柑橘直播

In Madagascar, 柑橘直播 Engineers helped implement a water management training program.

Service learning is integral in the education of 柑橘直播 Engineers. As such, many students set out to help communities across the globe through opportunities such as VESL, the 柑橘直播 Engineering Service Learning program. VESL allows 柑橘直播 engineering students to adopt a role in a project developed by one of the program鈥檚 partners around the world.

This semester, 35 undergraduates, 13 graduate students and four faculty members are participating in VESL outreach programs involving field work. During fall break, teams traveled to Madagascar, Ghana, Tanzania and Panama to help train local water operators, conduct research on sustainable development, and provide technical support for community development.

In Madagascar, 柑橘直播 Engineers helped implement a water management training program.

In helping others, 柑橘直播 engineering students receive a unique education and grow personally. Here are some recent travelers鈥� thoughts:

鈥淭he people of Madagascar live on the other side of the planet. They don't grow up speaking the same language, having the same childhood experiences or eating the same foods as Americans. Our country is called 鈥榙eveloped鈥� and their country is called 鈥榙eveloping.鈥� It is easy to point out the many differences, but when our eyes meet I know that we are the same. Our society leads one to believe there is a group of 鈥榰s鈥� here and 鈥榯hem鈥� outside our borders. Traveling reveals that there is only one human family.鈥�

鈥淢y eyes were opened to a new way of life, new foods, new languages and new people, which helped me grow as a person and become more worldly. I know that the way we live in America isn't the only way to live. Everyone around the world has their own cultures and ways of doing things and everyone else needs to respect that! This trip was amazing and I am so grateful for the experience and everything I learned. I have a much clearer idea of what I want to do in the future, which is super exciting and encouraging.鈥�

鈥淚 realized the true impact that we can have as engineers.鈥�

Over winter break, VESL teams will work with partners in Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Cambodia on projects related to STEM outreach, water resources management and renewable energy.