Project summary

Working with the Infrastructure division of REDES to support ongoing and upcoming projects.  The majority of the division´s work is the construction of housing and sanitation for people who live in poor conditions and/or at risk of the effects of natural disasters.

Requirements

Intermediate-level: the project is suitable for 2nd to 4th year undergraduates or above.

Civil or structural engineering students or architects. A good knowledge of Spanish is required.

Project Information

EWB is offering two summer placements for students to work in El Salvador in conjunction with the NGO REDES based in San Salvador and Santa Marta. .

REDES´ Infrastructure Division employs 5 full-time engineers and, depending on workload, several more on a contract basis.  They have extensive experience of infrastructure work in El Salvador, not only in terms of construction but also working with communities.  All REDES´ projects are based on ´counterparting´, that is the beneficiaries provide the manual labour.  Working in this way ensures that the beneficiaries learn valuable skills and are stakeholders in the project.

REDES works with a variety of funding bodies.  Many of their larger projects are funded by the European Union and managed through the Salvadorean Government´s Local Development Department: Fondo de Inversión Social para el Desarrollo Local (FISDL).  However they also receive funding from several Spanish bodies such as ACPP (Asemblea de Cooperación por la Paz), Solidaridad Internacional and Junta de Castilla y Léon, as well as from USAID, Oxfam and the Irish NGO Trocaire. 

REDES generally construct houses using concrete blockwork with reinforcement designed to ensure earthquake resistance. However the NGO also has experience in construction using alternative (or traditional) materials and is currently running a programme with Trocaire to construct earthquake-resistant houses from wattle and daub (vara de castilla).  Projects vary between construction of individual houses to construction of new settlements of up to 136 houses including roads, drainage and electricity.  REDES also undertake construction of larger buildings such as emergency refuges and schools. To date, REDES have constructed over 3000 houses and sanitation units in El Salvador.

The volunteers may support REDES engineers in the supervision of housing construction projects.  The volunteers would participate in community coordination, logistics of delivery and distribution of construction materials and supervision of construction to ensure that the builders are working to the plans and standards of the project.  Due to budget limitations, REDES is always understaffed for this role, often leading to delays and sub-standard production. The volunteers could also spend part of their placement with the Risk Management division of REDES.  In particular surveying the flood defense in Bajo Lempa and creating a proposal for an economic method of repairing and improving the defense, to form the basis of a funding request

Likely other projects which the volunteers may be involved with include:

• reconstruction of houses in Ahuachapan, western El Salvador, where over 1500 houses were destroyed in an earthquake in December 2006.
• construction of a refuge in Bajo Lempa to be used in future emergency situations, particularly flooding.
• building basic sanitation units and reinforcing adobe houses to improve their earthquake resistance in Santa Marta, Cabañas. 
  

Project Organisation

The projects will run for approximately 10-12 weeks, in the period from late June to late September. The placements are voluntary placements, and the selected volunteers are expected to arrange their own air travel, visas, insurance, and vaccinations. EWB-UK will provide assistance in organising the arrangements for these, and will put the volunteers in contact with the partner organisation to finalise food and accommodation arrangements as soon as the selection process is complete.

Project costs

The total costs (including flights, accommodation, food, transport in-country, insurance and vaccinations) are likely to be in the region of £1700 per volunteer. EWB-UK will contribute 50% of these costs. The volunteers are encouraged to find the remainder themselves through other funding sources. In special cases, extra financial support may be provided if the volunteer is unable to supply the remaining money, but only if it has been demonstrated that sufficient effort has been made to raise additional funds.

Pre-departure requirements

All selected volunteers WILL have to attend an EWB-UK training course. The courses will be on June 8-10 and June 22-24 (TBC) so if applying, please keep one of these weekends free and preferably both.  All projects will require thorough research and preparation in the UK before departure.

Requirements on return

Volunteers will have to write a publicity report, technical report and a full evaluation. They will also give a presentation detailing their experience and what they have learnt. Some of these projects could lead to further research in the UK, for example as a final year project.