University of Delaware Institute for Global Studies
Summer 2023: Engineers Without Borders – EIA Bolivia Project

Program Dates July 02, 2023 - August 20, 2023
This program is closed.

Program Overview Four UD engineering students will work alongside students from the University of Iowa and the University of Western Ontario to construct a 53 meter cable-suspended pedestrian bridge in rural Bolivia over six weeks. The new pedestrian bridge will provide a safe passageway for community members during the rainy season, providing access to schools, health facilities, and markets throughout the year. The students are currently developing the design and construction plans of the bridge and will arrive in-country to work alongside local community members to construct the bridge. All work is overseen by Engineers in Action (EIA), a non-profit that has worked with 32 universities to construct over 110 bridges across the world since 2006.

Students will stay in a rented house in the community during the six-week period and integrate with local life and culture. All meals will be prepared by a cook who has been vetted and hired by EIA, who will be paid by the student teams. The student team will be supported by seven professional engineering mentors, who will take turns staying on-site in two-week intervals (at least one mentor on site at all times). The students will also be in consistent communication with the EIA in-country program manager. EIA requires all students to solidify their safety and construction plans and are required to take multiple safety trainings prior to their travel.

ACCESSIBILITY: Participants with disabilities should know that accessibility and accommodation in some program locations may differ from the United States. Transit systems and legacy building construction practices may not meet U.S. accessibility standards, and alternative access to public transportation, buildings, or public sites cannot be guaranteed. But UD students with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to study abroad. Review these questions with the Office of Disability Support Services to determine whether this program can meet your accommodation needs.

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