Community IPO

Children use our bridges to walk to school, no longer in fear of crocodile attacks or drowning.

Our Community IPO approach works best by building community Initiative, Participation, and Ownership!

• Community Initiative is the first step for a successful footbridge project.

• Community Participation is imperative for true and lasting empowerment.

• Community Ownership rewards the hard work of everyone involved.

Using materials that are accessible in Kenya, we work with community leaders to involve the local men and women in gathering sand and rock for the bridge footings and in raising their portion of the cost to build their footbridge. Then, utilizing local labor and volunteers, we provide technical expertise and financial assistance to design and construct a safe and secure pedestrian footbridge. At the completion of the project it’s time to celebrate! Speeches are given, a meal is shared; the bridge is formally commissioned to the receiving and grateful community.

Building Bridges – Transforming Lives

MISSION

Bridging the Gap, Inc. is dedicated to saving lives and improving the quality of life for marginalized communities across sub-Saharan Africa by constructing pedestrian footbridges to overcome the dangers posed by impassable rivers and ravines that threaten their safety, limit their access to education and healthcare, and restrict economic opportunity.

BENEFITS

Flash flooding affects everyone, young and old. Our footbridges provide access for children to attend school and return home safely; the sick are now able to reach a hospital or clinic for life saving medical attention; villagers can now attend their weekly market centers so their commerce is not interrupted. Bridging the Gap footbridges are constructed together with indigenous communities, using local materials, labor, and cost effective engineering techniques.