EWB Challenge Champion TeamPhoto by Matheesha Gunaaratnam
Seven top student teams from Australia and New Zealand showcased their clever solutions to problems affecting people in the village of Sandikhola in Nepal, at the EWB Challenge National Finalists Showcase held in Melbourne on Monday December.
Judges from our community partner Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH), BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities and EWB were very impressed with the clever design solutions and professional presentations by the student teams and commended all the participants on the excellence of their work.
The EWB Challenge Champion Team was awarded to Massey University, New Zealand for the innovative "Improved and Affordable Cookstove for Sandikhola" project. The clever cookstove design uses recycled oil barrels and clay insulator linings to create directed heat for cooking, increased fuel efficiency and improved ventilation and safety. Congratulations to Nathaniel McTaggart, Lydia McGlashan and Demi Noakes (pictured above with judges Santosh Basnet, Siobhan Maxwell and Kumar Silwal).
The BHP BIlliton Award was presented to The University of Melbourne team for their well-executed "The TOM Box and Facilitiation Education Scheme" project. The TOM box can be constructed from locally-sourced materials and be easily installed coupled with an educational program to improve management of women&#;s menstrual hygiene and health. Congratulations to Ashley James, Kirstin Clements, Rose O&#;&#;Leary and Carmen Verdeyen.
The People&#;s Choice Award was voted by the audience and went to The University of Melbourne team.
The other teams highly commended were: The Australian National University; Charles Darwin University; Flinders University, SA; Queensland University of Technology; and the University of New South Wales.
Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH) will receive copies of all the student projects and presentations for consideration for implementation in the representative village of Sandikhola in the Gorkha region.