What inspired you to work for Community & Humanitarian Engineering?
Working with Engineering Without Borders Argentina showed me that engineering is ultimately about service, especially to communities facing the greatest challenges. I witnessed how technical knowledge, when guided by ethics and social awareness, can become a powerful force to reduce inequality.
My own experience revealed that traditional engineering education often prioritizes standards over people. This realization inspired me to create CHE with a dual purpose: to strengthen community-led development in vulnerable contexts while shaping engineers who are socially responsible, ethically grounded, and committed to building a more just world.
Describe a typical day at work.
As CHE is in its early stages, my workdays are focused on building the organizational and operational foundations for long-term impact. This includes setting up administrative and legal frameworks, coordinating closely with local partners, and designing the structure for upcoming volunteering programs launching later this year.
At the same time, I dedicate significant effort to strategic outreach—developing partnerships with international platforms, universities, and Engineering Without Borders networks worldwide to ensure the programs attract engaged, values-driven participants and are positioned for sustainable growth.
Annual Gathering with Engineering Without Borders Argentina
Why do you do what you do?
I do this work because I believe meaningful development happens when people, knowledge, and responsibility come together. I’ve seen how well-intentioned projects can fail when communities are not truly involved, and how powerful change can be when they are.
What drives me is helping create experiences that connect technical skills with real human needs—supporting communities while enabling future professionals to understand their role, privilege, and responsibility in shaping a more equitable world.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of this work is still ahead: connecting all the pieces. Seeing students apply engineering ethically and professionally in real-world contexts, fully understanding the community process behind each project, and transforming theory into hands-on practice.
When learning, community engagement, and impact come together, the work gains meaning—not as isolated tasks, but as part of a shared, human-centered process.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
As a civil engineer, I regularly draw on my experience coordinating construction-related tasks across different contexts. I’ve led projects both in professional settings—working with skilled construction teams—and within Engineering Without Borders Argentina, where I coordinated volunteers who were often new to tools, construction processes, and on-site work. This has strengthened my ability to adapt technical knowledge to diverse skill levels while maintaining safety, quality, and purpose.
My international background also plays a key role. Having lived in the Netherlands for nearly eight years, I work comfortably across languages and cultures, and I’m geographically and professionally close to universities and organizations that can meaningfully contribute to initiatives like CHE. This perspective helps me bridge academic environments, international partners, and community-based projects effectively.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
At this stage, my main challenge is building participation for a new program. Within that, the most complex aspect is explaining to universities and partner organizations why this volunteering experience has a participation fee. This is a conscious decision and not simply related to compensating my work.
I address this by clearly communicating the value behind the structure: a well-designed program that combines theoretical preparation and hands-on practice within a legal, ethical, and safe framework. The fee supports proper planning, on-site coordination, risk management, and long-term community benefit—ensuring that participants learn responsibly while communities engage in projects that are meaningful and sustainable.
What are some current projects you are working on?
At this point, no projects are on running stage. I am, as mentioned before, busy with the preparation of the program, both with local NGO (EWB Argentina) and potential partners (Universities and other EWB along the world).
My project is the first program that would take place between June and July this year (2026).
BBQ making at the city where I live, Eindhoven.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell my pre-travel self to approach volunteering with an open mind: to listen more and arrive with fewer personal expectations. I’ve learned that volunteering is not about “helping” others, but about contributing a small, meaningful piece within a much larger process toward a more just world.
I would remind myself that my role is just one grain of sand, valuable only when understood in its real context and impact. Valuing processes over immediate results, being patient, and adapting to different cultural realities are essential.
Ultimately, these experiences are as transformative for the volunteer as they are for the communities involved — and they help us all build a better world to live in.
What makes Community & Humanitarian Engineering special?
CHE is unique because it combines hands-on, skills-based volunteering with community-led design. Our programs engage local communities from day one, giving volunteers the opportunity to apply engineering in a way that is ethical, socially responsible, and fully meaningful.
By connecting education with real-world community projects, CHE gives a complete sense of purpose to engineering, fostering both personal growth and sustainable social impact.
Why should someone choose Community & Humanitarian Engineering over competitors?
Volunteers should choose CHE because our programs go beyond traditional volunteering. We combine hands-on engineering experience with ethical, socially responsible practices, and every project is co-created with the community from day one. Participants gain practical skills, see the real impact of their work, and experience how engineering can truly serve society.
Unlike other programs, CHE offers a structured, safe, and legally supported framework that ensures both meaningful learning for volunteers and sustainable benefit for communities.
What hopes do you have for the future for Community & Humanitarian Engineering?
I hope to expand CHE’s programs to engage more students internationally, offering experiences that combine technical training with social impact. My goal is to build a model where volunteers, universities, and local communities collaborate to create projects that are sustainable, ethically grounded, and empowering.
Ultimately, I want CHE to cultivate socially responsible engineers while making tangible contributions to communities around the world.
What is Community & Humanitarian Engineering's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
CHE’s mission is to form socially responsible and ethically grounded engineers while supporting sustainable, community-led development. We work toward this by designing programs that combine practical engineering training with participatory projects, ensuring volunteers learn firsthand how to apply technical skills ethically.
By collaborating closely with local communities, universities, and international partners, we create experiences that foster learning, personal growth, and tangible social impact.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope participants leave with a deep understanding of the true meaning of engineering: that it exists to serve communities and must be designed with them from day one. Beyond gaining practical skills, they experience the power of ethical, socially responsible work, seeing firsthand how their efforts create real impact.
At the same time, they immerse themselves in a vibrant culture, discovering a beautiful country and its people, making the journey both transformative and unforgettable.
How do you help support participants?
Even before programs officially launch, CHE supports participants indirectly by working closely with partner universities and organizations. We ensure these institutions understand the program’s goals, safety protocols, and learning objectives, so they can accurately communicate this to prospective volunteers.
This approach helps participants enter the program well-informed and confident, maximizing both their learning and the community impact of the projects.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
Organizations and universities often ask about safety, costs, and the meaningful impact of the programs. I explain how CHE designs experiences ethically and responsibly, combining hands-on learning with community-led projects. I clarify the purpose of program fees, which cover materials, logistics, and participant safety, and emphasize that volunteers contribute to sustainable outcomes rather than just performing tasks.
This guidance ensures institutions can accurately inform prospective participants and set clear expectations.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures can offer incredible opportunities for growth, but the key is an open mind. Volunteers who approach new communities with curiosity and humility gain empathy, cultural awareness, and a deeper understanding of local contexts.
Immersing yourself—whether abroad or at home—teaches that meaningful solutions come from listening, collaboration, and engagement, helping you become a more socially responsible and effective contributor.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel goes far beyond simply visiting new places, taking photos, or checking destinations off a list. It is about immersing oneself in a culture, community, and environment with genuine curiosity, openness, and respect. Traveling meaningfully means approaching each experience with humility, listening carefully to local voices, and observing the world around you without imposing preconceived notions. It is about trying to understand the history, values, and daily realities of the people you encounter, as well as reflecting on your own assumptions, privileges, and worldview.
This kind of travel encourages deep personal growth, as it challenges us to step out of comfort zones, question our biases, and engage with complexity rather than seeking simple answers. It allows for authentic connections with people and communities, fostering empathy, cultural awareness, and a sense of shared humanity. Meaningful travel also recognizes that our presence has an impact, and it encourages us to act thoughtfully and respectfully, even in small interactions.
Ultimately, meaningful travel transforms both the traveler and the places visited. It teaches patience, adaptability, and attentiveness, and it reminds us that learning happens not just in classrooms or books, but through real experiences, conversations, and immersion. For me, the most rewarding journeys are those that leave you changed—more aware, more connected, and more inspired to contribute positively to the world. Traveling in this way is not just about exploring geography; it is about exploring perspectives, values, and the shared challenges and beauty of the human experience.
Travelling with my favourite person, my brother.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
One major issue I’ve observed is that international education programs often treat students as isolated learners, disconnected from the real context of the communities they aim to serve. I’ve seen organizations and universities design projects for communities they barely know—sometimes visiting only briefly, or not at all—and then returning to their own offices to develop solutions focused on efficiency, metrics, or resource rationalization.
While these approaches may appear “effective” on paper, they often overlook the human and cultural dimensions that are essential for meaningful, sustainable impact. The voice of the community itself is frequently minimized or absent, which undermines both the ethical foundation of the program and its long-term success.
At CHE, we approach this differently: every project is co-created with the community from day one. Local participants are involved in identifying needs, proposing solutions, and guiding implementation. This ensures that educational experiences for volunteers are not only technically rigorous but also ethically grounded, culturally aware, and socially responsible.
I believe international education should prioritize mutual learning, listening, and respect, so that both students and communities benefit in a way that is sustainable, meaningful, and just.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
Ethical global engagement means approaching every international experience with respect, humility, and a commitment to genuine collaboration. It’s not enough to “help” or complete tasks; engagement must be guided by the needs, voices, and agency of the communities involved.
For me, ethical engagement combines technical skills with social awareness: ensuring that every intervention, project, or learning opportunity is culturally sensitive, participatory, and sustainable. It requires listening first, acting second, and always reflecting on the broader social, environmental, and ethical implications of one’s work.
At CHE, we embed these principles in every program, demonstrating that engineering and volunteering are most meaningful when they serve communities in ways that are equitable, respectful, and long-lasting.
Working at a site project in Buenos Aires, Argentina
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
For CHE, strong program-community relations are built on trust, respect, and shared ownership. The community should be involved from day one, actively participating in identifying challenges, proposing solutions, and guiding project execution. Transparency, clear communication, and responsiveness to local perspectives are essential.
Volunteers and students benefit most when they see the full cycle of engagement—learning how decisions are made, understanding the cultural context, and witnessing the tangible impact of their contributions. Programs succeed when they are not just about completing tasks but about fostering partnerships that empower communities, enhance learning, and create meaningful, sustainable change.
At CHE, these qualities are at the heart of every initiative, ensuring both participants and communities gain lasting value.
