Commenting on the £700,000, three-year donation, Katie Creswell-Maynard, CEO of Engineers Without Borders UK, said: “It’s an amazing partnership that we have with Anglo American and its foundation. They helped us considerably in our formative years and now their continued and generous funding will enable us to deliver our core work and to pursue our ambitions.”
Global mining company Anglo American has worked with Engineers Without Borders UK for over a decade as one of the organisations longest-running corporate sponsors.
Amongst this core work, the funding will help to drive the upskilling of at least 41,200 practising engineers and engineering undergraduates via direct support of university chapters, as well as the annual Engineering for People Design Challenge. The objective is for engineers to be more aware of their professional impact on people and the planet and equip them with the skills and knowledge to collaborate on solutions to the biggest challenge of our time.
In addition, Engineers Without Borders UK wants to engage with 76,000 young people, teachers and parents through school outreach and workshops to challenge the perceptions of engineering by demonstrating how the industry improves the lives of people everywhere.
Emma Crichton, head of engineering at Engineers Without Borders UK, said: “Over the past 15 years, Anglo American’s contribution has ensured our impact and growth has continued to go from strength to strength in line with our increased ambition and scope.
“In continuing our partnership, we will be able to strengthen our core work whilst also breaking new ground to try and inspire the wholesale shift that’s required if we’re to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Together we will work to solve the biggest issues that all people and the planet are facing.”
Anik Michaud, group director of corporate relations at Anglo American, added: “Anglo American has a longstanding commitment as a leader in responsible mining and we are thinking innovatively to transform how our stakeholders experience our business, in terms of both our physical and societal footprint, staying true to our Purpose of re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.
“Our continuing support of Engineers Without Borders UK demonstrates our dedication to constantly seeking ways in which we can support wider initiatives that encourage engineers to think and work in a globally responsible way. We look forward to continuing our work with Engineers Without Borders UK to help them directly inspire, engage and influence the engineers of today and tomorrow to help bring about real change.”