In November 2018, Roughan & O'Donovan joined forces with a number of Europengineers companies, including Basler & Hofmann, Buro Happold, Pondio, Salfo and Setec, to send a group of volunteers to Rwanda. 

The project team travelled to Nyarugenge in the Kigali Province, where they built a 30-metre suspended bridge over the Yanza River, which floods 90 to 180 days of the year, cutting off local access to critical resources.

Our volunteer, Andrew O'Connell, developed the daily works plan and oversaw the activities of both volunteers and local community staff on the construction site.  He also led the completion of the as-built drawings and worked closely with the project manager to oversee construction on the job site.

The new bridge serves the Gasiza and Rubonobono communities, providing safe passage across the river and year-round access to the local market, health clinic and primary school.

The Gatare Bridge may be a simple footbridge, but it has made a huge difference to the local population, helping to empower men, women and children out of poverty.