Capacity building is the building of human, institutional and infrastructure capacity to help societies develop secure stable and sustainable economies, governments, and other institutions through mentoring, training, education, physical projects, the infusion of financial and other resources, and most importantly, the motivation and inspiration of the people to impro ve their lives. This definition is the backbone of EWB’s activities. EWB’s projects stress community partnership, reliable and sustainable technology, and the importance of education, training and empowerment in creating a lasting, positive effect. |
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At present there are more than 6 billion people on this planet. Over 3 billion have inadequate access to clean water and sanitation. 6,000 people, mostly children, die each day due to unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene. Roughly one third of the world population does not have access to electricity. These problems are dire enough as it is, but consider that in 25 years there will be 8 billion people on Earth and that 97% of that growth will occur in developing countries. The magnitude of this problem requires a new way of thinking, a new approach, and a new form of engineering; one that emphasizes building the capacity of community members to enact positive change. Hank Hatch, an expert on sustainable development, states:
