Humanitarian Product Design

ES 277 Humanitarian Product Development (HPD) is a two-course sequence (spring and fall) for engineering undergrads. Students work in small interdisciplinary teams to address needs of people in crisis such as refugees, displaced people, and communities in times of emergency. Projects are mentored by a senior officer at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) who provides guidance throughout the semester.

The funds from this effort will go to four projects working in parallel:

• Team Pad
• Team Lighting
• Team Biodigester
• Team Latrine Liner

Allowing students to participate in this program gives them hands-on experience with real-world problems and allows them to directly impact people around the world.

Team Pad

Team Pad is dedicated to developing a machine capable of making effective menstrual pads onsite in refugee camps, providing employment and menstrual hygiene products to refugees.

Our first priority this semester is to determine that the pads that is produced by the machine are usable, by standards of commercially available pads. This includes examining materials and testing liquid holding capacities of various absorbent materials.

Team Lighting

Our project designs and tests low-cost, solar-powered lighting devices to improve safety and accessibility in refugee camp latrines. This semester, we are focused on optimizing solar efficiency, strengthening theft resistance, and enhancing durability to ensure reliable performance in diverse environments. By delivering upgraded prototypes and conducting real-world field trials, our team aims to create sustainable, affordable lighting that brings safety, dignity, and independence to families living in crisis conditions.

Team Biodigester

The Biodigester project focuses on the safe processing of human waste via a flexigester for the purpose of promoting proper, sanitary conditions in refugee camps. Our system uses solar power to fuel the system, and we will in the next year work on improving this aspect. By implementing this solution, we aim to promote safer and more sustainable sanitation practices.

Team Latrine Liner

Our project focuses on preventing the collapse of latrine pits by developing durable “pit liners”. In refugee camps worldwide, access to safe latrines is hindered by overcrowding, safety risks, and frequent structural failures. By reinforcing the structural integrity of these facilities, we aim to ensure a safe, sustainable, and dignified, sanitation solution — upholding access to sanitation as a fundamental human right.