Engineering students and professionals are critical for Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) projects. They carry out sustainable engineering projects that empower communities across the globe to meet their basic human needs.

EWB-USA’s name and mission highlight our passion for engineering. But our community of more than 16,800 change-makers involves a broad spectrum of professionals and skills.

From accountants to public health practitioners, our non-engineer volunteers and staff members play a crucial role in ensuring EWB-USA’s longevity. If you’re not an engineer but are looking to get involved with EWB-USA, there are many opportunities for you to engineer change with us!

Supporting Field Operations

EWB-USA projects are complex, requiring a high level of problem-solving skills. Non-engineers provide fresh perspectives to help tackle complicated problems. While project engineers focus on the best design for a water irrigation system, experts in international development or cross-cultural communications can ensure that the relationship with the partnering community proceeds smoothly.

Julie Mandoline-Trummel, an EWB-USA intern at our Nicaragua country office with a background in development and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), shared her experience.

“I’ve always admired the work that EWB-USA does, but never knew how I could meaningfully contribute without a degree in engineering,” Julie said. “This internship afforded me the opportunity to apply my skills in M&E as a social scientist with an organization I am passionate about.”

Claire Barker, a long-term EWB-USA volunteer and a project lead for the EWB-USA Boston Professional Chapter, said experts from other sectors bring great additional value to a project.

“It was very helpful on our water project in Honduras to have input from public health people in surveys, evaluating community health data, and looking for subtle impacts of unsafe water on health,” she said.

Supporting Chapter Operations

EWB-USA’s 275 professional and student chapters rely on more than technical skills to build a better world. How could you become a leader in one of our chapters? If you have a background in marketing or fundraising, you can help a chapter develop effective social media and recruiting strategies while raising funds for projects. If your skillset is in accounting, take the lead in creating a sustainable financial framework for your chapter.

Modesto Llanos, Vice President of the EWB-USA Orange County Professional Chapter, said non-engineers play a critical role in chapters. In fact, up to 60 percent of a chapter’s work falls outside the scope of engineering. This includes project management, fundraising, marketing, events, IT, accounting, translators and so much more.

Supporting Headquarter Operations

Our volunteers and chapters aren’t the only ones benefiting from the skillsets of non-engineers. From communications to accounting to volunteer engagement, non-engineers are a driving force in the EWB-USA headquarters office.

Lauren Butner, EWB-USA’s Community Engineering Corps Program Manager, believes that non-engineers have a vital role in EWB-USA’s mission. She said, “Non-engineering staff contribute largely to achieving our funding goals, telling our story in a meaningful way, and developing the financial and administrative systems that keep our programs running effectively and efficiently.”

By combining the skillsets of both engineers and non-engineers, EWB-USA can continue creating sustainable opportunities for communities to thrive.

How will your skills make an impact?

If you’re not an engineer but are passionate about EWB-USA’s mission, we need your voice and perspective! Here is how you can join our movement:

• Become a member and experience the benefits of being a part of our 16,800-person community
• Find a chapter near you. Attend chapter meetings and let chapter officers know what skills you have to offer.
• Join the conversation in Volunteer Village with the hashtag #MoreThanEngineers. Members have access to Volunteer Village, where you can connect with other volunteers from a variety of fields, hear about their experiences with EWB-USA and share your own stories!