Bridges to Prosperity - Nkegete Trailbridge

Hi there

I'm Ali, and this summer (18th June - 2nd July) I am volunteering with Bridges to Prosperity, a charity which builds bridges to tackle rural isolation and to better the lives of those in that community.

Myself and 9 other engineers from Balfour Beatty & Mott MacDonald have been tasked with the construction of a 77m suspended footbridge in Nkegete, a remote region of Rwanda.

Click here to watch a video of a similar project completed by my company last year:

The current river crossing is dangerous and during the rainy season it becomes virtually impossible, often leading to injuries or fatalities for those who do attempt it.

This means that for large parts of the year children are unable to attend schools, and access to healthcare and trade is severely limited until the water levels recede. This bridge will enable year round access to education and medical care, create employment and allow the communities to grow their local economy.

For the residents who live near Nkegete, the Gasayo River crossing is synonymous with missed opportunity and the Nkegete Suspended Bridge will provide safe, year-round access for the surrounding communities, and the infrastructure to empower the region out of poverty.

To help raise funds, in May, myself and members of the team are attempting to walk 77km of the River Thames (reflecting the 77m span of the Nkegete bridge), through Greater London to cross the 35 road and footbridges between Tower Bridge and Staines-on-Thames, in 48 hours.

We are fortunate to live in the developed world and to work on major infrastructure projects in the UK. By bringing the best of UK Civil Engineering to Nkegete to construct this bridge, it will greatly enrich the lives of its people.

There are significant costs in delivering a project like this, such as travel, accommodation, tools, PPE and materials, so I am asking for donations towards these expenses to help deliver this fantastic scheme. Any contribution is greatly appreciated - thank you!