The Miners Give Back (MGB) program of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Foundation (SMEF) is pleased to announce its continuing collaboration with Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB) in awarding a grant to assist the village of Khanalthok, Nepal. The $5,000 grant to the University of Florida EWB Chapter will enable volunteers to design and implement a sustainable solution to the lack of readily available, potable water in combination with low sanitary practices at the local school.

The keys to the sustainability of the project include plans to:

• Engineers Without Borders USA
• Provide an additional source of water through a rainwater catchment system,
• Repair the existing water tanks and link them to the catchment system, and
• Distribute water for household, sanitary and personal uses.

“Our relationship with Engineers Without Borders strengthens our mutual mission, which is to improve the lives of individuals as well as benefiting the entire community,” said SMEF President Dennis Bryan. “This collaboration demonstrates the commitment of the mining industry to address the needs of communities that may lack the expertise to bring about workable solutions to pressing problems.”

EWB works directly with the community to assess, design and implement engineering solutions for small-scale infrastructure projects worldwide. Efforts can include water supply, sanitation, civil works, structures, energy and agriculture. MGB is working with EWB to leverage EWB’s global network of engineers in developing countries to positively impact and enhance communities with sustainable benefits that will continue for generations. Through this MGB / EWB alliance, the SMEF is dedicated to support worldwide initiatives focused on humanitarian efforts.

SMEF will again coordinate activities with EWB in the spring of 2016 in reviewing applications for future humanitarian aid grants. The SME Foundation is grateful to Drummond Company Inc. for its continued financial support of these global projects. For additional information, please visit http://community.smenet.org/smefoundation/programs/mgb?ssopc=1