June 14, 2016
Landmine Boys: What a new grad is doing to save lives
As a boy, Waterloo engineer Richard Yim dreamed of inventing technology that would defuse landmines
Richard Yim grew up in Cambodia where the fear of stepping on landmines was part of every child’s life. As a young boy, Yim dreamed of inventing technology that would put an end to landmine casualties around the world.
“After war, when peace comes and bullets stop flying, landmines are still in the ground,” says Yim, a new graduate of Waterloo Engineering. “Children shouldn’t have to be afraid to step off the beaten path. They should be able to walk to school and hike and explore their world without fear.”
Yim worked at larger companies during his early co-op terms and then confided to the staff at St. Paul’s GreenHouse, Waterloo’s social impact incubator, that he wanted to lead a venture that would one day put an end to landmine casualties.
GreenHouse staff told him to follow his dream.
Check out his progress in this video:
