Fika 2026

Nyamugari II | Rwanda 2026

In 2026, 10 volunteers from Michael Baker International and its family of companies partnered with Fika (formerly Bridges to Prosperity) and local community members to construct the Nyamugari II suspended trail bridge over Rwanda’s Nyabarongo River. Built over two weeks, the 364‑foot bridge now provides year‑round, safe access to schools, health care and markets for the Murambi, Shyembe and Nyamugari communities—where seasonal river crossings once posed serious risks. The project combined months of preparation with hands‑on collaboration across cultures, culminating in an inauguration ceremony and the handover of the bridge to local stewards. As Michael Baker’s tenth bridge built with Fika since 2016, the project reflects a shared commitment to eliminating rural isolation and creating lasting opportunity.

The Region

Home to more than 13 million people, the East African nation of Rwanda is often called the “Land of a Thousand Hills” for its lush, rolling landscape. The small, landlocked country borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kigali, the capital and largest city, serves as the country’s political, economic and cultural center.

For Rwandans living in the nation’s rural regions, rivers are often synonymous with missed opportunity. During the rainy seasons, life can be cruel to the communities who rely on crossing rivers to reach critical resources. Lacking safe crossings, the rivers become dangerous, and often deadly, to anyone attempting to cross them. Community members are cut off from health centers, markets and schools as they wait for water levels to recede.

To address this challenge, Fika works with communities to build bridges with the goal of eliminating rural isolation and creating economic opportunities. Fika identified a site for a bridge over the Nyabarongo River – one of Rwanda’s widest rivers – in the Karongi District of the Western Province, which would provide access to opportunity for the surrounding communities.

The Project

In late February and early March 2026, 10 Michael Baker colleagues volunteered their time and their talents to partner with Fika on the construction of the Nyamugari II bridge. The team traveled to Rwanda with the goal of making connections, experiencing new cultures and building infrastructure that changes lives.

In the months leading up to the team’s arrival in Rwanda, Fika engineers and local community members worked on construction of the bridge’s substructure. With abutment tiers, towers, anchor beams and ramp walls in place, the Michael Baker team members were ready to roll up their sleeves and get started on the superstructure.

Over the course of two weeks – and at an elevation of more than 5,100 feet – the team worked alongside Fika engineers and dozens of community members to construct the suspended bridge. Guided by the shared mantra “One Team, One Goal,” the team took on physically demanding tasks such as unspooling and winching heavy cables across the river, setting the sag of the bridge cables, and assembling the rebar swings that would ultimately support the deck of the 364‑foot‑long structure. These early efforts marked the transformation of detailed plans into a functioning bridge framework and set the tone for close collaboration and hands‑on learning throughout the project.

As construction progressed into the second week, the team focused on completing the bridge deck and finishing structural and safety elements. This phase included installing custom‑cut decking panels, torquing crossbeam bolts, bending rebar around handrail cables, painting posts and towers, and backfilling the abutments with rocks. Team members worked in coordination with community partners on both sides of the river, overcoming logistical challenges and language barriers through cooperation and shared purpose.

Beyond construction milestones, the experience was defined by meaningful engagement with the surrounding community and a clear sense of impact. Highlights included a visit to Saint Pierre Muremure Primary School, where students welcomed the team with songs, dances and drawings, as well as a community barbeque that brought together the larger project team for a shared meal. As the bridge neared completion, the team witnessed firsthand how the new crossing would change daily life for local residents.

Our Impact

After putting the finishing touches on the bridge, the team was ready to celebrate. Inauguration Day brought with it speeches, singing and dancing, and a ribbon cutting, as the bridge was officially opened. During the ceremony, the bridge was handed over to 10 community members from the district who will look after the bridge for decades to come. The bridge had its biggest stress test as hundreds of community members of all ages crossed the bridge for the very first time.

With the Nyamugari II trail bridge complete, the Nyabarongo River no longer symbolizes missed opportunity for local residents. Instead, members of the Murambi, Shyembe and Nyamugari communities can now safely cross the river year-round to access critical resources.

The Nyamugari II bridge marks Michael Baker’s tenth bridge constructed in partnership with Fika. Since the partnership began in 2016, nearly 90 Michael Baker volunteers have worked to positively impact the lives of more than 27,900 people by building bridges in three countries across two continents, demonstrating how We Make a Difference in communities near and far.