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Syst Pract Action Res (2011) 24:4566 DOI 10.1007/s11213-010-9175-3
ORIGINAL PAPER
Mara Catalina Ramrez Irene Bengo Riccardo Mereu
Astrid Ximena Bejarano R. Juan Camilo Silva
Published online: 4 June 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
Abstract This paper presents a systemic methodology by which engineering is put to use in vulnerable communities through applied technological research and the main results of its application. The methodology presented corresponds to one implemented and designed by two groups of Engineers without Borders in Europe and Latin America, to integrate technical know-how with local context in communities with water problems in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main results of this methodology are related to the improvement of the living conditions of vulnerable groups thanks to the integration of the communities knowledge with engineering know-how, leading to autonomous communities and engineering professors and students learning from real life problems to enrich applied sciences.
Keywords Systemic participative methodology Water engineering solutions
Ownership Congo Colombia Engineers without borders
Introduction
Water is the liquid that makes life possible on our planet; it is important for the economic development of nations and essential for the carrying out of daily activities by most people. However, the reality for about one-sixth of the world population is that a lack of access to safe drinking water holds back development and causes serious gastro-intestinal diseases. As noted by the United Nations Organization in its Third Report on Water Resources, these will be the conditions for 67% of the worlds population by 2030 (United Nations 2009b). The situation is critical in regions like Africa where economic growth has done so little to decrease poverty which, in turn, limits the access to safe drinking water for almost 340 million inhabitants on the continent (United Nations 2009a). It is also an area of
M. C. Ramrez (&) A. X. Bejarano R. J. C. Silva
Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1 N8 18A-10, Bogot, Colombia e-mail: [email protected]
I. Bengo R. Mereu
Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
Participative Methodology for Local Development: The Contribution of Engineers Without Borders from Italy and Colombia: Towards the Improvement of Water Quality in Vulnerable Communities
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concern for Latin America...