The month of January here in Prashanthagiri started off not only in celebration of the new year, but also in celebration of the completion of Phase I of the Profugo Biogas Program, resulting in the construction of 3 digesters for three families. Through the Profugo Biogas Program we are implementing household biogas digesters for the most disadvantaged families in the village. Thanks to a donation by Dr. Leif and Dr. Lena Oxelmark from the University
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Like the beginning of a summer rainstorm, images of endangered plants and animals would trickle into my mind when I heard the word conservation. Yet after conducting research on the tensions between farmers and environmental conservationists in Wayanad, I realized my definition of conservation was misguided. True conservation is inclusive in that it centers on people, animal, and plant preservation and growth. Many in Wayanad, however, are unaware of conservation’s holistic attributes because conservationists and
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Four college students traveling to an unfamiliar place halfway around the world with no understanding of the indigenous language, Malayalam, might seem a bit nerve racking to some; but not to these travelers. We were willing to fully immerse ourselves in the Indian culture, and we did just that. After being greeted at the Bangalore airport by Villanova alumni and current Profugo field fellow, Tyler Casteel, this group of four Engineers Without Borders members
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The first Malayalam word I learned when I arrived here in Kerala was namaskaram. It is a word used to greet others but has much more depth and meaning compared to an ordinary hello as would be said in the English language. The word has its roots in Sanskrit and means the divine soul in me respects the divine soul in you. What a beautiful way to encounter one another. What an even more beautiful
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Water is life giving. It is an amazing molecule that makes life as we know it possible. Clean water means a healthier planet and a better quality of life for us all. Working alongside the Center for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) from Calicut, the Headmistress and staff of the Edathana School, and engineering students from both the Government Engineering College (GEC) of Wayanad and Villanova Engineers Without Borders (EWB), Profugo hosted two collaborative
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