2025 Internship Project Overview
The Princeton Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Kenya Team has been collaborating with the Nyabohanse community in Kuria West, Kenya, on a large-scale water distribution project aimed at improving access to safe and reliable water. The system includes an elevated storage tank and an extensive pipeline network that builds upon an existing government-owned system. Once complete, the project will deliver clean water to over 1,200 students at a local school, more than 200 households and hundreds of additional community members. This initiative is built on a four-way partnership between our team, the local school, Migori Water and Sanitation Company (a county water utility) and Lake Region Development Program (a local NGO). While in Kenya this summer, we were actively engaged in monitoring and supporting the implementation phase of the project. Seeing the plans take shape on the ground and meeting face-to-face with our partners and the community has been a rewarding culmination of years of preparation.
ORGANIZATION/RESEARCH GROUP
Engineers Without Borders USA
LOCATION
Isebania, Kenya; Nyabohanse, Migori County, Kenya
Interns
Mckenna Crocker ’28
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Minor(s): Sustainable Energy
"This experience taught me about culture, but also about real-world engineering, the importance of communication and the challenges that arise. It sparked a passion to pursue more engineering projects in under-served communities and continue making valuable contributions to EWB throughout college."
Andrei Florian ’28
Major: Computer Science
Minor(s): Entrepreneurship, Statistics and Machine Learning, Tech and Society
"My time in Kenya gave me the unique opportunity to see how infrastructure development projects are conducted at the grassroots level and deepened my understanding of work in this context.”"
Cade Hemond ’28
Major: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Minor(s): Philosophy, Quantitative and Computational Biology
"I gained valuable insight into the challenges of coordinating a project of this scale, and how essential clear communication is to success. The warmth and generosity of the community were profoundly moving, and I look forward with gratitude and anticipation to continuing this work."
Sophia Miller ’26
Major: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Minor(s): Quantitative Economics
"I experienced immense personal and professional growth. I strengthened my leadership and communication skills by ensuring alignment among our in-country partners, mentors and team. Engaging with people from different backgrounds has broadened my perspective and deepened my sense of empathy."
Elise Taylor ’27
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Minor(s): French
"Observing construction, meeting with the community, and discussing technical aspects with contractors and partners, I gained experience with problem-solving and adaptability. These insights will prepare me for work in water quality and engineering, which I plan to pursue at Princeton and after graduating."
Click to view the end-of-project presentation
Thomas J. Wu ’94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the High Meadows Environmental Institute, Faculty Advisor, Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Princeton University Chapter
Mentors
- Roger Price, Responsible Engineer in Charge, EWB
- Moses Sikuku Wakwabubi, Travel Mentor and Engineer, EWB
