled interviews of individuals from Buerere, Nyambogo, Shirati, and Roche. This film would give me a slight idea of what to expect before traveling. It is raw emotions and stories from individuals in the area will help me understand the culture and why it means so much to the individuals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaTfN_khH6Y (link to video)
In my research, I also came across a website focused on the water crisis in Tanzania. The website has sections to provide an overview of the problem, how it is being solved, what needs to be done, stats and figures in regards to the issue and an explanation of the situation. This website would be a good source to read beforehand because of how it outlines the entire water scarcity problem, which is the entire focus of the project I would be involved in.
http://thewaterproject.org/water-in-crisis-tanzania.php (link to article)
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
In Engineers Without Borders, I hold a leadership position as General Meetings Coordinator. With this position, I hope to travel in the future. Although the trip I would be taking and the purpose I would be fulfilling are the same as each other individual traveling, I believe the individual experience I have will be unique in itself. I feel that by having an executive position in the club, I should be knowledgeable and well-informed on the project and its progress. The best way to become familiar is to experience the progress myself.
5. Reflection
After the trip to Tanzania, I would reflect through writing and photographs. I think a slideshow of simply pictures would say enough about the experience to others, but for my own reflection I will write about each important picture. The topics being reflected will include the process, the culture observed and how I interacted/ was interacted with, the difference in everyday lifestyle (ease of living), impact of the trip, individual contribution, engineering experience gained, and personal lessons learned.
6. Dissemination
To relay the information of my trip to the public, I will present or help present to the Engineers Without Borders organization. A slide show with pictures and information on the project will be sufficient in portraying the trip, the progress made, and the lessons learned. I would choose to present to Engineers Without Borders because this would be the most interested audience. There are members of the organization who would also want to travel with the group and the presentation would help them as well as inform the group on what their contributions are becoming.
7. Project Advisor (list the person’s name, title, and contact information) Professional Mentor
Mark Miller
[email protected]
Full Name: Elizabeth Smith
UC Email: [email protected]
College: College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Major: Freshman Engineering Program
Title of Project: Travel Abroad with Engineers Without Borders
Thematic Area (choose only one): Global Studies
Expected Project Start Date: Sophomore or Junior year (1-2 years)
Expected Project End Date: 2 weeks after departure
Project Information
- Provide a detailed abstract of your proposed honors experiential learning project.
Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
2. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above) -Interact with individuals from different cultures and express a sensitivity, appreciation and respect for the complex range of experiences of diverse peoples:
A trip to Tanzania would automatically entail interaction with the individuals of the country. Simply by being placed in a new culture, a sense of sensitivity must be expressed, or learned; I know the culture will be nothing like any culture I’ve experienced before. I think the act of aiding Nyambogo in obtaining fresh water exhibits a sense of sensitivity for their way of life. The amount of traveling necessary for the individuals to obtain water right now is ridiculous compared to the culture I know, and I already have respect for their way of life without having experienced it yet.
- Participate in a global society and understand the role of a global citizen:
The goal of the organization, Engineers Without Borders, is to create sustainable projects that will improve the quality of life. Most all of the major projects completed are in countries other than the United States; the organization already understands the role of being a global citizen. On a personal level, I would be able to experience this concept of being an active global citizen. By being able to use my own skills to help individuals halfway across the world, I imagine I would begin to understand how it feels to be a global citizen. This project would help to recognize a global society because it would give me the opportunity to help provide water for others, a component of life everyone needs to survive.
- Recognize the interdependence of world economies, political systems and the environment
The projects of Engineers Without Borders originate when a community can identify its needs and requests support from the organization. This alone exhibits how the community recognizes their dependence on others. The goal of the project itself, making fresh water more obtainable, demonstrates the environment’s effect on the community as well. The economy of both the United States and Tanzania play a factor in the situation as well. The United States is capable of helping Tanzania and certain areas of the country have already recognized this and asked for support from Engineers Without Borders.
3. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)
A. This project is very applicable to my development on both a personal and academic level. Personally, I have a goal to benefit others with my chosen career. By taking part in the Nyambogo project, I would be in a real-world situation where my chosen career path would be beneficial to others who, as a bonus, are very appreciative. Simply being able to witness the different culture would be a humbling experience. The pride and accomplishment I would experience myself would give me motivation to be a better engineer and improve my academic abilities.
B. While researching Nyambogo, Tanzania recently, I discovered a film put together by the University of Cincinnati Honors Journalism class. The film is called “Telling True Stories: Tanzania 2” and it is a short film of compiled interviews of individuals from Buerere, Nyambogo, Shirati, and Roche. This film would give me a slight idea of what to expect before traveling. It is raw emotions and stories from individuals in the area will help me understand the culture and why it means so much to the individuals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaTfN_khH6Y (link to video)
In my research, I also came across a website focused on the water crisis in Tanzania. The website has sections to provide an overview of the problem, how it is being solved, what needs to be done, stats and figures in regards to the issue and an explanation of the situation. This website would be a good source to read beforehand because of how it outlines the entire water scarcity problem, which is the entire focus of the project I would be involved in.
http://thewaterproject.org/water-in-crisis-tanzania.php (link to article)
4. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity
In Engineers Without Borders, I hold a leadership position as General Meetings Coordinator. With this position, I hope to travel in the future. Although the trip I would be taking and the purpose I would be fulfilling are the same as each other individual traveling, I believe the individual experience I have will be unique in itself. I feel that by having an executive position in the club, I should be knowledgeable and well-informed on the project and its progress. The best way to become familiar is to experience the progress myself.
5. Reflection
After the trip to Tanzania, I would reflect through writing and photographs. I think a slideshow of simply pictures would say enough about the experience to others, but for my own reflection I will write about each important picture. The topics being reflected will include the process, the culture observed and how I interacted/ was interacted with, the difference in everyday lifestyle (ease of living), impact of the trip, individual contribution, engineering experience gained, and personal lessons learned.
6. Dissemination
To relay the information of my trip to the public, I will present or help present to the Engineers Without Borders organization. A slide show with pictures and information on the project will be sufficient in portraying the trip, the progress made, and the lessons learned. I would choose to present to Engineers Without Borders because this would be the most interested audience. There are members of the organization who would also want to travel with the group and the presentation would help them as well as inform the group on what their contributions are becoming.
7. Project Advisor (list the person’s name, title, and contact information) Professional Mentor
Mark Miller
[email protected]