Travel

Being on the travel team to Ghana was nothing short of inspiring and amazing. It was a great opportunity for me to be challenged, first as a person, and then as an engineer. The trip was full of laughter, reflections, a daily overdose of problem solving and, of course, good food! It was also a glimpse of life as a “field engineer”, being faced with new and exciting challenges every day. Experiences like this are exactly why CU-EWB has been such a meaningful part of my Columbia journey — and something I’ll always cherish.

When I was a first-year, I was still unsure about my place in EWB and what my future in the club might look like. During the Uganda monitoring trip in 2023, my travel team encouraged and supported me to pursue challenges and take on more leadership. Fast forward two years, and co-leading the chapter and the Ghana travel team has given me the chance to do the same for my peers. One thing that has always stayed true in EWB is that adaptability matters most. Things rarely go as expected, and learning to problem-solve in real time is everything.

For the past two years, I’ve been extremely fortunate to be chosen as part of EWB’s Travel Team. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to grow with the Mpakadan Rural Electrification Project—first through the initial assessment trip and now the implementation trip. These experiences have helped me develop not only technically, but also personally. I’ve had the chance to learn about a new culture, try incredible new foods, and most importantly, meet people who have left a lasting impact on my life. Through this journey, I’ve built genuine, once-in-a-lifetime connections that I will always carry with me.

The trip was incredibly fulfilling and fun. It truly felt like everything we had been working on for the past months was finally put into action, and that was an awesome experience. But on top of the actual engineering work, what made this experience even cooler was the fact that we actually got to meet the locals and truly immerse ourselves in the culture. From eating traditional food every night, meeting the locals and the chiefs of the villages we were working in, and even getting to take part in the enstoolment of a new chief (crazy day, crazy pics), I felt like I got a true taste of the warmth and richness of Ghana. I’ll always remember my time there.

Travelling to Ghana was a truly transformative experience. Meeting with the Electricity Company of Ghana in person felt like our project was really being brought into fruition and allowed for meaningful, real-time collaboration. Engaging with the Mpakadan community we aimed to support was deeply inspiring and served as a powerful reminder of the real lives our work touches. I learned the importance of adaptability and the value of embracing the moment and having fun as nothing ever goes exactly as planned. Experiencing Ghanaian culture firsthand through food, language, and traditions is something that can’t easily be gained elsewhere. My time in Ghana stands out as the highlight of my sophomore year, and the lessons and memories I gained will continue to shape my journey at Columbia and beyond.

Travelling with EWB was a really great experience for me. Especially after just one year of engineering, it can be difficult to understand how what we learn in the classroom is supposed to actually help people. While travelling we were able to both develop technical skills and engage with the communities we are trying to help. I really loved getting to meet the kids in Obodan. They were all so sweet and drew in our notebooks and waved at us every time we passed by. Through the community surveys, we got to meet and talk to so many people. On a more technical note, we got to observe and help with home wiring in Mpakadan and conduct soil tests in Obodan. Since my major is chemical engineering, I never would have gained this experience otherwise and really enjoyed learning from them. 

Overall, travel team was an amazing opportunity and I am very grateful I got to go.

Going to Ghana with Engineers Without Borders was the last thing I imagined doing during my freshman year—yet it’ll be the first thing I’ll remember when I think back to this summer. In just ten days, my trip to Obodan became one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, set against the backdrop of Ghana—a country overflowing with life, warmth (both in spirit and temperature), and soul. Alongside observing local wildlife, seeking shelter from sudden summer rains, and exchanging smiles with some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met, I discovered that what began as a technical challenge quickly became something deeply human: learning to listen across cultures, adapt to change, and lead with humility. Our efforts to build the Obodan Preschool are just beginning, but I’m sure the connections we forged and foundations we laid will shape the future years to come.

Traveling to rural villages in Ghana with EWB was the most eye-opening experience I've ever had, not because of how different it was from life in the City, but because of how similar it was to the farming communities in China where my parents are from. Completing engineering tasks in Ghana made me feel like I was a part of a broader mission to improve life everywhere on Earth. The sense of family and camaraderie that fellow travel team members--and random Ghanian strangers--gave me can't be found anywhere else. I've never felt more compelled to dedicate my future to helping others. Special thanks to co-photographer Elvis Addo--best of luck.

Electrifying a village in Ghana was both awe-inspiring and humbling. I had the opportunity to delve into electrical engineering concepts while working as a team in the brilliant setting of a close-knit, friendly Ghanaian village. Our first home wiring was for an older lady who was brimming with enthusiasm and could not wait to introduce us to her baby granddaughter. Connected to the grid, her world just got brighter. What truly made this trip special were playing soccer with the local Obodan preschoolers, trying new traditional Ghanaian foods, and practicing a few words of Twi.