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Thank you for your support on Giving Day! We raised over $5,000! Help us keep the momentum going to fully fund our project!
Remember walking to class at Cornell? Imagine, there are no more bridges. Every day you would have to scale down the gorge and climb back up again in order to go to class. This is the reality for many members of rural communities worldwide.
This summer, we are traveling to Swaziland for two months to build a footbridge that we have spent the 2017-2018 academic year designing in collaboration with the community of Kontshingila. Every day, approximately 350 people in Kontshingila, Swaziland cross the Moneni river to go to school, work, and the markets in larger towns. While the river remains passable for the majority of the year, for three months during the rainy season the river swells and bars the community from crossing safely. However, out of necessity, many community members still attempt to ford the dangerous waters. In the last three years, more than six people, some children, in a relatively small community have died crossing to go to school and to get essential supplies.
Last summer, two students traveled to Southern Africa for two weeks to survey potential bridge sites and meet with community members to assess their need. Inspired by their work with Engineers Without Borders in the design and build of a pedestrian bridge in Calcha, Bolivia, 4 students formed this project team this year to continue to provide access to those in need. In the future, we hope to expand their efforts to make Bridges to Prosperity a team that completes builds on a consistent basis and has strong relationships with multiple communities in Swaziland and other countries in need.
With $20, you will be supporting the purchase of the small hardware that is critical for constructing our bridge. Every lag screw, drop forged clamp, and length of rebar helps bring us one step closer to building a bridge alongside the community of Kontshingila.
With $50, we will be able to buy the safety equipment that is necessary to keep our students and community members safe while constructing the bridge. This donation will go towards purchasing hard hats, work gloves, safety glasses, retractable lanyards, and harnesses.
With $100, you will be supporting our purchase of bridge cables which will not only connect our two support towers to create the main frame of the bridge but will it create a stronger connection between our team and the community.
With $250, we will be able to pay for the full amount of food and water for one student for 2 months!
With $500, you will be providing the salary for a local mason that works with us in building the foundation of the bridge towers.
With $1000, you will be covering the airfare for one student to our bridge site where they will excavate, mix concrete, and see the impact of our work first hand while working alongside the community members of Kontshingila.
With $2000, you will be supporting the bulk of our materials which will give us the ability to finish the bridge and go back next year to build another!