Engineers for Overseas Development
Engineers For Overseas Development (EFOD) started in Cardiff almost 24 years ago when ICE Wales Cymru were challenged to help to improve the sanitation in a downtown area in The Gambia. Six young engineers responded, designed and built a couple of latrine blocks for some of the urban poor in downtown Banjol, and discovered young Engineers and Construction Professionals really can make a difference in this world.
EFOD is a now a well-established charitable company based in South Wales, challenging teams of young members of our industry to enhance their training by delivering schemes for some of the poorest villages in Africa. There are currently four active groups with over 200 active members.
We have a successful record building and maintaining hospital incinerators, grinding mills and grain stores, medical facilities, training schools and boreholes in Uganda, Zambia and Ghana. EFOD volunteers continue to make a difference, and the experience they gain at an early stage in their career is remarkable.
EFOD Cardiff’s current project is Faith Nursery and Primary School, in Kachumbala, Uganda. A rural community of peasant farmers asked for assistance to develop a school teaching through the medium of English to improve the educational standards for their children. Uganda has 60 regional languages, so National Exams are held in English, and the earlier a child learns the better they perform at A Level. Buildings to accommodate 500 children were designed by EFOD Cardiff volunteers and Architectural Students from the University of Virginia with a plan to construct in phases over 3-4 years.
Image of the proposed school
A borehole was sunk to supply water for building work and the local community, and the site fenced before disruption caused by Covid in early 2020 delayed the scheme. EFOD Cardiff were undeterred, deciding to hire labour and supervise work remotely, starting in mid-2021 with twice daily calls to the local Project Manager and Foreman. Three new classrooms and a dining hall were completed in mid 2022 resulting an increased attendance of 70%.
Building new latrines was delayed by a lack of funds, but work has now restarted thanks to a grant from the Wales and Africa Fund run by the Welsh Government.
If you can help fund EFOD please get in touch https://www.efod.org.uk/get-involved