UPEI students finding a way to help

By: Bo Ford

Most people don’t realize the struggles people from third-world countries go through everyday but through the first-year Engineering Design Course at UPEI, students really found out.

The students were asked to build a project that would help the people of Kenya use their agriculture waste into solid bricks.

The project is thought the Mikinduri Children of Hope. Engineering professor Dr. Andrew Trivett explain the struggles people go through everyday.

“They use wood for cooking in doors, not their own wood. Stolen wood. We were asked to find a way for the people to start using agriculture waste to cook with, so when they were finished they could use the agriculture waste for something else.”

Dr. Trivett then asked his students to find a way to pack the agriculture waste and make it into bricks so people could use it in building.

“They took off with it, they were on Youtube and Google looking for the best idea, the better part about it, it wasn’t only helping out a charity but it was also worth mark,” said Trivett.

The students recently put their projects on display outside of the Engineering Design Expo at UPEI.

Trivett said it was good for the student to get exposure.

“They put their projects on display for people to see how it works, and then after the Design Expo, Engineer’s P.E.I. are going to come be the judge of this too.”

The students took a hand full of ideas some using wood PVC well others used a keg to make the bricks.

“Starting out, I thought it was one of the worst ideas I’ve seen. Turns out I was wrong, because it turned out to work pretty good,” said Trivett.

Trivett said the students learn a lot more working in groups with people they enjoy.

“It gives them a taste of the real world as well, you have to be able to work in groups in the classroom and the work force.”

First-year student Matt MacEachern agreed with Trivett about his experience.

“I learned a lot through this experience, I can’t wait to do the big Expo next year.”

Now the projects will be sent to the Mikinduri Children of Hope charity and they will decide if they like a certain project better then another.

“They could use all eight of them, them may use one. Or they may not use any of them,” said Trivett.

The students who participated in the build are very unique explained Trivett.

“This group of students will be the first group that will have the chance to graduate from UPEI, the get the option to stay put or head off, second and third year students won’t have that option, unless they want to wait it out.”