Catching up with volunteers

Two volunteers from a University in the Netherlands joined the CWBR a couple of years ago, for an internship. Dirk and Elina studied Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy and Technology, and contributed to several projects at the CWBR.

They have now graduated, and we want to congratulate them both for their great success!

Elina: “Our course prepared us to find solutions for different sectors to become more sustainable. The aim of each project is to find financially feasible solutions, considering future developments, techniques, and local policies. The course qualified us as environmental engineers, who could for example work in an environmental consultancy, as an Environment, Health and Safety advisor, or as a government policy developer.

My project at CWBR was to design and analyse a circular wastewater purification system (Aquatron) that could be used under the effects of South African climate conditions. The installations were mainly focused on squatter camps and townships, where hygiene and safety are big issues. As awesome and innovative, as the team at CWBR is, we also built a house to mimic these squatter camp living conditions to give visitors a more concrete idea of the research.

I have now moved back to my origins, and I am currently looking for my first job in an environmental field. Issues like global warming and biodiversity loss interest me. I have focused my studies on solutions such as carbon neutrality for different entities and circular economy’s, which I would like to continue working with.

As far as I am concerned, our planet is craving problem-solvers, and I am more motivated than ever to act upon it. I also hope that our cooperation with CWBR will continue, and together we can work towards our common goal.”

Dirk: -“I am still deciding what career path to take. During my graduation project the hands-on experience I gained in SA helped me quite a bit. For my final University project, I designed, built, and tested a physical model where the effects of ecosystems on a dyke breach can be tested. I very much enjoy field work.

During my time in South Africa, I spent a lot of time in the workshop, building an evaporation, solar power fridge. This sparked something in me and made me realize I enjoy working with my hands. “