Engineers

Without Borders University of Victoria

6:00pm, Thursday March 26, 2015 ECS 130

URLs

www.doylin.com/blog
www.allhands.org
www.bridgestoprosperity.org

Introduction

Thank you, Zach, for inviting me here today

My name is William Doyle, graduated from Queens University in 2009 with

Mechanical Engineering degree.

Today Im going to talk about:

1. Me, my education, and my initial understanding of international
development work
2. My first international development experience
3. Haiti
4. How these experiences changed my understanding of international
development

Questions:
1. How many engineering students?
2. How many civil engineers?
3. How many have worked in international development?
4. Have any of you been in Haiti or Guatemala?

Joke: Whats the difference between an introverted engineer and an

extroverted engineer?...
o This underlines the notion, the presumption about engineers and our
role in the world.
o Good at spreadsheets, good at science, design things, build things
o As evidenced by your involvement in EWB, you know that engineers
are equipped with an even greater ability to work on broad and
underlying global issues including poverty and injustice

o This can only be accomplished by multi-disciplinary and integrated

approaches to problems.

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Engineers Without Borders University of Victoria

6:00pm, Thursday March 26, 2015 ECS 130

About me

Obtained P.Eng. last year. Moved to Victoria 9 months ago. Established Doyle
Consulting Limited

Born and Raised in Golden, BC

Last 10 years through university and after, worked for three different heavy
civil construction contractors, mostly on public infrastructure in BC and
Alberta

In University, I was involved with a group called Queens Project on

International Development. Building on my construction experience, I
thought my abilities as an engineer would be best suited building bricks and
mortar solutions to development problems.

Helped to establish Queens chapter of EWB. Turns out that EWB doesnt
build bricks and mortar. More into programs, multi-disciplinary, not
exclusive to engineers.

Turns out that some of EWB Canadas founders are from that QPID group.

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Engineers Without Borders University of Victoria

6:00pm, Thursday March 26, 2015 ECS 130

My First International Development Experience

Working during my internship in BC and after grad in Fort McMurray, sense

of guilt that blood/sweat/tears over 80+ hour weeks helping to build bridges
and highways so that people and goods could go from A to B a bit quicker, a
bit safer.

In 2010, while working in Fort Mac, my former employer, Flatiron

Constructors, started a relationship with Bridges to Prosperity

B2P estimated a need for 500,000 pedestrian bridges around the world

Need in La Tana in rural Guatemala identified by community, passed on to

B2P via US Peace Corps volunteers

Rio Satan, 700 of 2000 people separated during high water from school,
access to health care, access to market for their goods. Had long detour hike,
or fjorded across river. Some deaths.

AWESOME! I can help!!!! I helped to plan bridge construction method; crew in

California loaded up sea can with tools and materials from steel fabricators
and Home Depot; shipped to Guatemala; crew of 20 flew in; we built the
bridge; we took pictures; we left.

Came home even more puzzled, more guilty about my life of excess in Fort
McMurray, even more questions about international development
o Did we increase capacity of community beyond the simple bridge?
o Did we learn from the community and we were able to come home
and explain the situations to our family, friends?

Friend committed suicide; he was unhappy with certain circumstances in his

life

Made me realize if theres something in my life Id like to change or to try, the

time is now. Just do it!

Gave 2 months notice, quit.

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Engineers Without Borders University of Victoria

6:00pm, Thursday March 26, 2015 ECS 130

Haiti

Applied for numerous positions with aid organizations, no luck b/c of lack of
experience

Heard about All-Hands Volunteers

o Founded following December 2004 tsunami in Indian Ocean
o Founder recognized a need to provide avenue for willing volunteers to
dig in and help with manual labour, post-disaster
o Founder understood that organizations must serve the needs of the
community (not impose), be flexible.
o Typically in 1 -> 6 month range after disaster, as communities
transition from emergency mode to living with the community that
will never be the same

As I set off to Haiti, my Dad asked What if you were to spend your whole life
in Haiti, putting all your blood and sweat and tears into your efforts there,
only to find at the end of your life that the country was worse off?
o Dad, thats not going to happen. I am going to make a positive
difference

Haiti: Poorest country in Western hemisphere before earthquake.

Leogane: City of 300,000; 90,000 deaths; 90% buildings destroyed or

damaged

All-Hands: 60-100 volunteers at one time; 100+ nationalities over life of

project

Programs: rubble removal, assist municipality with property records system,

augment management capacity of orphanage, build schools, build social and
physical infrastructure for sanitation and hygiene.

I led some school construction teams; used past skills, 40+ local and
international volunteers, improved methodologies

I participated in some teams who met with community leaders to ensure

need, buy-in, commitment

Sanitation:
o 9 million people, no sewage treatment plants, pit toilets, groundwater
o UNICEF was aware of issue. In conjunction with community leaders
and volunteers, I contributed to team that canvassed 30 schools,
identified needs, completed locally sensitive design, construction plan
o 5000 students, $20 each, $100,000, education and toilets for 20+
years

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Engineers Without Borders University of Victoria

6:00pm, Thursday March 26, 2015 ECS 130

Hurricane Thomas happened

Cholera happened. Deaths > Hand sanitizer, chlorine tables, chemical toilets

Election happened. Riots. Lockdown.

Home via Montreal with job offers

o WTF just happened Blog entry with all the answers didnt come to
me
o $11 caesar at MTL airport, King Sized Bed, Hot shower, no answers

Development Lessons

Haiti: many shiny new schools built, private owners, tuition up

Haiti: troubled history over 500 years. Not going to change quickly.
Expectations must be tempered

Development career requires massive personal sacrifice: financial, your

family, your career

Canada not a knight in shining armor, nor universally loved

o Navy 1st responders: Good
o Military: Hundreds of rotting 2x4 house frames
o Canadian Red Cross parties, UN cafeteria

B2P matured; Flatiron still involved, capacity building (masons, engineers,

surveyors, construction managers, locally appropriate materials)

FUN in HAITI: happy, strong individuals and communities who generally

built apathy and out of their adversity

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Engineers Without Borders University of Victoria

6:00pm, Thursday March 26, 2015 ECS 130

Closing:

EWB publishes annual Failure Report. From 2014 intro by Dr. Ernesto
Sirolli:
o Contrary to commercials we see on TV, the development sector is far
from perfect. In fact, it can be downright toxic if benevolent
westerners, full of pomp and purpose, are left to their own
meddlesome devices.
o EWB understands this and has structured its programs accordingly.
o Embrace failure

I am generally proud of my limited contributions. The bricks and mortar are

needed.

EWB exhibits humility, embraces multi-disciplinary and integrated

approaches, and tackles underlying societal issues. I applaud the
organization, and I applaud you for participating in this organization; this is
an immeasurably valuable complement to your engineering education

If you are contemplating development work (EWB or other, domestically or

abroad), consider the following:
o Do your research on the project, the organization, the country, the
community
o Talk to people who are there or have been there
o If you go, be open-minded: both positive, and critical.
o Question how its done.
o Be an observer 1st, a leader second

This is my experience, both the good and the bad. For it, I am a better
engineer (balance, environment, safety). I am a better person (a better
listener, contribute to my own community).

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