Be a bridge to a better world.
Bridging the Gap Africa believes that rural African communities should not suffer from the dangers posed by impassable rivers. Footbridges prevent drowning and ensure safe, uninterrupted access to education, health care and economic opportunity. Bridging the Gap Africa is committed to building bridges that save lives.
Our Work
Community Based
Community Participation
Community Empowerment
The Impact
IN A WALKING WORLD, ONE SIMPLE BRIDGE PROVIDES SAFE CROSSINGS TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
For over 20 years BTGA has been connecting and empowering communities by building footbridges in remote areas of Kenya. In a walking world, one bridge provides up to 72,800 safe crossings per year!
Bridging the Gap Africa is helping communities by:
Providing safe access over dangerous rivers for school children.
Improving community access to healthcare and economic opportunity.
Preventing accidental death from drowning and hippo attacks.
Connect. Empower. Be a bridge!
Bridging the Gap Africa builds a world where everyone has access to safe footbridges over dangerous rivers.
...to build a bridge,
BtGA believes rural communities must be active participants in the bridge-building process. We do this by engaging local leaders and forming bridge committees on both sides of a river.
A Memorandum of Understanding is written stating the responsibilities, requirements and expectations between BtGA and the benefiting communities.
BtGA then requires the local people to be vested in their bridge project and raise a portion of the cost of the bridge materials. After these prerequisites are fulfilled, BtGA engineers design the bridge, and subsequently the steel portion of the bridge components are fabricated. The bridge committees choose local men and women to work together with BtGA’s engineers and team to construct their beautiful bridge.
At the completion of every project;
BtGA formally commissions the bridge to celebrate the community's achievement with speeches, singing, food, and gifts.
Erosion Control
Vetiver System Project
Erosion control
Riverbank erosion at bridge sites are rapidly accelerated by flooding, heavy rainfall and sand harvesting. As erosion at the riverbank continues to grow, the formation of bridge scour at the abutments and approach ramps can compromise the stability and functionality of bridges, which could result in structure failure of the approach ramps.
As a bio-engineered alternative, implementing deep-rooted vegetation with fast establishment can aid in the reinforcement and stabilization of soil.
Vetiver Grass at Joe’s Crossing
Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), a non-invasive species, known to offer land stabilization at riverbanks has been planted to help with erosion.
Debora Bowser M.Sc, formerly of BtGA implemented the first Vetiver System at Joe’s Crossing as the best cause of action to prevent erosion at the riverbanks.
BtGA has engaged the communities on both sides of the river to be proactive at caring for the Vetiver slips while the grass is still in the establishment period.
