We're following your progress on this journey and are so very proud of what you're doing in Rwanda. Be safe, have fun and keep up the awesome work. Extra special shout out to my girl Rachel G!! I know you're crushing it and representing Florida phenomenally. Huge hugs to all!
Suspension Bridge Team - Very cool to see the process of building our 1st Suspension bridge as well as making samosa... My kids have decided that they will be our next kitchen experiment.
Suspended Bridge Team - Setting sag, prefab, launching swings, and decking! Great progress! Arm and hand workout coming up wrapping rebar and stretching & tying fence. The kid and his custom handmade bike you shared will go down in legend!
Savor every moment and keep taking and sharing your pics.
Thanks for sharing the highlights and experiences and
for all you are doing representing the best of us and
helping out Rwanda!
Thank you for your amazing contribution to B2P. We are all watching and reading your daily updates. We hope you are enjoying every minute of this once in a lifetime experience.
Teams – The pictures of your work, and the progress to date, are incredible.Thanks to each of you for volunteering for this program, and for the sacrifices made, which required lengthy travel, and time away from family and friends.
Team – Love seeing the Instagram updates! Well done on getting the decking down and thank you to each of you for making such an impact! Very proud to be on your team! Shout out to my NW
teammates :-)
Hi everyone - My name is Mark Prude, and I'm new in my role as HR Director for Civils. I wanted to say 'Thank You' to each of you, for sacrificing your time, to lend your talent, expertise, and love to the folks of Rwanda, in making a difference in their lives! Be Safe, and travel back home safely! What great role models you all are for the entire Balfour family!
All of you are AWESOME! Exactly a year ago my team and I were in Avispas, Bolivia building our bridge, as tough as it was at times, I have to say I miss it and I am a bit jealous of you all right now.
I hope the travel to Rwanda was pleasant, I wish you all the best of luck and we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. I am exited check in on your progress each day.
Aaron Neeley
SEE OUR PREVIOUS BUILDS
2022 build
Mark Prude
Dan Peyovich
Ed Littleton
Scott Skidelsky
Tommy MacCabe
It was great today to get on the site and see the progress of both teams, the experiences you are having, and the individuals you are helping and working with! It's brought back great memories of Bolivia a year ago.
Mila Smith
Title Sponsor
T-Shirt Sponsor
sponsors
BUILD JOURNAL
UPDATE one
KICK OFF OF THE GIHINGA TRAILBRIDGE BUILD
In rural communities across the globe, isolation is one of the key causes of poverty, making connection an essential foundation for opportunity and prosperity. In partnership with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), Balfour Beatty has sent a team of dedicated employees to construct a new suspended bridge for communities along the Rusine River in Rwanda.
Follow along as the team constructs Balfour Beatty’s sixth bridge in partnership with B2P.
General
The Team
BUILD JOURNAL
Sponsors
Recap Video
Explore the map
GO BACK
-1.986389°, 29.409167°
Kiruri Footbridge
(Suspended Bridge Team)
Residents of communities to be served by the Kiruri Footbridge are mostly farming families who rely on consistent access to markets to sell crops and purchase basic necessities. The Kiruri River is dangerous to cross and can be impassable for weeks during the rainy season. This jeopardizes farmers reaching the markets, children attending school and families seeking medical care.
The Kiruri Footbridge will provide safe year-round passage over a river that has claimed 30 serious injuries in the last three years alone. The access will help save lives and empower over 3,000 members of surrounding communities.
Kirumbi Footbridge (Suspension Bridge Team)
-1.940958°, 29.514561°
The Satinsyi River has become synonymous with death and missed opportunity for the 3, 294 people who live nearby. The decision to stop crossing the river has saved lives but it has meant children no longer attend school and untreated illness has become a reality for many local residents.
The Kirumbi Suspension Bridge will provide safe, year-round access to life-changing resources that will significantly improve the health, education and quality of life of the local community.
THE IMPACT OF OUR TEAMS OVER THE FIVE TOTAL BRIDGE BUILDS
Our missions with Bridges to Prosperity have become a true passion project for our employees, and each year, the entire company has rallied behind us to make sure we are set up for success. Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters – it is on the strength of your backing that this team is ready to tackle the world – one bridge at a time.
The Community
For the residents who live near the future Gihinga trail bridge location, the Rusine River is synonymous with missed opportunity. During the rainy season, life can be cruel to the local communities who rely on crossing the river to reach an array of critical resources. During these times, the river becomes dangerous, and often deadly, to attempt crossing. The people in the communities have some of their businesses and work disrupted as they wait for the water levels to recede so that they can cross.
Most people turn back during the rainy season and don't even attempt, or let their children attempt, to cross. As a result, children don't attend school, located on the other side of the river. Other resources the communities become cut off from include the health center and markets.
The Gihinga Suspended Bridge will provide safe, year-round access for the surrounding communities, providing access to opportunity to empower the communities out of poverty.
Donate to Cristiana
Cristiana Barkhouse
SVP, Assistant General Counsel
Generalist
14.5
years
(FL)
postcard
if we dont get to it friday, its okay!
Cristiana Barkhouse
SVP, Assistant General Counsel
Evan Rossi
Senior Project Engineer
Christopher Diaz
VP of Loss Prevention
Janie Lundin-Ledgerwood
Senior Marketing Project Lead
Carrie Rowley
Assurance Manager
Michael Smith
Assistant Project Manager
John Uhl
Superintendent
Chad Morrill
IT Project Manager
Mark Jennings
EVP, Finance
Doug Baker
Project Manager
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
Giving to others is the ultimate win-win, since it not only helps the recipient but also provides so many benefits to the giver and the wider community. Still, sometimes it is hard to know if you are really making a difference. This is a chance for us to create a tangible improvement for these communities that will, literally overnight, greatly improve their access to resources and quality of life. It’s a truly amazing opportunity.
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
Having never been to Africa, I am extremely excited to experience all aspects of the Rwandan culture! I hope we are able to get to know some of the community members and return home humbled and grateful that we have such easy access to the resources that we need.
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
I can’t pick just one individual as “my hero.” I find it more inspirational to appreciate acts of heroism as they happen around us, from the mundane to the life changing. They encourage me to do better.
Donate to Evan
Evan rossi
Senior Project Engineer
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
I have had many heroes and people who have influenced my life and couldn’t limit it to just one if I wanted to. The majority of these people are my family, who all have played a unique role in shaping who I am today.
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
I hope to gain a sense of personal growth, a new perspective/appreciation/outlook on life, and truly be humbled by this experience. I do already feel so grateful in my life for the relationships and things I have, but I know through this experience, I can continue to foster an even deeper understanding of myself and appreciate life even more. I also will learn in a more professional sense, about building in rural areas.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
Every aspect of this opportunity is intriguing to me. From pushing myself outside my comfort zone by immersing myself into a culture & lifestyle completely different than my own, to volunteering and being able to add tangible value to a deserving community’s daily lives, all while doing two things I truly enjoy: an adventure and helping others.
Fundraising
2.5
years
(GA)
Donate to Chris
Christopher Diaz
VP of Loss Prevention
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
Never thought about having a Hero.
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
What I will learn - I have built a solid foundation of professions that can manage the business while I am away. I will also learn who the strongest team members are and those that need additional mentoring.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
Over the 20+ years I have been leading safety, I have learned to teach individuals how to think safe and work safe. There is never a language barrier when the heart speaks. When individuals realize you are genuine and offering education or different ways to perform a task, they generally listen and they become intrigued and try. This opportunity stretches me beyond my comfort zone and that invigorates me.
Safety
13
years
Donate to Janie
Janie Lundin-Ledgerwood
Senior Marketing Project Lead
#3: Who is your hero and why?
My grandparents: Ruth and Lloyd Lundin. They provided a stable foundation for my upbringing and modeled healthy relationships. Their compassionate care for others was truly remarkable. Volunteering and giving back to the community were often topics at the dinner table. I think of them daily and want to pass on the same lessons to my children.
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
This is a wonderful opportunity to expand my volunteerism, challenge myself in endurance, and (my favorite part) get to know the Rwandan people we will be helping.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
For some time, I’ve been inspired by others across the company that have done B2P. I love seeing the difference this work is making in their lives and across the globe. Now that my children are older and more independent, my husband and I have more flexibility to volunteer. It’s important that my children see that volunteering and giving back to others is an important and fulfilling part of life.
Communications
10
years
(OR)
Donate to Carrie
Carrie Rowley
Assurance Manager
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
I hope to broaden my perspective and contribute in a real and tangible way to a community in need. I will get to know a culture and people who are new to me. I would like to inspire others to give back in meaningful ways. I am also pretty excited to be involved with a project that has such a direct benefit to the community it serves.
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
I have two heroes: my mom and dad. My dad is a retired Navy Senior Chief and I have a strong sense of giving back from his career service to our country. My mom was home and had to lead the ship on her own. She valued being involved in the community and giving back and has volunteered in many capacities.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
I have not worked for another company that offers the opportunity to volunteer and make such a significant contribution to a community in need in such a real way as Balfour Beatty does. I love working for a company with a commitment to doing the right thing and I’ve wanted to go on this trip since I first heard of it in 2019.
Logistics
Donate to John
John Uhl
Superintendent
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
I’m hoping to learn the depths of our teams ingenuity. We have a complicated build and we will only have the tools we bring and teamwork to make it happen. There will be no Home Depot runs.
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
My hero is John Muir. His writings about his love and respect for nature were largely responsible for Teddy Roosevelt creating our National Park system. It is a great reminder that something as simple as love and respect can have such a far reaching impact for generations to come.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
I love construction because of the tangible benefit we can bring to the world. This benefit it typically the fruition of a major endeavor or goal for our clients and the communities they serve. This project is different. For the first time in my career, the tangible benefit we bring will be unhindered access to education, healthcare, and food. This will be the first project I build that will satisfy a ‘need’ instead of a ‘want’.
Superintendent
9.5
years
(TX)
Donate to chad
Chad Morrill
IT Project Manager
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
Personally, I’m hoping to learn what it’s like working in the field as part of a team. In IT, you don’t really get to build any of the things we at Balfour Beatty build. This project will certainly give me a new appreciation for each of our stateside project teams and the challenges they face while allowing me to put my mark on something tangible.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
This bridge and this project is important to me because of the impact it will have. You think about these 4000 community members who are just trying to get to work, or the kids trying to get to school, or families going to market or retrieving water and just how dangerous it can be for them to cross this river, specifically during the rainy season. This bridge will be life changing for many of them. That’s something I can get behind!
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
It’s super cheesy, but my wife is my hero. She’s a 6th grade English teacher at a private Christian school, and she is the kindest and most patient person I know. Her heart for others is unmatched, and hopefully through this journey I’ll get to feel a small fraction of what that’s like for her each and every day.
Generalist
10
Years
Donate to Mark
Mark Jennings
EVP, Finance
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
My wife is my hero. Aside from being the love of my life, she is the kindest person I have ever met and is always thinking about others. She sets an example that makes me a better person.
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
I am always keen to learn from my colleagues about what goes into various construction projects – this will just be a little more practical. However what I am really looking forward to learning about is the culture of Rwanda, a Country I have never travelled to. I am very keen to experience the cuisine of Rwanda (hoping I can try Isombe).
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
My career has always been about providing projects that enhance social welfare (schools, hospitals etc).
I cannot think of a project that enhances social welfare more than the construction of a bridge that facilitates safe connectivity for communities, whether it is children going to school, patients going to healthcare or people going to the shops.
Generalist/ Executive
17
years
Donate to DOUG
Doug Baker
Project Manager
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
I’m hoping to learn more about myself and how I can impact communities on a global scale. I have many opportunities here locally, but the chance to impact a community that I wouldn’t otherwise know about without B2P is exciting! This experience will give me a different view of how an organization can go beyond our immediate cities and communities.
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
My dad, also Doug Baker, is my hero. Beyond being a great person, father and husband, he has put my sister and I through college, as well as helping many of our cousins and friends’ kids who might not have had the opportunity. He will always lend a helping hand and sees the good that can come just from being there for someone.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
This project is important to me because my greatest satisfaction with my job/projects is gained by giving back to the communities that we live and work in, beyond just the shiny new spaces and buildings. This project gives me the opportunity to impact a large community on the other side of the world and allows me to show my daughters positive ways to impact our global community.
Alternate
years
Donate to Michael
Michael Smith
Assistant Project Manager
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
There will be many learning experiences from this trip, but the main takeaway I am looking forward to is growing as a team member. I work in our Special Projects Group where we typically do not have large teams working on projects together. I hope to grow as a team member and leader on this trip and hope to bring those experiences back with me and implement on my own projects at work, as well as in my personal life.
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
My hero has always been my grandmom. She might have not had as much as others, but she sacrificed for her whole family and made sure her younger siblings received what she couldn't.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
This build is important to me because it is an opportunity to give back in a way I never have before. I will never fully comprehend the difference we will be making in the lives of the people in the community, but I will get a small first hand experience while there. All the things I take for granted each and every day, I am excited to give some other people some sense of security in having these.
Generalist
5
years
(NC)
Week 1
Week 2
Oct 23-Nov 3
Previous
NEXT
After approximately 55 hours of travel, the team landed in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, on the evening of Saturday, October 21. As they rode through the capital alongside thousands of motorbikes, the team marveled at the still-bustling city as they breathed in the cool, jasmine-scented air of the evening.
After checking in at Heaven’s Boutique Hotel, the team enjoyed a traditional Rwandan dinner and banana-infused drinks before a much-needed night’s rest.
During their 20-minute drive to the build site on day two, the team marveled at the beautiful landscape while greeting the local community along the way. After the morning briefing and stretch and flex the team picked right up where they left off, setting the remaining cables and staging the decking.
After discussing their plan, the crew began the difficult process of setting all six of the cables. The team successfully set two handrails, surveyed the sag and staged three additional cables for the next day’s work.
Laying the Foundation:
Bridges to Prosperity Team Officially Starts Construction
Our Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) team has kicked off construction on the Gihinga trail bridge! During their first morning on-site, the team introduced themselves to the local B2P project engineer as well as more than 35 members of the local community who are contributing to construction, including 10 bridge committee members who will maintain the bridge in the future. Together they participated in a morning safety briefing as well as a stretch and flex that included festive singing and dancing to prepare for the day of hard work ahead.
UPDATE Two
Previous
On Saturday, the group split up to go on separate adventures. One group visited Akagera National Parks for an all-day safari, during which they spotted elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes and rhinos. The other half of the team trekked a mile and a half through Volcanoes National Park to visit the Kwitonda family of gorillas.
After a long week of progress, our Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) team enjoyed a weekend of adventure exploring the local community and greater Rwanda. After a couple days of rest and relaxation, the team was eager to get back to work and continue making strides toward completion.
Update three
Tuesday was a jam-packed day on the build site! The team finalized decking details, set the left abutment of the bridge, painted handrails and installed fencing. The fencing ensures fall protection for pedestrians crossing the bridge and must be installed manually by wrapping the fencing around the bridge cables.
Our Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) team is in the final stretch of construction on the Gihinga trail bridge! Throughout the build, the group has challenged themselves, grown their skillsets and formed rewarding relationships with their teammates and local community members that will last a lifetime.
UPDATE Five
Despite the weather, the team continued to make progress on the third day of construction. They divided and conquered tasks, with some members of the team traveling back to Kigali to pick up additional supplies and others remaining on-site to transport rocks for the bridge head and continuing surveying work.
Our Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) team is making significant progress on the Gihinga trail bridge! Amidst the continuing construction, the team was excited to welcome some special guests to the build site.
Their third day of construction brought rain, which the team learned is viewed as a blessing to the community. The group took the rain as an opportunity to rest, admire the beautiful scenery and reflect on the progress they’ve made thus far.
UPDATE Four
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Day Seven
After putting on the finishing touches and passing the final bridge inspection, the team took a moment away from the build site to visit the EP CYINZUZI school nearby. They delivered much-needed school supplies as well as a few soccer balls, which was a wonderful and exciting surprise for the children.
Completing the Project of a Lifetime
Over the last two weeks, our Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) team has worked diligently to deliver a critical trail bridge that serves communities along the Rusine River in Rwanda. The new pedestrian passage provides more than 2,000 people safe access to lifechanging healthcare, education and other vital resources over dangerous and often impassable rivers.
UPDATE Six
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Day FOURTEEN
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Day THIRTEEN
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Day TWELVE
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Day ELEVEN
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Day TEN
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Day NINE
Previous Day
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Day EIGHT
Week 2
Previous Day
Next Day
Next Day
Next Day
(WA)
LENGTH OF
BRIDGES BUILT
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
2019: 50 & 56 METERS*
2022: 90 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
2019: 3,793 MILES
2020: 3,793 MILES
number of people
affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
2019: 6,584 PEOPLE*
2022: 3,816 PEOPLE
LENGTH OF
BRIDGES BUILT
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
number of people affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
LENGTH OF
BRIDGES BUILT
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
number of people affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
LENGTH OF
BRIDGES BUILT
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
number of people
affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
length of
bridges built
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
number of people
affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
NEXT DAY
The team settled into their accommodations, which was at one time a bar complete with a disco ball in the dining room. They then drove to the bridge site to meet the local construction team and begin to coordinate logistics.
Understanding the challenges ahead and with the terrain fresh in their minds, the team headed back to the house for a safety briefing and a traditional dinner. They turned in for the night, excited to begin work early Monday morning.
Be sure to check back for updates throughout the team’s bridge construction!
On Sunday, the team rose early and met the local B2P team, who would be their guides to the build site. The group loaded their 40+ bags into three trucks and began the journey to their home away from home for the next two weeks.
After making a stop at the local marketplace to collect supplies, the team drove an hour and a half on bumpy, red clay roads to their lodgings. This rough journey is commonly referenced as the “African Massage.” Excitement continued to build amongst the team as they passed through local communities, with people of all ages excitedly greeting them with waves, smiles and shouts of hello in Kinyarwanda.
NEXT
Our team is committed to expanding their skillsets throughout this bridge-building process, so each member has set a goal to perform a task they’ve never done before. Everyone is learning more about the process of setting cables, winching, torquing, painting, surveying and setting decking.
The team accomplished more than expected—a testament to their dedication and efficiency. The local B2P team even remarked that this was the first time all six cables had been set in two days (this is usually a three to four-day process).
After a successful and exhausting day, the crew celebrated with a dance party led by Chris Diaz on the bridge ramp.
KINYARWANDA LESSONS
The time our team has spent with members of the local community has been extremely impactful. They’ve even begun to pick up a few key words and phrases in the native language of Kinyarwanda!
Mwaramutse: good morning
Muraho: hello
Murabeho: goodbye
Kunywa amazi: drink water
On Sunday, the team visited the town of Kirambo where they met with Charles, the community leader, as well as several other members of the community. The group was honored to meet many of the families whose lives will be positively impacted by the bridge. One boy even built a replica of the Gihinga trail bridge complete with accurate construction details like suspenders!
After meeting the community, the team hiked to the village of Gihinga using the footbridge that the local children use to get to school each day.
On Monday, the team was eager to get back to work. They began the day with community leader, Charles, sharing the importance of the bridge and how positive the construction experience has been.
Though the day was physically exhausting, the team pushed through to complete a significant amount of work. Prior to installation, the entire team signed the final piece of bridge decking to commemorate their progress and leave a lasting moniker of their personal contributions to this lifechanging mission. The team also continued torquing the cross beams, bending suspenders and installing fencing.
In these final days of construction, the group is maintaining momentum by relying on one another and remembering their inspirational motto – “One team, one goal.”
The team also welcomed some special Balfour Beatty guests to the build site, SVP and Chief Information Officer Kasey Bevans and EVP and CFO of Buildings Denise Hubley. Both were amazed by the connections our B2P team has made with the local team and how much joy this project brings to all involved.
The sky cleared for days four and five, allowing the team to make great strides on construction. They completed the last of the suspenders, launched 35 meters of decking and poured concrete for the fixed bridge abutment. The team took the opportunity to teach the local team how to install the decking—knowledge they will use for maintenance purposes in the years to come.
For our B2P team, the most impactful aspect of this project so far has been the relationships they’ve built with members of the local community. Though they face language barriers, the team has quickly learned to communicate without words, anticipating one another’s needs as they continue to build a strong rapport.
Specifically, VP of Loss Protection Chris Diaz has become one of the most beloved members of our team. The local builders nicknamed him “Boom-Boom Pow” for bringing music to the build site and initiating dance parties to celebrate their shared milestones.
Thanks to Chris’s safety leadership, the local team has also readily adopted our Zero Harm culture. In the spirit of “See Something, Say Something,” one of the local team members identified a safety issue on a suspended rebar clamp. When he spoke up, the team promptly replaced the clamp.
On Wednesday, the team winched the bridge cables to the correct elevation, installed the fixation cable at the base of the bridge and backfilled the left abutment to prepare for concrete. Though the team is exhausted at the end of build days, their spirits are brightened by the crowd of smiling children and families who gather as they leave the site each day.
On the final build day, the team finalized the fencing work including painting and checks for quality control. A two-hour storm swept through the valley, interrupting their work. As water levels of the Rusine River rose, the team could see just how vital this project is for the community.
After the rain subsided, the team finalized their work and celebrated construction completion with the local team. They held a celebratory barbecue complete with local produce and grilled meats. The team was honored to learn that these delicacies are reserved only for special events.
As they have done following the achievement of milestones throughout the build, our B2P team and the local team danced together to celebrate their job well done. While ecstatic that the project is near complete, the ending of the build is bittersweet as the team says goodbye to the friends they’ve made in the community.
After their school visit, the team returned to the bridge to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony along. Community leaders, the local B2P team and our Balfour Beatty teammates shared how much the project has meant to them and thanked everyone who played a role in delivering the vital Gihinga trail bridge.
After cutting the ribbon, the group sang and danced their way across the bridge, celebrating the completion of the project and the many lives that will be changed by this safe passageway.
BACK TO BBUS.com
Anvesh Motadoo
Project Manager
Chris Nelson
Project Manager
4
years
Donate to Anvesh
Anvesh Motadoo
Project Manager
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
My father is my hero, who instilled the moral values and the confidence to believe in myself. I got influenced by his selflessness to helping people without having any expectations.
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
I want to learn more about bringing people together on a mission (like B2P) to make this world a better place. I am looking forward to connecting and building relationships with people who are ready to go above and beyond to be part of this mission.
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
I believe in bringing a positive impact in the world by the projects we build. This bridge will bring year around access to 4,230 people to basic necessities like healthcare, education and employment. Together we can make this world a better place.
Project Manager
6.5
years
(WA)
Donate to Chris
Chris Nelson
Project Manager
#3: Who is your hero, and why?
Dr. Rita Colwell. Her groundbreaking research in waterborne diseases and innovative approaches to water purification have saved countless lives and contributed to enhancing water safety worldwide. #WaterQualityChampion
#2: What are you hoping to learn from this experience?
Hoping to learn valuable lessons in teamwork, cultural exchange, and sustainable development while making a meaningful difference. #GrowThroughExperience
#1: Why is this build and project important to you?
Building a bridge in Gihinga, Rwanda, is crucial to empower school children and enhance community access to vital resources. #ImpactfulProject me.
Generalist
6.5
years
2019 build
(PA)
(CA)
(FL)
(CT)
(CA)
(TX)
2.5
(PA)
(VA)
* two bridges built in 2019
LENGTH OF
BRIDGES BUILT
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
2019: 50 & 56 METERS*
2022: 90 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
2019: 3,793 MILES
2020: 3,793 MILES
number of people
affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
2019: 6,584 PEOPLE*
2022: 3,816 PEOPLE
LENGTH OF
BRIDGES BUILT
2017: 101 METERS
2018: 130 METERS
2019: 50 & 56 METERS*
2022: 90 METERS
number of miles traveled by previous teams
2017: 3,793 MILES
2018: 3,793 MILES
2019: 3,793 MILES
2020: 3,793 MILES
number of people
affected by year
2017: 875 PEOPLE
2018: 1,400 PEOPLE
2019: 6,584 PEOPLE*
2022: 3,816 PEOPLE
Web Sponsor
ARRIVING IN RWANDA
Our teammates were honored to contribute to this mission and will carry the memories and relationships formed throughout their lifetimes. Their strength, passion and determination inspired their Balfour Beatty teammates in the U.S. and beyond, and they truly embodied what we call “Balfour Beatty Spirit!” to deliver this transformational project.
Inasmuch as this bridge will impact these Rwandan communities, it will also leave an indelible mark on those who made this project possible. Congratulations to the B2P team and partners on completing the Gihinga trail bridge!
