29 May 2014

Costain’s Ruth Fuller is heading to Rwanda with Engineers Without Borders UK, a charitable organisation that aims to create change by empowering new engineers to use their skills to help people and communities in impoverished countries.

Ruth, who joined Costain in 2010 and is currently on secondment to Atkins, will spend three months in Rwanda on a sabbatical as part of the EWB-UK programme. EWB-UK focuses on developing the skills and attitudes of young engineers in the UK by promoting a global outlook within the UK engineering industry and education sector, and preparing individuals for a career in engineering within International Development.

Heading over in July, Ruth will work with Health Poverty Action (HPA) to oversee the design, planning and construction of EcoSan Toilets in Nyaruguru district, Rwanda. Ruth will be part of HPA’s SALTWASH (Saving Lives Through Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program which aims to improve access to sustainable drinking water and sanitation in Rwanda in order to reduce mortality and help prevent diseases. EcoSan toilets are sanitation systems that do not require any water to function, which is ideal for rural Nyaruguru where piped water is rare.

To get there, Ruth has raised funds by running the Rome Marathon and she has baked over 250 cakes for a cake sale. Ruth also took on a challenge to ‘live below the poverty line’ where she was only able to spend £1 a day on food and drink for five days. So far she has raised £1,200 and is hoping the total amount raised will increase in the lead up to her placement. A further £1,200 is still required to cover the cost of the placement.

“I’m really looking forward to my placement. My volunteer work will support the design, planning and construction of composting toilet units with hand washing facilities. I will also be monitoring construction sites, providing support to local masons during construction, helping with planning and the training of Water User Committees and Parent Teacher Associations of schools, attending community based events on water management and carrying out water testing,” said Ruth.

On her return, Ruth will be joining the C405 Paddington project as a Section Engineer in the station fit-out team.

For more information, please click on the following links:

EWB-UK: http://www.ewb-uk.org/

Health Poverty Action: http://www.healthpovertyaction.org/

If anyone would like to make a donation, then please visit Ruth’s fundraising page here.

 

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