Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
Club Purpose & Goals
Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC) is a student-run U of I student organization that focuses on helping communities meet their basic needs such as water, food and shelter. HEC operates as a non-profit entity. Students meet regularly depending on involvement to raise funds for international projects. There are various ways to be involved, including:
- Attending general meetings (weekly)
- Participate in project design (weekly working meetings) - At the project meetings, students evaluate solution alternatives, analyze data (collected by HEC students) and assess our Bolivian partner communities needs to create a sustainable design to be implemented in the summer.
- Fundraising (a couple of events each year)
- Volunteering for local service projects (monthly)
Club Meetings
5:30 p.m. Wednesdays – JEB ThinkTank
(alternating each week between general meetings and project meetings)
Club Events
April - Annual UI-HEC Fundraising Bash
There are a variety of entertaining fundraising events throughout the year involving the Moscow community. The club successfully raises $15,000-$20,000 each year to provide the necessary funds to pay for materials, travel, food and other logistical expenses associated with international construction projects.
Who can Join?
Our group is mostly composed of Civil Engineering undergrads, but U of I undergrads of other STEM majors are welcome to join as well.
How to Join?
Contact club president Criss Ward (ward1761@vandals.uidaho.edu).
Project Updates & Accomplishments
Our current project is a gravity-fed water supply project in Challcha, Bolivia. We have a minimum 5 year commitment with the community. Each year, we design the water supply project for a different section in the community and improve on previously implemented designs. Accomplishments include:
- working directly with Challcha community members to lay pipeline
- install new break pressure and storage tanks
- provide tap stands for water distribution to families
Partner NGO (non-governmental organization) in Bolivia, Engineers-In-Action.