We Have the Skills, Knowledge, and Experience – and That Comes with Responsibility

At Engineers Without Borders Denmark (EWB-DK), we believe that capability creates obligation. That’s why it was a natural choice for us to contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

In August, EWB-DK’s leadership conducted a fact-finding mission in the port city of Mykolaiv, where Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, including the drinking water supply, have left half a million residents in need of assistance. Denmark has established a special partnership with Ukraine to support the reconstruction of Mykolaiv, and EWB-DK is uniquely positioned to contribute to and enhance the aid Denmark has committed to providing.

We have entered into a close collaboration with the Danish embassy office in Mykolaiv and formed partnership agreements with organizations like DanChurchAid to deliver technical support for humanitarian efforts in the city.

Through EWB-DK Response, we will provide flexible and effective engineering support during the initial critical phases of rebuilding Mykolaiv’s essential infrastructure. The challenges are significant:

• Water supply: Damage to the system and saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems have caused severe corrosion, leading to up to 30 leaks daily.
• District heating: The system has suffered corrosion and pump damage, leaving it unable to provide heating for the coming winter.
• Electric grid: The network is heavily damaged, operating at just 25% of the required capacity.

These are the concrete challenges that EWB-DK’s Ukraine working group and on-ground missions will address in close collaboration with our local partners and by drawing on our extensive professional network and the expertise of our Danish corporate partners.

In recent years, much of our work has focused on the African continent. Now, in a war-torn European country, we will face different challenges. The security situation is distinct, and we anticipate encountering new scenarios. We’ve faced such conditions before and are ready. There will also be situations with more immediate needs, requiring rapid response and less emphasis on capacity building and education. Nevertheless, our core mission remains the same:

As volunteers with Engineers Without Borders, we use our professional expertise to make a difference for vulnerable communities wherever we can. Whether the need arises from poverty or war, whether it involves urgent aid to provide essentials like clean water and shelter, or long-term infrastructure and capacity building, our volunteer specialists have helped countless communities regain self-sufficiency, rendering our presence no longer necessary.

This is also our mission in Ukraine.

EWB-DK has established a new Ukraine working group, which is now open for applications. You can learn more about the group and upcoming missions to Mykolaiv at our information meetings, which are announced on our website. The next meeting will take place on October 9th at Navitas in Aarhus from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

If you’re already a member and wish to join the effort, please contact the Secretariat at info@iug.dk.