In June 2024 I will be travelling to Rebero, Rwanda to assist the construction of the Rebero Trail Footbridge in partnership with Bridges to Prosperity.
Leading up to the trip to raise money for the project I have set myself the challenge of swimming across Lake Kivu, the largest lake in Rwanda!
At its widest the lake is 51km wide! So over the next 8 weeks I will be swimming the 51000m in my local pool in the UK!
I plan to swim over 6km a week for the next 8 weeks!
That's like swimming the ironman swim almost twice a week for 8 weeks!
I don't like to set easy challenges! This will really stretch my determination but for such an amazing cause it will keep me going!
Please give generously, any donation is greatly appreciated <3
Our Aim:
We need your support to fund the construction of a vital 58m footbridge in Rebero, Rwanda in partnership with Bridges to Prosperity, Mott MacDonald and Balfour Beatty.
Building on Bridges to Prosperity’s amazing work throughout the world, the construction of the Rebero Trail Bridge will provide a safe crossing of the Kazirankomo River. During rainy season the local community which rely on crossing the river to reach an array of critical resources become very dangerous and often deadly.
During rainy season, most of the local community don’t attempt the dangerous crossing. With no safe crossing, children cannot attend school, healthcare cannot be access and a local market is unreachable. We want to help change this!
With your amazing support, in June 2024, a team which consists of fantastic local residents, Bridges to Prosperity and volunteers from Mott MacDonald and Balfour Beatty will work around the clock to construct the 56m suspended Rebero Trail footbridge.
The Impact of Your Support:
Your support will have a direct impact on the 4000+ local resident who will use the Rebero Trail Bridge every day!
You will help local children get to school and access life changing education.
You will help the local community access the Health Care Centre!
Your will help the local community access the nearby market providing a connection to essential resources and a place to sell locally grown produce.
The Rebero Footbridge will provide a huge social, health, education and economic benefit to the local community!
Our Team of Volunteers:
Meet our amazing team of 10 volunteers from Mott MacDonald and Balfour Beatty:
Rudy Hughes – Project Manager
Chris Leach – Construction Manager
Suzanna Ward-Tsang – Logistics Lead (People)
Cristobal Moya – Logistics Lead (Materials)
Catriona Jones – Temporary Works Lead
Jason Himsworth – Health & Safety Lead
Viktoria Galeva – Team Banker
Giulio Riccardi – Communications Lead
Joe Stevenson – Community Liaison Lead
Ed Shaw – Fundraising Lead
Fundraising Activities:
Prior to the main construction of the bridge in June, our amazing team will running miles, putting our baking skills to the test and fundraising in fun and creative ways!
We will be posting lots about our fundraising activities on here so get excited!
Bridges to Prosperity:
Building on an established partnership of successful bridge construction in Rwanda between Mott MacDonald, Balfour Beatty and Bridges to Prosperity we hope the Rebero Trail Footbridge will continue this amazing relationship creating lasting sustainable development volunteering our engineering and management skills.
Bridges to Prosperity envisions a world where poverty caused by rural isolation no longer exists. Rural isolation is a root cause of poverty, and we believe that connection is the foundation to opportunity. We build bridges to better lives in rural communities. With a sophisticated data collection and evaluation program, we’re able to prove that the value and impact of our work is sustained long after the opening celebration.
Please see the Bridges to Prosperity website for more information of their amazing work: https://bridgestoprosperity.org/