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Introduction to Engineering Practice ‘Osaiasi Walter

1 Assessment 1: Research Task SN:18631614

Project Brief: EWB Challenge Executive Summary The following report aims to summate and give a brief of the Engineers Without Borders Challenge who has partnered with UNHCR Zambia to target and implement opportunities for sustainable designs and projects to improve and aid the community. This report explores the history behind the EWB challenge, its application to the community of Mayukwayukwa and the issue of transport, and aims to provide a platform to which the outcome outlined below can be fulfilled: To design and develop sustainable , durable and low costing methods of transport for both the general community and movement of goods and produce. Henceforth, this brief and all its contents is be used as a platform to develop a design solution to which will take upon the statement above and implement it within the community of Mayukwayukwa, so that the issue of transport will be no more for the immediate time frame as well as future generations to come. Background Established in 20071, Engineers Without Borders (EWB) is an organization that has aimed itself in partnering with different countries to target issues such as poverty, hunger and their rippling effects. By this, EWB has come up with a challenge to which they present to participating universities (Participating Universities, 2016), particularly first year student engineers. Not only does this provide a multitude of designs that can implemented by the community receiving the aid, but it also raises awareness of an engineers importance and responsibility and furthermore put into place EWB’s goal of transforming the engineering sector so that every engineer has the skills, knowledge, experience and attitude to contribute towards sustainable community development and poverty alleviation.2 This year the EWB Challenge is focusing on the community of Mayukwayukwa, Zambia. With areas such as water, shelter, ICT, energy and so forth that are need of attention, this report outlines a brief which deals with the issue of Transport (Design Area 7, Engineers Without Borders, 2016) and its implications within the community of Mayukwayukwa. Mayukwayukwa, Zambia A culturally diverse country home to both locals and refugees (EWB Challenge, Zambian Context), the EWB challenge has engaged itself with the community of Mayukwayukwa located in the Western Province of the Kaoma District of Zambia, South Africa. Being one of the older refugee settlements established in 1966 (EWB: Introduction to Mayukwayukwa, 2016) consisting of over 11, 000 refugees3, there are a lot of problems faced by the community particularly due to its geographic position; predominantly a rural settlement; as well as receiving no aid from Kaoma’s climate; temperatures ranging from 5-33+ °C and being located in the drier parts of the district with little to no rainfall. With no direct neighboring community (within reasonable travel Map of Zambia distance) for purposes such as aid (and so forth), ability for economic and agricultural growth is limited. Furthermore, agriculture being the main source for over 90% of the populations livelihood is barred with the obstacles of poor roads and little to no viable and 1

http://www.ewbchallenge.org/content/previous-challenges http://www.ewbchallenge.org/content/aims-objectives 3 http://www.ewbchallenge.org/unhcr-zambia/introduction-mayukwayukwa 2

Introduction to Engineering Practice ‘Osaiasi Walter

2 Assessment 1: Research Task SN:18631614

efficient methods of transport to and from areas of the community. Henceforth, transport has become a major issue faced by the community as its ramifications leak into areas such as health, agriculture, and energy. Current System 4 The current system of transport in Mayukwayukwa is quite primal, with only two primary methods of transport: by foot and bicycle. Though bicycle integration has seemed to improve and ease traveling of both goods and other general purposes, its availability is only to those who have purchased it or it is shared among the community. Thus, the majority of travel is done by foot and as it can seen in the picture (to the right), carrying heavy bags of coal (etc.) can cause serious injury and have further health implications to the person. In addition, other links to health issues includes the distance between key services such as the health clinic in the re-settlement area and homes, as immediate action (in regards to health aid and support) cannot be given and serious situation can arise. In terms of the transport of goods, there is the option of hiring an ox and cart; primarily used by farmers due to their large distance from markets. However while this is a viable source of transport for large amounts of produce and goods, oxen and carts must be hired reiterating availability and more so cost and finance as if being unable to hire and transport crops and so forth from farms, not only do farmers suffer the possibility of no income but also the economy may suffer some loss. Opportunities for improvement 5 While the current system of transport ‘works’, there are undeniable flaws that can be met and attended to. Though roads are poor and of a sandy nature, there has already been work done in the construction of new roads in the re-settlement area however progress is slow due to the difficulty in constructing and maintaining them. As noted above, primary methods of transport include walking and bicycle however the integration of a low costing, energy efficient method of public transport will improve greatly the challenges faced by the community. Moreover, while farms are currently located fair distances from the market and other key services of the re-settlement area, (if able) areas closer to the settlement should be targeted for farming and/or other methods of transport for goods other than ox and cart can be looked into and implemented. Stakeholders Transport is a major issue to which the entire community of Mayukwayukwa believe needs to be addressed as their current system of transport (as stated above) is not optimal. Below is a list of stakeholders both directly and indirectly involved as well as subject to the consequences of this issue. Stakeholders Roles Desired Outcome Community (locals) general General improvement to roads and transport; close gap between homes and key services in re-settlement area Cart/Oxen owners Provide aid by hire to farmers and locals to Still be a viable source of transport if transport goods and produce other methods are implemented Farmers Cultivate crops for community/market More methods of transport Market Sells food and produce to community Better links with farmers/farms Health Clinic Give aid/support to the community in terms To be able to reach all areas of the of health community/district 4 5

http://www.ewbchallenge.org/unhcr-zambia/transport http://www.ewbchallenge.org/unhcr-zambia/introduction-mayukwayukwa

Introduction to Engineering Practice ‘Osaiasi Walter

UNHCR

EWB organization

3 Assessment 1: Research Task SN:18631614

Provide support in all areas such as health, water and waste management, etc. Also plan and build roads in settlement areas Partnered with UNHCR; provides challenge to universities to come up with designs that can be implemented within the comunity

Improve the community of Mayukwayukwa in all areas of life Develop and put into action designs to aid UNHCR and Mayukwayukwa

Problem/Need Therefore as it can be seen above, the community of Mayukwayukwa is faced with the challenge of transport and its implications upon society. Two main problems can be deducted to which affects those mainly of the community, farmers and other key services:  

Transport between key services and homes Transport of produce and goods to markets and other key service areas.

Hence after careful analysis of the needs of the community, a statement can be proposed to which a viable and innovative design can be drawn from to provide a desirable outcome for both the community of Mayukwayukwa and other communities that the EWB challenge decides to focus on. The statement is as follows: To design and develop sustainable , durable and low costing methods of transport for both the general community and movement of goods and produce....