Student Engagement and Capacity Building
Lusaka Province (2020 – )
Over the past five years, UNZA engineering students have applied classroom learning and gained hands-on experience, supporting local communities across Zambia.
In Zambia, many engineering students graduate without practical experience in rural or underserved settings. To address this gap, Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Zambia has partnered with the University of Zambia (UNZA) since 2020 to build engineering capacity through hands-on learning, mentorship, and community engagement. Through this initiative, students are directly involved in the design, planning, and implementation of sustainable infrastructure projects.
Over the past five years, more than 50 students have gained technical and leadership skills by volunteering on EWB-Zambia projects. With mentorship from experienced engineers, students have participated in fieldwork, technical workshops, and innovation challenges. Notably, UNZA students contributed to the Miyoba Water Project and supported the Chimpanje Solar Mini-Grid through energy demand assessments as part of their internships. One standout participant, Kanyanta Makasa, helped design the Chimphanje Rural Health Center and later joined W&H Solar Ventures as an Assistant Engineer, continuing his impact in the energy sector.
To formalize and expand this collaboration, a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in 2021 between EWB-Zambia and the UNZA School of Engineering. By pairing students with professional mentors, EWB-Zambia ensures knowledge transfer and fosters a culture of volunteerism, problem-solving, and sustainability within the engineering profession. Feedback from students and faculty highlights improved project management skills, a deeper understanding of rural challenges, and motivation to serve communities. Looking ahead, the organization plans to host annual hackathons and innovation challenges focused on appropriate technology solutions for rural development.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
*This project contributes directly to SDG 4: Quality Education, supporting skills development and practical learning for the next generation of engineers.
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