Questions:

1. How many people does it take to build a kit?

2. How long does it take to build a kit?

3. What skills do I need to build a kit?

4. What tools do I need to build a kit?

5. Who builds kits?

6. What kits are available?

7. How much do kits cost?

8. Why do I have to pay for kits?

9. What happens to the kits after they are sent back to EWH?

Answers:

1. How many people does it take to build a kit?

Each kit can be built by one person, but it can more fun to build kits together as a group activity for your chapter, classroom, or volunteer organization! It is possible to build each kits in pairs, but we recommend that you avoid groups of three or larger as the extra people likely won’t have much to do.

2. How long does it take to build a kit?

Kits can be built by an individual in anywhere from half an hour to two hours, mostly depending on the soldering ability of the builder. If some members of your group work faster, they can build more kits or help out others.

3. What skills do I need to build a kit?

You don’t need any special skills before constructing a kit! The most fundamental skill for building the kits is basic soldering (through-hole mounted on a printed circuit board), but kit builds can be used as an opportunity to learn soldering skills. Other basic construction skills (tightening nuts, etc.) and the ability to follow instructions are also necessary to build the kits.

4. What tools do I need to build a kit?

Generally speaking, you will want to have the following tools: soldering iron, solder, screwdriver, pliers, wire stripper, and wire cutters. If there are special tools necessary for a particular kit, it will be noted o the website.

5. Who builds kits?

Anyone can build kits! For more info about groups that can build kits, please see our EWH Kits page.

6. What kits are available?

There is a current listing of the available kits on the EWH Kits page.  Stay tuned! We are constantly working on more kits, so check back on the website to see when more are available.

7. How much do kits cost?

There is a listing of current kits cost on the website. We offer discounts for bulk orders and for EWH chapters in good standing. We also encourage people to buy kits in orders of 10 or more.

8. Why do I have to pay for kits?

EWH dedicates a significant amount of staff time and funding to run the kits program, including marketing the kits, responding to kits orders, researching and designing new kits, indentifying partner hospitals in the developing world in need of the finished products, and delivering the finished products. The revenue from kits sales helps to offset some of these costs and allows the program to continue. EWH is a 501c3 non-profit organization that relies on grants and donations to operate.

9. What happens to the kits after they are sent back to EWH?

EWH identifies health care providers and technicians in the developing world in need of the devices, including partner hospitals on the EWH Summer Institutes and biomedical technician training programs in developing countries. EWH tests the build products to ensure that they are functional before delivering them to the developing world.