ETHOS Technical Reports
Document Type
Report
Publication Date
8-28-2016
Abstract
The team arrived at the host foundation, Familias Especiales, on Monday, May 30th, and spent a total of 10 weeks working with the organization on a variety of projects. Initially tasked with assisting the maintenance crew on everyday maintenance needs, the ETHOS students progressively expanded their responsibilities. While familiarizing themselves with the maintenance crew at the wheelchair workshop, the students also engaged in project to create a startup plan for a community farmer’s market. After submission of the proposal, initial work began on reaching out to the special needs families in the various neighborhoods of Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Along with representatives from the Familias Especiales promoter group, the students conducted home visits to develop an inventory of family needs. Throughout the summer, the students worked with the maintenance crew and adapted already available furniture to fit the needs of families. From week 6 until the end of the 10-week work term, the ETHOS team focused on the main project of the summer: improving the overall temperature conditions in the foundation’s yogurt facility. The students researched cooling based solutions as well as alternatives solely concerned with improving air circulation to mitigate the high temperatures within the facility. In collaboration with the foundation director and various third-party contractors, additional windows were installed at the end of the term to further promote facility ventilation. In conjunction with the windows, the students initiated a trial swamp cooler project and implemented the prototype prior to departure. Overall, the main focus of the term was split between Ventilation and Adaptable Furniture.
eCommons Citation
Bradford, Teresa and Tarutani, Andrew, "Nicaragua: Adaptive Equipment and Facility Ventilation" (2016). ETHOS Technical Reports. 1.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/ethos_reports/1
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