Our Crowdfunding Groups
Who We Are
Projects with Underserved Communities (PUC) is a year long, project based class in which engineering and social work students are teamed up to work with an abroad community. The team works very closely with international organizations and the community to identify and prioritize the needs of the community and then designs a project to fulfill those. Finally, in the summer, the team travels to and stays with the community while implementing and overseeing the completion of the project, all while developing meaningful relationships with the locals whose lives the project actually impacts. Students gain hands-on experience in a global setting combining technical engineering and service.
Why We Need Your Help
Our team is partnered with the town of Suchilquitongo in Oaxaca, Mexico. We are comprised of five students: Archik, Gaby, Hannah I., Ryan, and Hannah M., all of whom are studying mechanical engineering besides our one social work minor, Hannah I. Together, we are joining efforts with the non-governmental organization (NGO) Tejiendo Alianzas, or Interweaving Alliances, to get this project completed. This NGO is a participatory community program that helps residents create value from their own resources encouraging sustainability.
The mesquite tree is very abundant in this area of southern Mexico and its bean pods were used by the indigenous people in the past to be milled into flour. This tradition slowly faded away in the modern era, but with the help from organizations like Tejiendo Alianzas, people are returning to their roots. The mesquite flour is a great economic opportunity for the Oaxacans. Last year, PUC Team Mexico designed and constructed a solar oven to dry the pods, a beginning step in the flour production process. While this has significantly increased output, there is still much in this process that can be improved upon.
The Impact
With your donation, we will be able to refine Oaxacan mesquite flour production in many ways. Some of our potential projects include a greenhouse-like structure to protect the drying and stored pods from sudden rainstorms, a vacuum sealed storage system, and a silica bead based drying system. The money raised will also go toward in-country project and technical advisor costs. Donate now and help us cultivate a stable economic opportunity with the community of Suchilquitongo!
The beans our community harvests are found in pods that are nearly 10 inches long! Every donation get us an inch closer to our goal.
The average mesquite pod has 25 seeds which are extracted and cooked, milled for its flour, and even used to make beer!
There are 40+ species of mesquite tree. Our project will help Suchilquitongo utilize species in their region that haven't been harvested before.
The largest mesquite tree in Texas is 56 feet high! Your donation will help our project, and Suchilquitongo, qreach new heights
Mesquite is packed with nutrients! Ground pods are between 11-17% protein!
The oldest mesquite tree is thought to be 400+ years old! It is called the Tree of Life because it is hundreds of miles from another natural tree.
Miracle plant or superfood? Mesquite pods are full of nutrients like protein, calcium, iron, and zinc!
This generous donation will help our project exceed expectations and create economic independence within our partnering community!
