Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is proud to have chapters across the country. In 2015, we expanded our outreach by establishing an in-country field office in Nicaragua. 

This came after a decade of fieldwork and following best practices of peer organizations. Our Nicaragua office provided a unique and important opportunity to implement even more sustainable and community-based projects in Nicaragua’s underserved areas. 

Our International Community Programs Manager, Gretchen Smithwick, relocated from our headquarters office in Denver, Colorado, to Managua, Nicaragua, in order to oversee the office.

Today we look back on the milestones that EWB-USA and Gretchen achieved during the first year in Nicaragua.

Gretchen speaks with a community member in Nicaragua.

Establishing Our Office

Gretchen began her work by conducting an in-depth assessment of gaps and needs within the Nicaragua communities, local NGO partners and EWB-USA Chapters and staff. She met with more than 20 existing and potential NGO partners.

EWB-USA established a formal partnership with fellow NGO EOS International. Their existing office was in San Isidro, Matagalpa. This central location was near a cluster of EWB-USA projects, so they set up a shared office space there.

Next, the office needed a staff. Gretchen hired hired Edrulfo Rodriguez to be the Nicaragua Country Coordinator. Edrulfo served many roles in the operation. He supported existing local partnerships, strategically expanded community programs, organized partnerships and supported EWB-USA members. His work helped improve the efficiency, quality and sustainability of projects.  

“Edrulfo’s support has been invaluable to our project,” said Joseph Muniz, EWB-USA University of Houston Chapter mentor. “I’m pretty sure that without his help, we wouldn’t have been able to complete our project this year.”

Here are some notable milestones from our Nicaragua office’s first year:

• • The paperwork was plentiful, but EWB-USA officially registered as a foreign NGO in Nicaragua.
  • We created country-specific resources for chapters and partners.
  • On-the-ground support fostered better communication and provided logistical support for chapters and project partners.
  • We strengthened and expanded strategic partnerships with communities and local NGOs.
  • We started nine new community programs in Nicaragua.
  • We got a new vehicle, which made visits to communities much easier. This moving billboard also expanded our brand and prompted questions about who we are and what we do. 

Our new vehicle also served as a traveling billboard for EWB-USA

Continuing the Success

Our increased reach in Nicaragua offered expanded opportunities for EWB- USA members. The in-country team’s logistical support and resources were invaluable to the chapters working with the local communities.

“It is great to know that we can count on someone in-country to help us get valuable information such as where to go to have our water samples tested,” said John Selker, EWB-USA Oregon State University Chapter mentor. “Carrying water samples to the States was likely not an option.”

As we continued to operate our Nicaragua office, we expanded our operations and hired a regional coordinator to work in Managua, Nicaragua. We also partnered with local universities so that Nicaraguan students could get involved with EWB-USA projects.