Benjamin Vander Plas Email & Phone Number

Tena, Napo, Ecuador

Tena, Napo, Ecuador

Improving access to clean water and health in low resource populations through household water treatment and storage, disease prevention education, and empowerment of local institutions and communities.

Tena, Napo, Ecuador

• I independently managed water, sanitation, and hygiene programming emphasizing impact evaluation of health outcomes, local partnerships, global engagement, and community empowerment.
• Pioneered WASH program restructure with new M&E toolkit applying health outcomes for impact assessment
• Initiated key partnerships with the Ministry of Health, universities, local businesses, NGOs, and Lifestraw
• Implemented household water filter pilot program providing sustainable clean water access to 24 households
• Trained 6 community water committees and 10 community health workers in waterborne disease prevention and healthy WASH practices, benefitting a population of over 4,000 people
• Installed water purifier and provided O&M training in health center serving 30 medical staff and 70 patients daily

Chontapunta, Napo, Ecuador

• I worked to improve access to healthcare and safe water in rural indigenous Amazonian populations through mobilization of community medical clinics, promotion of household WASH initiatives, and training of community.
• Led over 40 primary care mobile clinics in remote areas with international medical teams, treating over 3,000 patients
• Coordinated follow-up specialty care for over 800 patients (varying from dental work to reconstructive surgery), managing electronic medical records and reporting tools
• Collaborated with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, provincial government social services, private hospitals, and local medical professionals
• Conducted monitoring and evaluation of safe water programs in 7 communities

Chicago, IL, USA

• I was the lead coordinator of international service learning trips for high school youth participating in construction of school buildings in Haiti, Nicaragua, and Senegal.
• Led volunteer teams on school building construction projects in rural communities
• Managed worksite safety and administered emergency first aid treatment
• Educated students in sustainable development, global inequity, and cultural immersion

Chicago, IL, USA / Port-au-Prince, Haiti

• Water resources engineering consulting in North America, Central America, and Caribbean regions in commercial development water supply and flood mitigation
• Created flood mitigation design by completing field survey and hydraulic modeling of property in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
• Conducted site assessment for groundwater supply of commercial development in south Haiti
• Implemented contract with FEMA relocation plan for DuPage county homes in flood zones

San Félix District, Chiriquí, Panama

• I completed technical consulting and management of water projects in rural communities throughout Panama, and facilitated collaboration between water and sanitation specialists, local beneficiaries, government.
• Provided technical consultation on 41 community water projects in underdeveloped indigenous regions through development of partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, volunteers, and locals
• Trained 70 WASH specialists in design, technologies, development, leadership, and impact evaluation
• Developed a 45-hour training curriculum in water system management, disease prevention, and leadership, combining input of development professionals and government agencies
• Facilitated water system management seminars for 24 communities benefiting over 6000 people
• Evaluated project budgets, grant proposals, reports, and work calendars for community projects

Darién, Panama

• Sustainable community development focused on environmental health, integrating water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives to improve community health
• Developed and trained legally recognized Community Water Committee
• Managed operation and maintenance of solar powered submersible pump, water treatment plant, and distribution system
• Designed water distribution network extension
• Completed design and construction of dry composting latrine for pilot program

Quito, Ecuador

Design, implementation, and monitoring of chlorination disinfection system for rural Andean community water supply

Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Thailand

• Rural health clinic building design and construction project providing healthcare to internally displaced persons and refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar (Burma).
• Developed architectural and structural designs and project reports
• Trained locals in earthbag and hyper parabolic latex concrete roof construction onsite in rural Thailand
• Authored technical construction manual for use by building project managers

Elkhart, Indiana Area

Research and development of appropriate technology for renewable energy in lower middle income countries

Battle Creek, MI

• Supervision of volunteer groups in home construction and rehabilitation for low-income families through AmeriCorps Vista program
• Led volunteer groups, coordinating group tasks while regulating worksite safety
• Built and rehabilitated homes in inner city neighborhoods alongside volunteers and future homeowners, creating detailed work reports and record keeping of volunteer hours and projects