Bridging Barriers - by Michael Paddock (Paperback)

About the Book

Through engaging personal stories, Bridging Barriers tells of the trials, tribulations and successes of the engineers and community members who gave new hope to La Garrucha in the Guatemalan Highlands by building a water project and constructing a bridge to defeat The Assassin, a raging river in the area.

Book Synopsis

"A well-written tribute to engineering projects and the volunteers who run them." -Kirkus Reviews

Gavina is frustrated. As a midwife with 40 years of experience, she knows what is needed to slash the infant and maternal mortality rates that are ravaging her Guatemalan Highlands community. Only two things stand in her way: a lack of clean water and a raging river nicknamed "The Assassin," which blocks access to the hospital. Under the mentorship of Mike Shawcross, a crusty old Brit with four decades of international development experience, the Marquette University Engineers Without Borders USA team works with the community to build a water project and construct a bridge that defeats The Assassin. Through engaging personal stories, Bridging Barriers tells of the trials, tribulations and successes of the engineers and community members who gave new hope to La Garrucha.

Review Quotes

"This book should come with a warning: reading this book will change your personal and professional life for the better whether you are a professional engineer, an engineer in training, an engineering student, or not even an engineer." -Dr. Bernard Amadei, Founder of Engineers Without Borders USA

"This book provides insights and lessons learned in community-building that will lead to the success of many Rotary projects around the globe." -Mary McCormick, Executive Director, Rotary Club of Milwaukee

"Mike Paddock's engrossing story is a first-hand, on-the-ground lesson in how communities can take charge of their futures against long odds and many obstacles. It's a must read for engineering students who want to make their lives matter, or for service organizations and philanthropists who want their money to make a difference." -John DeDakis, Journalist, Novelist, Writing Coach, and Former Senior Copy Editor for CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer