Joseph Collins, ’20, Architecture
Certificate(s): Urban Studies
The Princeton Engineers Without Borders-Kenya team has been collaborating with the Kuria West district of southwest Kenya since 2012. Since then, the team has designed and implemented three rainwater catchment systems in the communities of Komosoko and Muchebe and two handpump borehole wells in Kiburanga and Kubweye. This year, we expanded the Kubweye system by constructing a distribution system powered by a solar-powered submersible pump. We also conducted house surveys in Kubweye and had formal meetings with members from other communities as part of our commitment to the sustainability of these projects. During our trip, we worked alongside contracted workers and community volunteers to overcome the challenges of implementing a water system. As a team of students from diverse backgrounds, this project helped inspire our future academic aspirations at Princeton and we hope to continue increasing our impact in the community to provide access to water.
* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Noise Pollution, Barriers, Health, Equity and the City.”