Finalizing Plans

Our day of departure draws near, and while we are all excited, there is still a lot we need to do.  Last night we met via conference call to review trip details, discuss our packing list, and most importantly, determine what still needs to get done before take off next Thursday.  

Looking at the recent forecast of Trujillo, we may encounter some heavy rains.  The occasional down pour should not hinder our plans. Diversion culverts would keep our construction site mostly dry and workable.  However, continuous rain would make our construction unfeasible. In this case our “Plan B” would be to identify other high priority culvert sites, and investigate the material and equipment suppliers in the area.

 

Rain or shine, we are all eager to visit Guadalupe and see our designs take shape!

We Have a Go!

It is official! On Thursday, August 4 a group of six University of Portland students, our translator, and our professional adviser will make the long trip to Guadalupe Carney, Honduras. Once there, the villagers will open their homes to us, providing our food and housing, while also helping us build our first culvert.  

The design, approved by Engineers Without Borders National and shown below, consists of four PVC culverts supported by a masonry retaining wall. 

While guiding them through the culvert’s construction, we hope to teach the villagers a few vitals steps such as compacting the fill material around the culverts. We will also work with the village to implement a regular maintenance program, so the culverts do not become clogged with debris.   

Between the purchasing of equipment, building the culvert, and planning a long term O&M system, our short ten day trip will be packed full!