Solidarity Engineering

In the news 📰

Our Executive Director, Erin Hughes, discusses SE’s work at the camps and shelters with ’s Sandra Sanchez. Solidarity is focusing on responding to the crazy heat by increasing water supply, providing electrolytes, and maintaining and building shade structures. All of this work is only possible because we work with the asylum seeker communities.


Donate here: https://www.solidarityengineering.org/donate

This past week Erin Hughes, Solidarity Engineering’s cofounder and Executive Director, was interviewed on the Nick Halaris show, a podcast that deconstructs stories of courageous individuals who are working to make the world a better place.

Check it out on YouTube and Apple Podcasts (link in bio).

For Giving Tuesday, our goal was to raise $20,000 to support basic needs for displaced populations at the U.S.-Mexico border. The results are in, and we are absolutely blown away - we received $82,930 in donations and pledges 🫶

This is by far our most successful Giving Tuesday, and we couldn't have done it without the generosity of our supporters.

As the end of the year approaches, there is still time to donate and make a difference. From reaching a major milestone of delivering 1 million liters of clean water, to the successful development of our advocacy programming, it was a successful year and we could not have done it without you.

We are so excited to see what next year brings 💜💧🌎

Today is the day! All donations will be DOUBLED thanks to our generous matching donors.

Help us stand in solidarity with displaced populations - donate now to double your impact 💜💧🔨

Today is the day! All donations will be DOUBLED thanks to our generous matching donors.

Help us stand in solidarity with displaced populations - donate today 💜💧🔨

Donate now to double your impact: https://www.solidarityengineering.org/donate

Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday and thanks to our generous matching donors, all donations will be DOUBLED until December 5th!

From water, to play, to cold-weather blankets - your donation will directly support the critical needs of thousands💧💜

Donate here: https://www.solidarityengineering.org/donate

Displacement disrupts a lot of things, including hygiene and health.

Thanks to our partnership with Dr. Bronner's, we have kept soap consistent in multiple shelters and informal camps in Northern Mexico.

Displacement brings many physical hardships and limited essentials. It also takes a severe toll on mental well-being. Refugees often face high levels of stress, trauma, and uncertainty, which often have a profound impact on their mental health. We're dedicated to raising awareness, improving resources, and improving mental well-being for those experiencing displacement. Join us, make a difference, and stand for . 🌍💙

🌟 Partner Shoutout to 🌟

We are immensely grateful for the incredible work and dedication of GDIRC this summer in Reynosa, Mexico. Their unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of refugee children has been inspiring.

Together, we've made strides toward positive change, and we look forward to continued collaboration for a brighter future! 🙌🌞

This summer, our volunteers have been the driving force behind positive change. Their dedication in the field and remotely has transformed lives, improving refugee health, championing menstrual equity, and bridging critical gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene at the US-Mexico refugee camps.

Here’s a testimonial from one of our volunteers: “Working in the refugee settlements in Reynosa, MX was an eye-opening experience... Throughout the experience, all of my coworkers were incredibly accommodating and supportive. While Solidarity’s team is small, their impact is invaluable. It was a privilege to be a part of the team!” - Jona Block, 2023 Summer Intern

Interested in joining the team? We’re recruiting volunteers who are ready to make a difference. Visit https://www.solidarityengineering.org/get-involved today to learn more.

Solidarity is currently providing aid in Tamaulipas, the only Mexican border state with a "Level 4 - Do Not Travel" warning from the US government.

In addition to the incredibly high levels of crime in Tamaulipas, refugees are also faced with poor access to water, sanitation, hygiene, and other essential needs.

Through engineering interventions, we are working to improve the safety, security, and quality of life for refugees.

Help us by volunteering or donating now.

One big step forward in the water distribution system in Senda 2 ✔️

Did you know that since 2019, thousands of displaced people (migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless people) have been living in shelters and informal refugee camps in the flood zone of the Rio Grande Valley?

Working in hard-to-reach places makes capital construction some of our most challenging yet important projects.

WASH and play construction create a foundation for stability, health, and dignity, enabling displaced communities to foster a sense of community amidst challenging circumstances.

This year has been full of capital construction projects so we can ensure that populations have access to their basic survival needs for years to come 🛝💧

Why do we prioritize building and maintaining clothes washing stations? Clean clothes might seem like a simple thing, but they hold immense power. They provide dignity, comfort, and a sense of normalcy amidst chaos.

Among displaced populations, access to clean water and proper laundry facilities can be scarce. Families may struggle to keep their clothes clean which risks their health and well-being.

Solidarity takes a holistic, public-health focused approach to improving the lives of displaced populations. 💧🧺🧼

Maya and Kat, two of our incredible SE team members who have been working on building out our menstrual health management project, absolutely killed it this weekend presenting at the North American Refugee Health Conference!

Grassroots humanitarian organizations like Solidarity Engineering play a vital role in addressing pressing issues experienced by displaced communities. However, collaborating with international organizations is crucial to bringing sustainable change. From providing direct services to advocacy, theres a lot of work to be done in our projects and we know we can't do it alone!

Last month we were invited by to join their delegation in order to talk about the serious WASH issues we are facing in Reynosa and Matamoros. While there is so much work to be done, we hope that by combining our strengths, we can create a brighter future for communities worldwide. 💪💜

Temperatures in Northern Mexico are deadly. Help us respond 💧

Still working on our little .up.and.read library at Senda 2! Reading is so important for childhood development, and we love giving the kids an opportunity to get lost in a good book 📚🫶

It’s World Refugee Day! As displacement worldwide is at a record high, Solidarity remains committed to insuring the thousands of refugees at the US/Mexico border are treated with dignity💧
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Last week we distributed some hygiene kits with bags. As always, the bags were a big hit! Even when we ran out of hygiene kits, but had leftover empty bags, folks were asking just for the bags! Thanks for your ongoing partnership 🪡

Summer is here - and that means extreme heat and intense storms in the Rio Grande Valley ☀️⛈️

These conditions pose serious health risks and the effects are compounding in water scarce areas. Given the complex dynamics at the border, sometimes the best and only solution is bottled water.

Our team is ready and responding to the already increasing temperatures at the Rio Camp, where resources are extremely limited.

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We’re stronger when we work together. The only way Solidarity is able respond to the community's needs only is through partnership with the community themselves. SE loves a good hygiene team!

In partnership with many hygiene teams over the years, SE has provided 142,035 diapers, 27,500 garbage bags, 45,823 menstrual pads, and so much more. As always, this is only possible with support from individuals and companies like and !

How do intense storms impact the lives of asylum seekers near the gulf of Mexico? With climate change worsening storms every year, especially in flood zones, unique challenges such as stormwater management and appropriate shelter become critical for health and safety.

Solidarity is currently working on a project to improve the road to shelter, which becomes inaccessible due to flooding and mud during large storms. 🌎⛈️

Last week, a delegation took place to bear witness to the end of Title 42 at the US-Mexico border and the horrible conditions that it has caused thousands of asylum-seekers to live in for the past 3 years.

Solidarity, , and our other partners on the ground were joined in Reynosa by human rights organizations including and .

Our team is dedicated to defending the human right to health, but we cannot do it alone. We look forward to keeping the conversation going as we work together to address the humanitarian crisis at our country’s doorstep.

The playground and community space we are constructing at Senda 2 is really coming together! It's now equipped with a little library, and the kids are already loving it 📚🤓
Big shout out to .up.and.read and for setting this up today!

Our hearts are with Brownsville, the community that fostered the creation of Solidarity Engineering just 2.5 years ago. 💜