April 3, 2025
On a regular day, you’ll find Nebraska’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) abroad in various communities in need of critical infrastructure improvements that help in day-to-day life. But a recent trip stateside has provided vital experience that will help them in future projects — wherever they are.
“Our hope is that lessons we learn from working on local projects in the U.S., like this one, will extend to our ongoing efforts in countries like Zambia and Madagascar. As a club, we are committed to designing engineering solutions and raising funds to help communities in need,” said Ashley Hernandez-Najera, a senior civil engineering major who led the trip.
EWB decided a trip to New Orleans would be the perfect opportunity to step away from academics this spring break. They partnered with the University of Kansas to volunteer with Historic Green, a nonprofit that works with preservation and sustainability in the community.
Ashley says teamwork amongst the club members and people in the communities they serve is vital; that’s why one of their major goals was to connect.
“We wanted to enjoy our break from school because as engineering students, we get caught up in academics and don’t give ourselves enough time to recharge,” Ashley said while describing the goals of their New Orleans trip. “It’s also the perfect opportunity to get to know one another. We spend so much time working on the technical side of our projects, so it’s a good time to learn one another’s interests.”
The club members’ typical workday included hours working to restore playgrounds damaged by storms and repair work on houses in the community.
“One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the completed swing set after our team installed new support beams and tightened the swings,” Andrew Falk, a senior electrical engineering major and EWB member, said. “It was incredibly rewarding to know that our efforts made the structure safer for anyone who wanted to use it.”
A typical day in New Orleans for EWB Huskers:
7:30 AM: Wake up, get ready, and eat breakfast
8:45 AM: Arrive at Historic Green worksite
9:00 AM - Noon: Work on restoring playgrounds, helping repair and restore housing, etc.
Noon — 1:00 PM: Lunchtime (made by local couple in the community)
1:00–4:00 PM: Return to worksite and continue volunteer work
4:30 PM: Get cleaned up and do something fun the rest of the day
Trips like these can be a good introduction into the work Husker engineers and EWB do to broaden their horizons, especially for newer members. Ashley says in their overseas work, you often have to navigate different cultures and mindsets; you also have to remember you’re a volunteer, and compassion, understanding, and support are why you are there to begin with.
“Experiences like this highlight the real-world impact of engineering. In just one week, we were able to make meaningful improvements that directly benefited the community. It shows that what I am studying can be applied to make a difference on a large scale,” Andrew said.
Ashley recalls a specific time during their trip where she had to use all of the key competencies of a complete engineer, a Nebraska program highlighting the key components to being a world-class engineer.
“I remember hearing what the project required and thinking of what solutions were viable for us to complete. With the swing set, I suggested replacing all of the wooden braces and get new ones,” Ashley said. “After speaking with Stephanie, a resident in charge of the playground improvements, she highlighted how money was tight, and if there were ways of reusing the materials, then that would be best. We ultimately decided to make some new bolt holes at different locations, and only replace rotten wood.”
The trip to New Orleans also allowed students to enjoy their free time outside of their volunteer hours, where many students decided to shop, visit tourist spots, and hang out. During the semester, Ashley says she tends to focus a lot on her studies and spends most of her time on campus. EWB gives her the time to take a break, travel and enjoy different aspects of the world she doesn’t always get to make time for.
Next, the Nebraska chapter of EWB is setting its sights on its two main projects in Zambia and Madagascar. In Zambia, they’re building a bridge to connect two communities across a river that becomes impassable during the rainy season. In Madagascar, they’re working to bring a solar power system to the community of Kianjavato, which is many miles from the nearest power grid, leaving many to fend without much reliance on electricity.
“To anyone interested in joining, just join! We are always welcoming new members year-round and can often find some way for you to help us, no matter your major. People are often steered away by our name and think only engineers can join, but that is most certainly not the case,” Ashley said.