Engineers Without Borders Orange County receives $500 award from SOCWNG for Kenya Footbridge Project

June 21, 2010 - PRLog -- IRVINE, CA -Engineers Without Borders Orange County (EWB-OC) participated in a boutique event hosted by the South Orange County Women's Networking Group.  The event was held at the Elk's Lodge in Mission Viejo and included over 30 vendors.   Orange County women running their own business hosted booths displaying their products from luxury linens to home cooked meal services.

Kira Edenhofer, co-founder of the SOCWNG noted "We always enjoy these events, it is inspiring to see the outpouring of support for our charities.".  The event was held at the Elk's Lodge event room, and was wall-to-wall with various entrepreneurial efforts.  Alissa Beale, President of the AM group, said of the yearly event, "We are blessed to have EWB participating as one of our charities this year".

"Our award is a big help and we greatly appreciate SOCWNG including us in their consideration for the award, stated fundraising coordinator, Debra Kennard. "We are thrilled that it will bring us that much closer to raising all of our project costs.”

On the EWB-OC website you will see a villager up to his neck in muddy water as he wades across from one side of the river to the other. "The bridge is a critical need because it allows the people of Endana to access the Segera Medical Clinic and Middle Schools year round.", said Project Lead, Clay Stevens, an Engineering Geologist. "The river is inaccessible due to flooding when it rains which makes it impossible to pass if you are elderly, a child, or simply cannot swim to the medical clinic or schools on the other side."

EWB-OC selected this project as part of a 5-year commitment to help the people of Endana with their community needs. Building the Footbridge is just one of several planned projects for the Endana community.  

Professional Engineer Sean Callan, who is the Technical Lead for the design of the bridge, says of the project, "The bridge will be able to be built in about 3 months starting this July. It will be a simplified suspended bridge designed specifically so the villagers will be able to assist in the construction and maintain it after we are gone. We will use local labor and materials to help boost the economy and living status of Endana and nearby areas."   Both Clay Stevens, CEG, and Sean Callan, PE, who were part of the original assessment team in 2009, will be returning to Endana for the bridge construction.

To visit the EWB-OC website and read more about this project or donate to the project, visit www.ewb-oc.org and click on "Kenya - Footbridge". To join our mailing list or for questions, email us at kenya at ewb-oc dot org.

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About South Orange County Women's Networking Group: SOCWNG is an all women's business networking group located So. Orange County. SOCWNG builds relationships and provides business education which, in turn, will create networking and business referral opportunities resulting in business development as well as to help those less fortunate in our community through service work and/or donations. Please visit their website at socwng.org.

About EWB-OC: EWB-OC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in disadvantaged countries worldwide. A collaboration of engineers, researchers, students, and professionals from every walk of life, we work hand-in-hand with developing communities to implement sustainable engineering projects. EWB-OC welcomes engineers and non-engineers in all fields to help us in our mission.