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Spotlights Hear his story >> Michael Vehar ‘06 University of Dayton UDQ, May 2006 Two years ago, Michael Vehar tromped through the sweltering Amazon rainforest, vegetation lashing at his calves, mosquitoes circling in attack patterns around his head. He had traveled two days by bus, then microbus, then canoe to hike the last hour into the tiny Bolivian village to show people how to harness the energy of the sun to help save their lives. This June he heads back for at least six months, bringing with him donations to help even more. "I believe that engineers should be fighting indoor air pollution and we should be doing it at UD," said Vehar, who will graduate with a degree in industrial engineering technology in May. Vehar and senior Collin Whelley, who will graduate with degrees in political science and psychology, are raising funds to spread solar cooker technology in Bolivia with the help of partner company Sobre la Roca, run by Bolivian native Ruth Saavedra in Cochabamba, Bolivia. (Click to see a streaming video on the Bolivia project. Windows Media Player required.) Two facts keep Vehar motivated: Worldwide, 1.6 million people die each year of respiratory illness, and indoor air pollution is the No. 1 killer of children under the age of 5 in all developing countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization. In past years, Vehar traveled with the UD program ETHOS -- Engineers in Technical, Humanitarian Opportunities for Service-learning. This year, he organized his own venture and recruited several alumni and current students to join him for part of the summer. All are paying their own way so every dollar they raise can support classes where women learn about and build their own solar cookers, reducing air pollution indoors where the family meals are usually prepared. Every $100 raised will support courses for two families. Every $500 raised will pay for the course’s transportation to a remote area. “I love telling people that,” he said of his post-graduation plans, “because I get to explain what I’m going down to do and the problem we are helping to fight.” Vehar and Whelley have raised $1,700, with the goal of $13,000 to fund transportation of the course throughout the region. Contact Vehar for more information. by Michelle Tedford 5-2-06

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