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Meghan Harper (recent UofM graduate, LSA--she went as a tutor) and Lucy Hong spread cement to form a washboard for a laundry sink.
In the background is engineer Gonzalo Diaz. |
Two Mechanical Engineering alumni recently participated in the Quito Project, which offered valuable lessons in engineering--and life. Lucy (Heejung) Hong and Jack Hsu, who each earned a bachelor's degree in the spring of 2005, joined nearly two dozen University of Michigan students in the interdisciplinary and international initiative.
During the summer of 2005, the students and alumni traveled to a small brick-making community near Quito, Ecuador. The trip was the culmination of a year-long fundraising (the cost of the project neared $30,000) and planning effort.
Once in Chillogallo, the team tutored local children in math, reading and geography. Under the supervision of U-M Drs. Eustace Golladay (Pediatric Surgery) and David Serlin (Family Practice), medical students provided nutrition and hygiene seminars to residents of the underserved community and distributed medical supplies, vitamins and other assistance through a small clinic. Several engineering students, Hong and Hsu among them, led construction of a facility that included showers, restrooms and laundry sinks for residents.
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Jack Hsu works on the roof of a shower. |
The assistance was "desperately needed," said Bina Valsangkar, a second-year medical student and the program's founder and director. Valsangkar traveled to Quito three years ago as a volunteer with a non-governmental organization. When it withdrew its support, her host family asked her to send volunteers. Their request inspired her to start the Quito Project, under the auspices of the Global REACH (Research, Education And Collaboration in Health) Student Alliance of the U-M Medical School.
The team that went to Chillogallo met its objectives and has even grander plans for a trip next year, during which it hopes to run another clinic, tutor schoolchildren, teach nutrition and dental hygiene, open a market that sells pre-made, nutritionally-balanced food at a reduced cost and build eight houses. Planning and fundraising have already begun.
Hong, who is now looking for a position in industry, says the trip was "truly a unique experience." She and Hsu worked with a local construction engineer and other volunteers. "We worked physically as much as we could, as fast as we could. We built the shower facility, which became a larger project than we initially planned, from nothing: we had to clear the land and dig it out for the cement foundation; we put up the walls brick by brick.” She said plastering required tons of cement, as well as the assistance of the local construction engineer. “I'm thankful we had another volunteer help with the roof, because it required balancing on logs that were just wide enough for your boots. The medical students did most of the tiling."
Hong said that working under the guidance and instruction of the construction engineer was similar to the structure of a course like ME’s design and manufacturing.
However, she says she learned much more than simply how to construct a shower facility. "I learned how to work with others in different disciplines and cultures.” She also gained a sense of appreciation "for the things and opportunities we have here. We all know this, but I had the fortunate opportunity to experience it firsthand." More importantly, she added, "I have learned to find value, not just in a work product, but also in the heart behind it."
Bina said this year’s plans include starting a leadership program for young girls in local schools and making a documentary on global health disparities, using footage from Quito as a medium. Anyone interested in participating in the Quito project should contact her at bvalsang@umich.edu.