Young Alum uses NASA technology to aid international relief efforts
Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda, a small country in South Africa, suffered from genocide in 1994 – the most killing since World War II, according to Tyler-Blair Sheppard. Sheppard is a West Virginia University alumnus from Tillsonburg, Ontario, who received bachelor’s degrees in aerospace and mechanical engineering, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
After finishing his graduate work in 2007, Sheppard landed a job in Houston, Texas, as a flight controller for the International Space Station for NASA.
“It’s kind of fun,” said Sheppard. “Working with the crew, fixing what’s broken, it’s a very dynamic job and it varies day to day.”
Because of the skills he learned at WVU and NASA Sheppard became the project lead for a special trip to Rwanda.
“International development has always interested me,” he says. “Helping others help themselves.”
And as a volunteer for Engineers Without Borders, Sheppard uses his expertise to help those who are less fortunate. The organization aims to provide sustainable engineering solutions for international relief, said Sheppard.
“We find out what the community needs, and work with them so they can sustain themselves once we’re gone,” he explained. “It gives them a sense of ownership.”
The South Houston/Johnson Space Center Chapter of Engineers Without Borders particularly focuses on taking NASA technology and adapting it to the earth. Astronauts need water purification in space, and so, Sheppard’s chapter applies their skills and expertise to international relief on earth.
Along with purified water, the densely populated area needs food for its children. After the genocide ended, children were left parentless, and an orphanage was created for those children. Sheppard said the goal is to “make them the first independent orphanage in the world.”
During their two and a half week stay at the orphanage, the team helped build three solar fruit dryers. On the first day, the team worked with local craftsmen and orphanage personnel to build the first fruit dryer. On the second day, the team watched those craftsmen and personnel build the second, assisting them when needed. By the third day, craftsmen and personnel were able to build the third dryer completely on their own with little help from Sheppard’s team. Once the three fruit dryers were completed, Sheppard and his team taught the orphanage about sanitation, regulations, and how to properly dry fruit so that it does not spoil.
The fruit dryers provide a source of income for the orphanage creating another brick on the road to independence.
“They’ve planted 70 acres of fruit to dry,” said Sheppard.
Along with planting and drying fruit, the orphanage is working to build a vacationing lodge that is environmentally friendly and promotes tourism, as well as a trade school and dormitory. This will provide the orphanage of 127 children with an income to sustain themselves. Not only does this help the orphanage, but the region’s development as well, according to Sheppard.Sheppard believes that in two to three years, the orphanage will need bigger dryers because they will have too much fruit to dry, so he plans on going back to help next summer.
The orphanage is also looking for help with mapping the hiking trails for their ecolodge, and Sheppard is looking to find the perfect help for them.
“It’s not the differences people have that is important,” said Sheppard. “It’s what we have in common.”
Being an alumnus of WVU, Sheppard is always looking to involve the university with the project. Student organizations could help, said Sheppard. “If you apply yourself, you can do anything.”
This story is by Alicia Ann Elkin, a public relations senior at WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism.
