From Moscow in the Palouse to Chiwirapi in the Altiplano of Bolivia

After several months of planning, fundraising, and getting shots, we have made our first trip to Chiwirapi, Bolivia! Our wonderful assessment crew consisted of Nate Suhr, Brian Zaladonis, Rachael Mckibbin, Kylie Jarvis, Hailey Woodruff, James Pearson and Fritz Fiedler (UIdaho Professor). 

This group of engineers (and one anthropologist!) spent five days in the community of Chiwirapi to begin developing a sustainable water plan and assessing the needs of the Quechua residents in this rural Bolivian village. 

Chiwirapi resides in the altiplano of Bolivia, 12,000 feet above sea level, six hours from La Paz and a short walk from Bolivar. Despite the close proximity, Chiwirapi is a nearly self-suffient village. The community of twenty-four households spreads along both sides of a river. The community sustain themselves on agriculture and animal husbandry. As you can imagine, reliable and clean water is incredibly important for Chiwirapi’s wellbeing. 

Upon arrival, it was evident that a clean and reliable water source has been a goal of the community for quite some time. The village landscape was littered with the skeletons of previous NGO attempts to find a solution for the community. For one reason or another, each system hasn’t been able to stay functional.  

The failed systems posed a daunting possibility to our own work with the community. BUT! Our assessment team went at their work with vigor and passion to survey the landscape, take water sample, and connect with the people of Chiwirapi to find solutions that would be sustainable with the environment and community’s resources. Our team spoke with members of the Chiwirapi community to hear their needs and work in collaboration with them to find a workable solution to implement with them on our next trip.

All in all, the trip was a definite success! Results of the water samples have recently come in and been assessed. Our team plans on talking with our in country contacts at Engineers In Action to relay the information to the people of Chiwirapi within the month.

On the road to Chiwirapi!

EWB President Naye Suhr conducting landscape surveys.

Taking water samples from Chiwirapi's current clean water source, a small well down river.

Our very technical and sophisticated surveying equipment. A stick with a bottle on top for survey targeting (aka, shooting lasers). Fritz and Afnan (EIA engineer) oversee this complicated procedure conducted by a highly trained child from Chiwirapi.

James Pearson collecting community information. He is in charge of assessing the community health and insuring our project is culturally sustainable. Luigi (the gentleman in orange) translated, Spanish into English.

All work and no Play?

“As a club, we've been working so hard to raise money for a community that we'd never even seen; to be able to put a face and a story to each person was incredible and has only increased my commitment to this club and this project.” Kylie Jarvis

From left to right: Afnan (EIA Engineer), Hailey Woodruff, Kylie Jarvis, Fritz Fiedler, Rachael McKibben, Celia (Cook from La Paz for the team), Nate Suhr, Brian Zaladonis, Luigi (Translator and EIA engineer), and James Pearson.