The Role of EWB-UK

EWB-UK volunteers on a different engagement in Ecuador came to meet PRODECI during 2006. A partnership was established based on the clear needs of the community and the sound ability for EWB-UK to contribute sustainably to those needs through PRODECI. Two volunteers, Mark Stanko and Edward Matos were carefully selected on a broad range of criteria, received appropriate training and were seconded to PRODECI between July and September 2007. 

Following PRODECI’s request, Edward and Mark undertook the project management of the family sized water system project: 

• 7 bespoke family sized water systems were designed to supply the 66 members of 14 families with clean running drinking water.
• The volunteers ensured the community fully understood the systems and its benefits. As part of their contribution to the project and as a way to support their long-term interests in the improvements, the unskilled labour was carried out by the beneficiaries themselves.
• Coordinated the procurement of materials for installation of the systems.
• Supervised the installation of 4 of these systems, and ensured the quality of the manual labour involved. The remaining 3 systems were to be completed by another local engineer who was briefed appropriately before the departure of the volunteers.

• Following the regional President's request of a cost appraisal of structural repairs, the volunteers provided a detailed cost breakdown for $45 000 worth of essential building improvements needed in Intag. This information has been used to negotiate an agreement with the local mining company to finance the improvements over a number of years.

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