Volunteer work helps improve water hygiene in Tanzania

By Andrew Somerville

In Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa, there is limited access to clean and safe water supplies so when Mustafa, an engineer in Ramboll’s Wastewater Management department heard of an opportunity to help, he jumped at the chance.

Joining other volunteers in an SOS Children’s Village in Zanzibar, Mustafa used his expertise in wastewater engineering to help develop a new sewerage and water system.

“They were having constant problems with water leakage,” says Mustafa, “so we had to think differently to come up with a solution.”
He found the experience to be extremely rewarding.

“I think that everybody should go out and volunteer if they can. You get a good feeling helping others and people are happy to see you help. And being with Engineers without Borders gives you the chance to use the skills you have learnt through work and see them used in places where they actually can help,” he says.

People are the best resource

Engineers without Borders is a global organization which partners with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through education and implementation of sustainable engineering projects.

Dorte Lindegaard Madsen, Secretary-General of Engineer without Borders in Denmark, says that cooperation with large companies such as Ramboll is invaluable. “For several years the Ramboll Foundation has supported our projects in various locations. Our main resources are the skills, time and experience of our volunteers and we are always extremely grateful when Ramboll employees place at our service their spare time to help others in need,” she says.

Despite its name, Engineer without Borders is always looking for volunteers from people of all backgrounds.

To learn how you can help, read more at https://iug.dk/en/