This past winter a group of University of Southern Florida (USF) students, led by Alumni Robert Sang, approached the Ashton school with an opportunity. The group of students were part of Engineering Without Borders and had a problem. A multi-year project had been put on pause during the pandemic and it was their job to bring it back to life. The big issue? The students were not allowed to travel due to both Visa and University restrictions. So the group of students based and stuck in Florida were now in charge of a project already established in both Bolivia and Miches, Dominican Republic. Robert Sang had an idea.
Enter Ashton school. Robert Sang presented his alma mater with the chance for a partnership. The USF students could teach and coach the Ashton students on how to perform real life Engineering practice while working with rainwater catchment systems. An immediate connection was made with the 9th grade Earth Science class who was already discussing water and the various ways it impacts and is impacted by earth and humans. A partnership was formed and the 9th graders would go on to learn from and work with these University students.
The weeks leading up to the trip included video calls with the University students and many many many emails between the project coordinators as they problem solved on the fly. The earth science class got to see first hand what the Engineering students do in everyday life. They were able to not only get training, but also ask questions about university and life as an engineering student. As the trips arrived students were prepped to test water, engage with the community, and report back the data which will be used to gauge the performance of these rain water catchment systems.
The highlight of the project was the Miches Trip itself. The students were broken up into two trips. First the A section, then the B section. Both groups gathered water from each of the 5 rain water catchment systems. (The 6th system had been disassembled as the roof was going to be replaced.) This water pulled from each tinaco was then brought back to the lab where tests were done to determine bacteria and metal levels as well as pH. In the trip, Ashton Students engaged community members with surveys to get a better understanding of how they obtain water, how well the systems are working, and various other helpful information. Instruction manuals and maintenance logs were also shared by students with owners of the homes where the Water catchment systems were located. Locations for new future rain water catchment systems was also made by students as they walked around the community And to conclude the trip, students shared sodas with the community members who were able to be present.
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