Humasol is a non-profit organization that connects engineering students, local partners in developing countries, and corporate sponsors to implement renewable energy projects. It aims to make renewable energy technologies accessible to all. Students gain international experience by working in teams on projects over 6-8 weeks, designing and installing technologies like solar panels and wind turbines. Projects in 2013-2014 include biodigesters in Uganda and Peru and optimizing hydro power in Cambodia. Internships provide hands-on experience through an entire project life cycle while benefiting communities. Humasol funds project costs while students are responsible for their own travel and living expenses. Interested students can apply by submitting a CV and motivation letter by October 18th for selection in early November.

1. Humasol vzw
“Making renewable energy technology accessible to everyone”
International engineering internships
and humanitarian development
October 2013

2. Agenda
• Introduction of Humasol: goal, past and present
• Humasol in 2013-2014
• Internships at Humasol: what’s in it for you?
• A personal experience
• Recruiting process
2

3. 3 actors were not well connected
2. Students
• Broad theoretical knowledge
• Few practical opportunities
• Few international internship opportunities
1. Local partner
• Often lack of reliable energy supply
• Lack of technological knowledge
• Lack of funding
3. Professionals
• Looking for a credible good image in
society (corporate social responsibility)
• Searching for highly motivated,
entrepreneurial, talented people
3

4. Humasol was founded to solve this “missing link”
2. Students
• Broad theoretical knowledge
• Internship recognized by
your university to
- Help partner to solve problem
(e.g. by building sustainable
energy installation)
- Transfer knowledge
• Few practical opportunities
• Few international internship opportunities
• Students with “wow”-CV
- International experience
- Direct end responsibility of results,
over complete project cycle
1. Local partner
• Often lack of reliable energy supply
• Lack of technological knowledge
• Lack of funding
• Promote social image by
providing necessary
funding
- Financial donations
- Supply of material
3. Professionals
• Looking for a credible good image in
society (corporate social responsibility)
• Searching for highly motivated,
entrepreneurial, talented people
4

5. Humasol’s mission statement and vision
Make renewable energy technology
accessible to everyone
1
Perform developing collaboration in the field of
ecological/sustainable engineering, by offering both financial
and technical support
2
Collaborate with local partner to enable him/her to maintain,
repair and reproduce installations in his community.
3
Offer a professional guidance to students
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6. Humasol vzw is a team of very motivated,
enthusiastic people, mostly engineers
Humasol members
(not exhaustive)
Humasol (ex-)Board
Dieter
Electr. Eng.
Jeroen
Mech. Eng.
Jonathan
Civil Eng.
Hugo
Mech Eng.
Dries
Energy Eng.
Vincent
Ind. Eng.
Jens
Eng.
Bo
Ind. Eng.
Joris
Mech. Eng.
Kenneth
Mech. Eng.
Kenneth
Energy Eng.
Geert
Chem. Eng.
Jan
Mech. Eng.
Heleen
Mech. Eng.
Yoni
Electr. Eng.
Jasmien
Doctor
And many other…
(~35 members in total!)
Sarah
Chem. Eng.
Samuel
Chem. Eng.
Steven
Energy. Eng.
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7. Since 2007 Humasol has grown & built several sustainable
energy installations with local project partners
Senegal
* Solar boiler
* PV-solar panels
* Convertor
Peru
* 5 solar boilers
* Wind turbine
* Water turbine
* 2 Electronic load controller
* Electricity grid
Kenya
* Irrigation system
Argentina
* 2 solar boilers
* Wind turbine
* Biodigestor
Uganda
• Solar pump
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8. Some examples of previous work
Solar boilers
Water turbine
PV-solar panels
Wind turbine
Biodigestor
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9. Humasol has developed partnerships with plenty of
organizations
Academic institutions
Technical experts
Financial sponsors
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10. Agenda
• Introduction of Humasol: goal, past and present
• Humasol in 2013-2014
• Internships at Humasol: what’s in it for you?
• A personal experience
• Recruiting process
10

11. For 2013-2014, we have 8 projects, with 17 students
LOCATION
Uganda & Peru
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
• Design and installation of a biodigestor
#STUDENTS
2
• PV powered pump and repair wells for drilling
1
2
• Optimisation of the paddle wheel of a hydro power
installation
2
• Design of smart socket for temperature dependent
appliances
Cambodja
3
• Optimising the building engineering of a hydro power
installation to supply a small communitys
Peru
• Design and construction of Wind Turbine to pump water
• Design and installation of a datalogger
Uganda
2
2
• Design and construction of PV installation for pumping water
3
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12. Agenda
• Introduction of Humasol: goal, past and present
• Humasol in 2013-2014
• Internships at Humasol: what’s in it for you?
• A personal experience
• Recruiting process
12

13. Internships with Humasol are a truly
unforgettable experience…
Live a team project
from a-z
• Truly “own” your project over
the whole project life cycle
- Understand your “partner’s”
needs
- Investigate existing solutions
(literature study)
- Design a technical installation
- Build and test the installation
- Determine and meet your budget,
and stick to it
Do something good
• Become one of the few
engineering students that have
done an internship in the
development collaboration
sector
• Use your academic / technical
knowledge to add value to a
less developed community
Live and work with locals
• During min. 6 intense weeks,
you will live and work with
our local partners
- Collaborate to successfully
execute the project
- Speak the language of our
partner to transfer knowledge
- Experience a country like a local,
not like a tourist
• Solve real problems, on the
spot
• Learn and work in teams
- Collaborate with 1-3 other
students on a project
13

14. … and are fully supported by your academic
institution (up to 6 ECTS credits)
Internship with Humasol is fully
recognized by your university…
• Recognized by Engineering faculty as
“Industriële Stage”
-Minimal 6 weeks
-6 ECTS credits
-Literature study before internship
-Presentation and report after internship
• Possibility of VLIR/IRO travel grants
(up to €1,000)
• Academic supervision during
internship
… and much appreciated by several
professors
“Een betere ingenieursuitdaging is moeilijk
te bedenken.”
Prof. Heylen, stagecoördinator MECH
“Lovenswaardig project.”
Prof. Van Lil, stagecoördinator ESAT
“Dit klinkt heel mooi en heel interessant als
mogelijke stage.”
Prof. Monbaliu, stagecoördinator BWK
“Dit lijkt me een waardevol initiatief.”
Prof. Blanpain, stagecoördinator MTM
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15. Humasol internships require a strong personal
commitment
Early Dec
Mid Feb
End Nov
1 wk
2 wks
2 wks
Early Apr
8 weeks
2 weeks
2 weeks
First step
Design
Practical pilot
Logistics
Sketch project
Conceptual design
Practical design
Prove practical
feasibility
Preparation for work on
site
▪Make year
planning
▪List of references
(Experts en sources)
▪Specifications and
▪Construction of
working model to
test practicality
▪Prepare parts list
▪Define
Objectives
Literature study
objectives (together
specifications and
with partner)
objectives
(together with
▪Look up theory of
subject and read former
partner)
Descrip
reports
tion
▪Agree with
▪Collect concepts (with
university on
budget estimation)
credits and
curriculum
▪Choose
▪Practical development
concept
of
▪Calculations
▪Analyze and solve
▪Practical
-Materials & techniques
practical issues
that you encounter
-Implementation
on
location (how to?)
budget
final
▪Contact local partner
-Check prices and
availability of parts.
-Make concrete
appointments with
shops, welders, …
▪Interaction
with local
partner
concept
▪Determine
▪Safety
▪First steps
of planning on
location
▪Year planning
▪Objectives
Endproduct
s
▪Objectives
▪Document (max 40p) and
presentation of all subjects
above
▪First budget estimation
▪Year planning
▪Second budget estimation
▪+-3 p. about subject,
▪Planning on location
concepts and
▪Working model of
machine
▪Parts list
▪Final budget
estimation
specifications
▪List of references
Intermediate
report
Final literature
study
Presentation
15

16. Cuánta cuesta?
Humasol funds all project related expenses
Funded by Humasol
and/or project partners
• All project-related expenses, i.e. all
expenses that can be justified as
required for the execution of the project,
incl. but not limited to
-Costs of material, tools
-Costs for transportation of material/tools to
project location
-Safety equipment
-Etc
Funded by other means (student)
• Personal international
transportation (air travel) to project
location
• Food & drinks whilst at site
• Entertainment in country
• Expenses related to building of a testmodel (if applicable)
• Local housing during the project
16

17. Agenda
• Introduction of Humasol: goal, past and present
• Humasol in 2013-2014
• Internships at Humasol: what’s in it for you?
• A personal experience
• Recruiting process
17

18. 18

19. 19

20. 20

21. A personal experience
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22. A personal experience
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23. A personal experience
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24. A personal experience
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25. A personal experience
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26. Agenda
• Introduction of Humasol: goal, past and present
• Humasol in 2013-2014
• Internships at Humasol: what’s in it for you?
• A personal experience
• Recruiting process
26

27. So you are interested in joining?
How to subscribe
What are we looking for?
• Strong motivation and drive for international experience
• Pragmatic, hands-on profile
• Solid academic performance
• Sufficient knowledge of local language (e.g. Spanish or
French), or willingness to learn during the year
• Minimal liberation of 6 weeks during summer holidays
Process
• Write your name and e-mail address on the paper circulating
• Subscribe online to Humasol by sending in your CV and
motivation letter http://www.humasol.be/cv_form
• You will be contacted for a personal interview, if selected
based on CV and motivation letter
• Final selection decision early november
• For more information go to www.humasol.be
Send in your CV and motivation letter until Friday 18 October!!!
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28. Humasol Terugkommoment
• Students return to Belgium and Present their internship:
-Technical aspects
-Social and Cultural aspects
-Expectations and reality
• Partner organizations and sponsors:
-See the results of their funding and support
• New students:
-Can have an informal chat with the students of last year
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29. Questions?
Humasol vzw
http://www.humasol.be
Recruiting
Ann Gysbrechts
recruiting@humasol.be
0473/66 04 32
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