Student profile
Chloe Hanson-Boyd
Engineering & Science student
Organisation: Engineers Without Borders
Why did you get involved with Engineers Without Borders?
Engineers Without Borders works with disadvantaged communities both locally and internationally. They promote sustainable development in association with appropriate technology use. Both values paralleled with those of my own, so I chose to become involved.
The organisation is comprised of University and professional chapters. We have a chapter on-campus and are always looking for new recruits!
What does your volunteering with Engineers Without Borders involve?
Last year I was the Cambodian Development Education Experience (CDEE) co-ordinator for Engineers Without Borders (EWB). The CDEE allowed me to familiarize myself with Cambodian cultures and communities whilst learning more about development principles in practice.
What do you think you learnt from this experience?
Having now visited Cambodia twice (once for the scoping trip in October and secondly for the month long CDEE in January), I feel that I have now gained a more in-depth perspective into development work and the holistic approach that sustainable projects require for success within communities. I had the opportunity to interact with expats and founders on the ground, along with learning from community members about their hopes and expectations. Initially, I felt it would be a great basis for me to learn about development theoretically, but in retrospect, it was the self learning through participation which I gained the most from.
I also learnt a lot about my personal values and how I see my role as an engineer in the workforce as being, which is particularly important given I'm now in my final year.
Describe the highlight of your experience?
My highlight would probably be when we visited the floating villages in Kampong Chhnang. The floating villages form some of the tourist attractions in Cambodia, but having now travelled to the villages and having spoken to the villagers through translators, I feel that I now understand the circumstances more thoroughly. We were privileged enough to have been allowed to sit in on some community consultation sessions with one of our partner organisations Live and Learn.